History of Loxley Village, Warwickshire
Ancient Origins and Anglo-Saxon Period
Loxley’s history stretches back over 1,200 years, beginning as a woodland clearing near Wellesbourne. The village probably began as a settlement in the woodland near the bottom of the hill that runs west from Wellesbourne, indicating its ancient origins as part of the natural landscape development in this part of Warwickshire.
The earliest documented mention of Loxley dates to the late 8th century, between 782 and 795 AD, when King Offa of Mercia gifted the settlement to Worcester Cathedral. This grant established Loxley’s connection to ecclesiastical ownership that would persist for centuries. However, during the reign of King Canute (1016-1035 AD), Worcester Cathedral was deprived of Loxley because they were late paying their Danegeld, demonstrating the precarious nature of early medieval landholding.
Norman Conquest and Domesday Book
The Domesday Book of 1086 records Loxley as a thriving agricultural community with a resident priest. The survey shows that landowners in the parish included the Count of Meulan (elder brother of Henry Newburgh, the future Earl of Warwick), the Bishop of Worcester, and Hugh de Grandmesnil. This represents the new Norman administrative structure that replaced Anglo-Saxon governance.
The Count of Meulan’s ownership reflected the broader Norman reorganization of English land tenure following the Conquest, with major estates being redistributed among William the Conqueror’s supporters.
Medieval Period and Monastic Ownership
A significant development occurred when Robert Fitz Odo (also known as Robert Fitzooth) sold much of his holding in Loxley to the Monks of Kenilworth Priory before his death in 1196 AD. Robert Fitz Odo was ancestrally related to Bishop Odo of Bayeux, who was William the Conqueror’s half-brother. His great-grandson, Peter de Mora, subsequently gave the manor and all its possessions to Kenilworth Priory.
This transfer established Kenilworth Abbey’s dominance over Loxley for several centuries. The village prospered under monastic management, with a mill referenced in 1291 AD belonging to Kenilworth Abbey. Land ownership in the parish remained primarily in Church hands and with two other landlords for approximately 600 years.
Church Construction
Bishop Godfrey Giffard consecrated the new stone church building on 7th July 1286 AD. This church was built using red sandstone from Kenilworth on the ancient foundations of the Anglo-Saxon church. Saxon stonework still remains visible today, particularly in the herringbone masonry on the north side of the chancel, demonstrating the continuity between the original Anglo-Saxon foundation and the medieval reconstruction.
Tudor Period and Dissolution of the Monasteries
The most dramatic change in Loxley’s history occurred in 1538 when Henry VIII ordered the confiscation of monastic properties. Robert Croft was the tenant of Loxley Manor at this time. Following the Dissolution, ownership of the manor passed through several hands: first to the Underhill family, then in 1664 to Edward Nash of East Greenwich.
The Underhill family’s ownership represents a crucial period in Loxley’s development. In 1569, William Underhill of Idlicote and his son William purchased the Manor of Loxley from Lewis Grevyll. The property was substantial, consisting of “20 messuages, 3 cottages, 10 tofts, 1 dovecote, 20 gardens, 1000 acres of land, 300 of meadow, 1600 of pasture, 40 of wood, 200 of furze and heath”.
Thomas Underhill of Loxley was notably the only Underhill, and one of a modest number of Warwickshire gentry, who attended the muster of troops in support of King Charles I in 1642. However, the family had left Loxley by 1653, possibly due to the financial costs of being prominent Royalists during the Commonwealth period.
Post-Medieval Development
A significant transformation occurred during this period when the medieval village in the valley was abandoned and new houses built on higher ground. This represents a common pattern in English village development where settlements moved for reasons of drainage, defense, or simply convenience.
The 1630s saw important religious developments as Archbishop Laud enforced uniformity of worship. Loxley commissioned a new bell in 1632 and installed new pews at the vicar’s expense in 1638. The social hierarchy was clearly reflected in church seating arrangements, with Thomas Underhill and his family occupying the front pews on both sides of the church.
Agricultural Revolution and Enclosure
The open fields of the parish were enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1758. This represented the formal end of the medieval agricultural system and the beginning of modern farming methods. The eastern and northeastern portions of the parish, including Loxley farm, Oakham Farm, and the demesne lands of the former manor, were not covered by the Award as they had been enclosed previously.
By the 1850s, the former parish lands were divided between seven farms which produced wheat, beans, and peas, and raised sheep and other livestock. This agricultural diversification reflects the improved farming techniques and market access of the Victorian period.
Victorian Era and Modern Amenities
The Victorians built a school in the 1830s, demonstrating the period’s commitment to education. There has been a school in the village since the 1840s, and on the present site since 1874. This establishment of educational infrastructure was part of the broader Victorian social reform movement.
A major infrastructure achievement occurred by 1910 when the majority of homes (52 out of 59) received piped water from the village spring. This represented a significant improvement in public health and quality of life for residents.
Robin Hood Connection
Loxley has an intriguing connection to the Robin Hood legend. Robert Fitz Odo, lord of Loxley Manor from the reign of Henry II until 1196, has been proposed as a possible inspiration for the legendary Robin Hood. The Register of Arms of 1196 states that Fitz Odo was no longer a knight, and there are records of him alive in nearby Harbury in 1203, apparently stripped of his title and living as an outlaw.
Some historians suggest that Robert Fitz Odo became an outlaw, robbing people in the surrounding woodlands, before eventually being given back his lands when Richard the Lionheart returned from the Crusades. While this theory remains speculative, it provides an alternative to the traditional Yorkshire connection for the Robin Hood legend.
20th Century Development
The 20th century saw significant housing development in Loxley. The village experienced several phases of growth:
Inter-war years: Construction of local authority housing in Manor Lane and Hilltop
1980s: Development at Barracks Green
1990s: Loxley Fields development with around twelve larger ‘executive’ homes
2001: Loxley Park estate with thirty large executive homes
This development pattern shows the village’s evolution from a primarily agricultural community to a commuter village serving the broader Stratford-upon-Avon area.
Contemporary Loxley
According to the 2011 census, Loxley had 150 households with a total population of 399. This represents a return to the population peak last seen in 1871. However, the housing stock has changed dramatically, with 87% now comprising 3+ bedroom properties, reflecting the trend toward larger executive homes.
The village has retained key community facilities including the school, church, and playing fields. The Fox public house, which has operated since at least the 1840s, closed in January 2020 but successfully reopened in May 2021 as a community-owned pub after local residents raised over £270,000 to purchase it.
Modern Loxley is characterized by its rural character despite development pressures. The village sits within a designated ‘Special Landscape Area’ south of the Stratford/Wellesbourne Road, and the Church Meadow Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest where traditional ridge and furrow strips can still be seen.
The 2021 census recorded a population of 373, showing a slight decline from the 2011 figure. The community continues to maintain its distinctive character through conservation efforts and careful planning controls outlined in the Neighbourhood Development Plan, ensuring that future development respects the village’s historic character and rural setting.
