The earliest mention of the historic and picturesque village of Dunchurch is contained in the Doomsday book of 1086 AD, where it appears as Donecerce, the property of William of Osbourne, the son of a Norman Noble, who had claimed it during the Norman Conquest. It boasted a population of only 130.
Pipewell is a hamlet within the old bounds of Rockingham Forest. Here in the year 1143 William Batevileyn founded an abbey for Cistercian monks. The most valuable part of the abbey's possessions lay in Warwickshire, in the parish and district of Dunchurch.
Today, Dunchurch is a designated conservation area with lovely village greens complete with village stocks and maypole, charming 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Century buildings, many of which retain the traditional Warwickshire thatched roofs.
As our village's largest and oldest place of worship, there is a huge amount of history attached to St Peter's Church.
Even the Domesday book infers the presence of a church before the year of 1066 and confirms the existence of a priest. However, for the most part, the present church owes its existence to the work of the monks of the Cistercian Abbey of Pipewell in Northamptonshire. Founded in 1143, the Abbey acquired large areas of land in the Dunchurch area, and one assumes, the land upon which the church is built.
King John (the brother of Richard the Lionheart) who reigned in England (1199 - 1216) awarded Dunchurch the right to hold a market - this would have brought work and prosperity to the village.
The steps of the cross are from this time and the remainder is of a later replacement.
For centuries, Dunchurch has been a popular stop-over point for travellers on the main London to Ireland road. A coaching stop to take on fresh horses during the 18th century, Dunchurch was also the staging post for pupil, parents, masters and visitors travelling to Rugby School.
As a busy coaching village, many famous and important people have stayed in the village hotels over the centuries. Known visitors include Princess Victoria (later to be Queen), the American poet Longfellow, wrote the 'Village Blacksmith' poem whilst staying at the Dun Cow, the famous highwayman Dick Turpin, was based in Dunchurch for many years, Winston Churchill, the Duke of Wellington and William Webb Ellis of Rugby Football fame, are all known to have visited the village.
Such was the considerable trade in looking after travellers who stopped over in Dunchurch during the great coaching days (up to 40 coaches a day stopped here), it is said that every property in the centre of the village was at some time an inn or an ale house.
'The Village Blacksmith'
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
The first of 8 verses by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American poet, wrote this poem whilst staying at The Dun Cow, Dunchurch watching the view from his room of the village smithy at work and village children leaving the adjacent village school.
The Old Forge, also known as Longfellows Smithy, now a private house on the Rugby Road is believed to have been the subject of Longfellows' famous poem.
This wonderful 14th Century medieval house is the oldest property in the village, probably even pre-dating St Peters stone structure.
'Remember remember the 5 of November, Gunpower, treason and plot'
Dunchurch is perhaps most famed for its role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when conspirators awaiting news of Guy Fawkes attempt to destroy Parliament, met at The Old Lion Inn, now known as Guy Fawkes house opposite The Green Man, one of the oldest coaching inns in Dunchurch and now a vibrant village pub.
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Lord John Douglas-Montagu-Scott (13th July 1809 - 3rd January 1860) was a 19th Century popular and generous Landlord to his tenants and parishioners of Dunchurch, who raised sufficient monies from grateful tenants to commission the wonderful stone statue which is located in the heart of our village. (For more information CLICK HERE)
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A Christmas, it has been an annual tradition for a group of pranksters to secretly dress up the statue overnight. They have done this every Christmas since the end of WWI, More recently the statue was dressed up as an Olympian for the final leg of the Olympic torch relay sporting a headband and runners jersey. The statue was dressed up as Queen Elizabeth II during her diamond jubilee weekend celebrations.
'At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them'
Our village together with nearby Thurlaston built this memorial in front of St Peters in 1920 and it is dedicated to the 43 souls lost in WWI, WWII and later conflicts. (For more information CLICK HERE)
Made of rustic ash poles with a wain-edge elm board and a roof of home-grown fir thatched with reeds. The shelter is enclosed on three sides and contains a dedicatory bronze plaque with raised lettering. Inscribed 'This bus shelter is a war memorial donated by Alderman A L Adkinson JP opened 14/12/1949 by Colonel W Bigwood for the people of Dunchurch. Rededicated December 2009.'
(For more information CLICK HERE)
Friends of Dunchurch, a charity formed on 6th September 2018 by like-minded residents who love Dunchurch and its heritage and wish to protect and enhance its environment in order to make the village a better place to live in, work in and visit.
CONTACT US
Email: friendsofdunchurch@gmail.com
Village Green House, The Green, Dunchurch CV22 6NX
CIO Charity Registration no.1203193