The History of Upper Tysoe, Warwickshire
Origins and Etymology
Upper Tysoe forms part of the historic parish of Tysoe in Warwickshire, England, whose name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Tīges hōh, meaning “spur of land belonging to the god Tiw” (the war god after whom Tuesday is named). The earliest recorded mention appears in the 1086 Domesday Book as Tiheshoche, with various medieval spellings including Tiesoch, Thiesho, and Tisho following in subsequent centuries.
Medieval Period and Domesday Book
The Domesday Book of 1086 provides crucial insight into medieval Tysoe, recording it as a substantial settlement held by Robert of Stafford. The entry reveals a prosperous community with 23 hides of land supporting 32 ploughs, comprising 11 in lordship with 9 slaves, plus 53 villagers and a priest with 28 smallholders operating 23 ploughs. The settlement included 16 acres of meadow and was valued at £30, representing a significant increase from its pre-Conquest value of £20.
By 1334, Tysoe’s prosperity had grown considerably, with a subsidy valuation of £131. The village received royal recognition in 1341 when King Edward III granted Ralph de Stafford a charter for a Wednesday market and annual fair on St. Peter’s Chains (August 1st). This market charter indicates Upper Tysoe’s importance as a trading center within the medieval manorial system.
The Three Tysoes
The parish historically comprised three distinct settlements: Upper, Middle (originally Church Tysoe), and Lower Tysoe, separated by open fields until the mid-20th century. Until recent times, the villages were distinct communities, each with its own character and sometimes minor rivalries between children from the different Tysoes.
Manor House and Architecture
The centerpiece of Upper Tysoe is its magnificent manor house, whose earliest sections date to the 14th century. Originally built around 1300 as a hunting lodge by the De Stafford family, this Grade II* listed building exemplifies medieval domestic architecture with its characteristic features including wide mullioned windows, a doorway with a four-centered square head, and a 14th-century window of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil.
The manor displays typical characteristics of a medieval manor house, standing adjacent to the related settlement and agricultural landscape, with its setting including historic ridge and furrow field systems that document contemporaneous agricultural practices. The building evolved over centuries, with a two-story wing added in the 17th century and further extensions in 1932-33.
The Red Horse of Tysoe
Upper Tysoe is intrinsically linked to one of England’s most famous lost hill figures, the Red Horse of Tysoe. This ancient geoglyph, cut into the red clay of Edge Hill’s escarpment, gave its name to the surrounding area – the Vale of Red Horse. First recorded in 1607, the original horse measured nearly 100 yards in length and was visible from great distances.
Archaeological evidence suggests the Red Horse may have had Anglo-Saxon origins, possibly connected to the worship of Tiw, the war god from whom Tysoe derives its name. The figure was recut multiple times over the centuries, with at least five different versions created between the medieval period and 1914, when the last iteration was finally covered over.
Parish Church Heritage
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Middle Tysoe served the entire parish, including Upper Tysoe. The church’s origins trace to the late 11th century, with its earliest surviving features being two blocked windows on the south side of the nave. The building evolved through successive centuries, with the south aisle added in the 12th century, Gothic alterations in the 13th century, a clerestory in the 14th century, and the present west tower constructed in the 15th century.
Archaeological investigations in the 1960s revealed possible foundations of an early west tower, suggesting the church’s structural development was more complex than previously understood. The presence of a priest recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book indicates the early establishment of Christian worship in the area.
Agricultural Heritage and Estates
Upper Tysoe’s agricultural landscape was shaped by major estates, particularly Compton Wynyates. The Compton family acquired the manor in 1521 when Edward Stafford conveyed it to trustees for Sir William Compton. This estate ownership pattern, alongside the Upton estate and local authority holdings, dominated land tenure well into the 20th century.
The 18th-century windmill on Windmill Hill, positioned between Tysoe and Compton Wynyates parishes, represents the area’s agricultural processing infrastructure. Built in the early 18th century as a twelve-sided, barrel-shaped stone tower, it operated until 1915 when lightning struck the structure. The mill underwent several restorations, with the final comprehensive restoration completed between 1968-1975 by the Marquess of Northampton.
Archaeological Evidence
Recent archaeological investigations have revealed Upper Tysoe’s much deeper history. Magnetometry surveys and fieldwalking have uncovered evidence of extensive prehistoric and Romano-British settlement around Old Lodge Farm. The surveys indicate complex settlement patterns from the Bronze Age through the Roman period, with numerous enclosures, field systems, and trackways surrounding core settlement areas.
Roman period finds include pottery fragments, brooches, and rings dating from the 1st-4th centuries AD, suggesting continuous occupation. These discoveries demonstrate that the fertile soils of the area, enhanced by periglacial head deposits from the Edge Hill escarpment mixed with Lower Lias clays, have supported human settlement for over two millennia.
Modern Transformation
The 20th century brought significant changes to Upper Tysoe. In the first half of the century, the three Tysoes supported over 20 small farms, creating a vibrant agricultural community. The village provided comprehensive services including shops, bakeries, medical facilities, and various trades, serving not only local residents but also the nearby Shenington aerodrome during World War II.
The Second World War marked a turning point, with evacuees from bombed Coventry finding refuge in Tysoe homes, and residents witnessing the aerial battles and crashes associated with the Shenington training base. Post-war agricultural mechanization led to farm consolidation, reducing the number of active farms to approximately five by the early 21st century.
Today, Upper Tysoe retains its historic character through conservation efforts, with the manor house serving as a prime example of successful heritage preservation while adapting to modern residential use. The village’s history, from its Anglo-Saxon origins through its medieval prosperity to its modern residential character, illustrates the continuous evolution of English rural communities while maintaining their essential historical identity.
