Dosthill
Encyclopedia
Dosthill is an area of Tamworth
, Staffordshire
, 2.5 miles south of the town centre, and close to the River Tame
. The area is mostly residential, centring around Dosthill High Street, with local employment on the adjoining Tame Valley Industrial Estate. The High Street includes a public house called ‘The Fox’ and Dosthill Primary School (photo) which dates back to 1887.
. It has slowly grown in size up until recent decades, when a large number of housing developments have been constructed. The area will continue to grow in size in the near future, with many more planning proposals in the pipeline and the area becoming more desirable to young families.
Originally most of the buildings in the area were agricultural. In the late 18th and 19th centuries the village was developed with the building of a number of farms and cottages. By the 20th century Dosthill had been transformed into a coalmining and brick making village.
There are several important historical buildings in the village which form part of a conservation area.
The oldest building is Dosthill Chapel, which is a Norman
building that dates from the 12th century, but has some later additional architectural features. The building is now used as a Sunday school, day nursery and parish room.
Cruck Barn is one of the most important timber framed buildings in the area and dates from the 15th century.
In 1872 St. Paul’s Church was opened and replaced Dosthill Chapel as the principal place of worship. The building was designed by Edward Holmes (architect) of Birmingham. The church continues to be a functioning parish church. The foundation stone was laid by the Cheatle family, one of the main four original families of Dosthill. The other three families are the Laytons, Tolsons and Tromans, descendants of whom still live in the village today.
Dosthill Hall is also a building of historic significance. It is a Georgian mansion originally owned by Sir Robert Peel
and also by the Tolson family. The building and grounds have now been restored and converted into a number of apartments.
A former quarry is now a diving centre and is considered to be the oldest inland dive site in the country. The quarry site consists of several submerged features for divers to explore, including numerous vans, caravans and other vehicles. There are also some good diving platforms for training. No other water activities such as fishing, water skiing, or the use of speed boats or jet skis are allowed on this site.
Greenhill Close, Dosthill was named after Florence Greenhill a local identity. She was the local nurse and midwife who became known for delivering babies while bombs fell around her and her patients. After World War II she served for a time on Tamworth Shire council.
Dosthill Lake is home to the West Midlands Water Ski Centre and has been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) due to its winter waterfowl populations, swamp vegetation and marshy grassland. From 2020 it is part of Dosthill Park Local Nature Reserve
.
A public right of way to Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
, west of the river (and mostly in Warwickshire
) exists, but the public bridge over the river collapsed and is awaiting replacement. Some pools east of the river are also part of the reserve.
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, 2.5 miles south of the town centre, and close to the River Tame
River Tame, West Midlands
The River Tame is the main river of the West Midlands, and the most important tributary of the River Trent. The Tame is about 40 km from source at Oldbury to its confluence with the Trent near Alrewas, but the main river length of the entire catchment, i.e...
. The area is mostly residential, centring around Dosthill High Street, with local employment on the adjoining Tame Valley Industrial Estate. The High Street includes a public house called ‘The Fox’ and Dosthill Primary School (photo) which dates back to 1887.
History
Dosthill is a small ancient hamlet and is mentioned in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. It has slowly grown in size up until recent decades, when a large number of housing developments have been constructed. The area will continue to grow in size in the near future, with many more planning proposals in the pipeline and the area becoming more desirable to young families.
Originally most of the buildings in the area were agricultural. In the late 18th and 19th centuries the village was developed with the building of a number of farms and cottages. By the 20th century Dosthill had been transformed into a coalmining and brick making village.
There are several important historical buildings in the village which form part of a conservation area.
The oldest building is Dosthill Chapel, which is a Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building that dates from the 12th century, but has some later additional architectural features. The building is now used as a Sunday school, day nursery and parish room.
Cruck Barn is one of the most important timber framed buildings in the area and dates from the 15th century.
In 1872 St. Paul’s Church was opened and replaced Dosthill Chapel as the principal place of worship. The building was designed by Edward Holmes (architect) of Birmingham. The church continues to be a functioning parish church. The foundation stone was laid by the Cheatle family, one of the main four original families of Dosthill. The other three families are the Laytons, Tolsons and Tromans, descendants of whom still live in the village today.
Dosthill Hall is also a building of historic significance. It is a Georgian mansion originally owned by Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
and also by the Tolson family. The building and grounds have now been restored and converted into a number of apartments.
Leisure
Dosthill is a popular place for scuba divers, water skiers and bird watchers.A former quarry is now a diving centre and is considered to be the oldest inland dive site in the country. The quarry site consists of several submerged features for divers to explore, including numerous vans, caravans and other vehicles. There are also some good diving platforms for training. No other water activities such as fishing, water skiing, or the use of speed boats or jet skis are allowed on this site.
Greenhill Close, Dosthill was named after Florence Greenhill a local identity. She was the local nurse and midwife who became known for delivering babies while bombs fell around her and her patients. After World War II she served for a time on Tamworth Shire council.
Dosthill Lake is home to the West Midlands Water Ski Centre and has been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) due to its winter waterfowl populations, swamp vegetation and marshy grassland. From 2020 it is part of Dosthill Park Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
.
A public right of way to Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve is a nature reserve, formally opened on 19 May 2011, created and run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at Middleton, Warwickshire, England, just south of Tamworth...
, west of the river (and mostly in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
) exists, but the public bridge over the river collapsed and is awaiting replacement. Some pools east of the river are also part of the reserve.