HAMPTON-IN-ARDEN - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"HAMPTON-IN-ARDEN, a parish in the Solihull division of the hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 5 miles S. of Coleshill, and 9 S.E. of Birmingham. At Hampton Junction are stations of the London and North-Western and Midland Junction railways. Solihull is its post town. The parish, which is large, is situated on the western bank of the river Blythe, and near the Birmingham canal. It contains the township of Hampton, and the villages of Knowle, Nuthurst, and Kinwalsey. The village, which is built on a slight elevation, consists of several streets, and was formerly a market town under a charter granted by Henry III.

The North Warwick hounds meet here. The surface is level, and the soil a mixture of marl and clay. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1796. The living is a vicarage* with the curacy of Nuthurst, in the diocese of Worcester, value £578. The church is dedicated to SS. Mary and Bartholomew. It is an ancient structure, with a low tower, the lofty spire which formerly surmounted it having been struck by lightning in 1643, and never rebuilt. In the interior are two brasses, dating from 1430.

There is also a district church at Knowle, the living of which is a perpetual curacy*, value £112. The charities produce about £1,790 per annum, of which £194 goes to Fentham's school. A school was erected out of the funds of the above charity in 1849 for girls and infants. The Independents have a place of worship. The Right Hon. Frederick Peel, M.P., is lord of the manor. Fairs are held on 9th June, 21st July, 8th September, and 15th October."

"KINWALSEY, a hamlet in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 5 miles S. of Coleshill. It is a small agricultural place."

"NUTHURST, a hamlet and chapelry in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull division of the hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 4 miles N. of Henley, and 5 S. of Coleshill. Birmingham is its post town. It is situated near the Birmingham canal, and the line of the London and North-Western railway where the Derby section branches off. It belongs to the Spooners of Elmdon, and is a meet for the North Warwickshire hounds. The living is a curacy annexed to the vicarage* of Hampton-in-Arden, in the diocese of Worcester. The original chapel-of-ease having become dilapidated, it was rebuilt about twenty years ago chiefly at the expense of Bolton King, Esq."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]