Wigginton, Staffordshire
Encyclopedia
Wigginton is a village in the district of Lichfield
, in Staffordshire
, England. It lies about 2 miles (3 km) north of Tamworth
.
The village lies on a medieval trade route, the Portway, possibly used for transporting salt from the River Mease
at Edingale
to Tamworth.
Ecclesiastically Wigginton had been a chapelry
attached to the parish of St Editha
in Tamworth
. For civil government it had been a township
– the township was more than just the village, and included the hamlets of Comberford
and Coton, the latter now part of the borough of Tamworth. In 1866 the township became a civil parish
, and became part of Tamworth Rural District
in 1894. In 1934 the civil parish was extended to become Wigginton and Hopwas
, and became part of Lichfield Rural District
.
In 1861 the population of Wigginton township was 670, on 3470 acres (1,404.3 ha). The population figure included 84 inmates of the Tamworth workhouse
, which at that time lay within the township. The population of the chapelry alone was 466.
chapel, now a church, was rebuilt in 1777, extended in 1830, and altered again in 1861 to a design by Nicholas Joyce.
primary school, St Leonards.
Note that the pub called The Wigginton is over the boundary in Tamworth, as is Wigginton Park, the home of Tamworth RUFC
.
(c.1815-1864), a Private in the 4th Light Dragoons who won the Victoria Cross
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
for saving the life of Trumpeter Hugh Crawford of his regiment. He was the son of Thomas Park(e)s and Lydia Fearn, who are buried in the churchyard of St Editha's, Tamworth. Samuel was baptised at St Editha's on 24 December 1815 and before enlistment in 1831 worked locally as an agricultural labourer.
Lichfield (district)
Lichfield is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. It is administered by Lichfield District Council, based in Lichfield.The dignity and privileges of the City of Lichfield are vested in the parish council of the 14 km² Lichfield civil parish...
, in 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...
, England. It lies about 2 miles (3 km) north of Tamworth
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...
.
History
The name Wigginton is believed to come from Old English, and to mean Wicga's farm. The name was also sometimes written as Wiggington.The village lies on a medieval trade route, the Portway, possibly used for transporting salt from the River Mease
River Mease
The River Mease is a lowland clay river in the Midlands area of England. It flows through the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire and forms the administrative border between these counties for parts of its length....
at Edingale
Edingale
Edingale is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, around north of Tamworth close to the border with Derbyshire. In 2001 the parish had a population of 598.-The village:...
to Tamworth.
Ecclesiastically Wigginton had been a chapelry
Chapelry
A chapelry was a subdivision of an ecclesiastical parish in England, and parts of Lowland Scotland up to the mid 19th century. It had a similar status to a township but was so named as it had a chapel which acted as a subsidiary place of worship to the main parish church...
attached to the parish of St Editha
Church of St Editha, Tamworth
The Church of St Editha is an Anglican parish church and Grade I listed building in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.-History:The church of St. Editha is the largest medieval parish church in Staffordshire...
in Tamworth
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...
. For civil government it had been a township
Township (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
– the township was more than just the village, and included the hamlets of Comberford
Comberford
Comberford is a small settlement in Staffordshire, England. It lies by the River Tame, about north-east of Tamworth along the A513 road. Historically part of the parish of Wigginton, it is now within the Wigginton and Hopwas civil parish in the district of Lichfield.There is an Anglican church in...
and Coton, the latter now part of the borough of Tamworth. In 1866 the township became a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
, and became part of Tamworth Rural District
Tamworth Rural District
Tamworth was a rural district in the English Midlands from 1894 to 1965.It was created under the Local Government Act 1894 from Tamworth rural sanitary district, and was one of a handful of rural districts to cross county boundaries, with part in Staffordshire and part in Warwickshire...
in 1894. In 1934 the civil parish was extended to become Wigginton and Hopwas
Wigginton and Hopwas
Wigginton and Hopwas is a civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. The villages of Wigginton and Hopwas, that make up the parish, lie 2 miles to the north and north-west, respectively, of Tamworth. They are separated by the River Tame, the Coventry Canal and the West Coast Main...
, and became part of Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield was a rural district in the county of Staffordshire, England from 1894 to 1974.It was enlarged in 1934 by gaining part of Staffordshire that has been administered since 1894 as part of Tamworth Rural District, which was otherwise in Warwickshire....
.
In 1861 the population of Wigginton township was 670, on 3470 acres (1,404.3 ha). The population figure included 84 inmates of the Tamworth workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
, which at that time lay within the township. The population of the chapelry alone was 466.
Landmarks
Grade II listed buildings in Wigginton village include two or three houses, and the Church of St Leonard. The former AnglicanChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
chapel, now a church, was rebuilt in 1777, extended in 1830, and altered again in 1861 to a design by Nicholas Joyce.
Amenities
The village contains a pub, the Old Crown, and a Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
primary school, St Leonards.
Note that the pub called The Wigginton is over the boundary in Tamworth, as is Wigginton Park, the home of Tamworth RUFC
Tamworth Rugby Union Football Club
Tamworth Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club that plays in the Midlands Division....
.
Notable people
Wigginton was the birth place of Samuel ParkesSamuel Parkes (VC)
Samuel Parkes VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
(c.1815-1864), a Private in the 4th Light Dragoons who won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
for saving the life of Trumpeter Hugh Crawford of his regiment. He was the son of Thomas Park(e)s and Lydia Fearn, who are buried in the churchyard of St Editha's, Tamworth. Samuel was baptised at St Editha's on 24 December 1815 and before enlistment in 1831 worked locally as an agricultural labourer.