Barton-under-Needwood

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.763
longitude= -1.727
official_name= Barton-under-Needwood
shire_district= East Staffordshire
shire_county=Staffordshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Burton
post_town= BURTON-ON-TRENT
postcode_district = DE13
postcode_area= DE
dial_code= 01283
os_grid_reference= SK185185
population=

Barton-under-Needwood is a large village in Staffordshire, England. It is situated a mile off the A38 between Burton upon Trent and Lichfield. It has a population of about 5000 people, most of whom commute to Burton or Lichfield or further afield to places such as Derby or Birmingham

Overview

The village's focal point is a 15th Century Tudor Church, and has several local shops along Main Street, the(B5016) including a Post Office & book shop, Pharmacy, News agent, Hair dresser, Local Co-Op store, Village hall. Local infant/junior schools, and a larger secondary school are also located within the village: John Taylor High School, which serves Barton and the surrounding villages. Barton also has a large marina complex home to some 300 narrow boats, also has a number of delightfull shops & restaurant facilities, which has become a local tourist attraction. It is located on the Trent and Mersey canal.
Thomas Gisbourne became curate of the village in 1783, being succeeded by his fourth son in 1820.

The village sports teams are based at the Holland Sports club, which has facilities for cricket, football, rugby, tennis and tug of war. The club is named after the famous Holland family who were resident in Barton for 600 years from the 12th century to the 1900s. The earliest member of the family was Richard de Holland who was involved in the Battle of Burton Bridge in the 1320s.

The tug of war team based at the Holland Sports Club have won many national and international honours since forming in 1970 - including the title 'Guinness World Record Holders' for a record in Tug of War Endurance which was created in 2000. Steve Gardner (former All Round Weightlifting World Champion, Tug of War and Strength Athlete and a former local policeman) has been coaching the team since 1978, having first joined in 1975.

Barton has four churches : St James C of E, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Christadelphian. [cite web |url=http://www.bartonchristadelphians.org.uk/ |title=Barton-under-Needwood Christadelphians |accessdate=2007-05-29 ]

The village of Barton had the name 'under Needwood' added in 1327 to distinguish it from the other Bartons in England. The village has a very rich and interesting history, in 1995 a written history of Barton under Needwood was produced, named 'Under the Needwood Tree', researched written and compiled by Steve Gardner (see above). A book committee including Arthur and Christine Kennedy, Pauline and Bill Shingles, and Jeff Pattison also worked on the project. In 2001 Steve Gardner had a second history book for Barton published, named: Life and Times in Barton, and in 2007 the final history book in the trilogy was launched: 'Memories of Old Barton'.

Indie rock bands Vibrant Poppies, Seabrook Potato, Mr-Man and Cedrics Belly were founded in Barton.

Dunstall Hall stately home is situated about a mile outside Barton in the hamlet of Dunstall. Scotish rock singer Rod Stewart showed an interest in buying the property but eventually the house was bought property Tycoon Stan Clarke before he died.

The UK's first Travelodge was opened in 1985 on the A38 just outside the village.

Famous people from Barton-under-Needwood

* Dean Heaps - (born 1954) Actor and dramatist, famous for playing victim, ageing rocker, fictitious lifestyle and "yuff" culture roles.
* John Taylor - Ambassador for France to King Henry VIII, First Master of the Rolls. A benefactor to Barton, responsible for the building of the present Church, between 1517 and 1533.
* Thomas Russell - A member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers. A benefactor to Barton, responsible for building the first School.
* Sir Stanley Clarke OBE - Stanley William Clarke, businessman and racehorse owner: born Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire 7 June 1933; chairman, St Modwen Properties plc 1986-2004, president 2004; awarded the CBE in 1990; founder and chairman, Northern Racing 1994-2004, president 2004; Knighted in 2001; married 1958 Hilda Leavesley (one son, three daughters); died Barton-under- Needwood, Staffordshire 19 September 2004. Sir Stanley was the owner of the 1997 Grand National Winner: Lord Gyllene.
* Steve Gardner (Born 1956) Guinness World Record Holder, Weight lifter and Strongman. Steve was inducted into the International All Round Weightlifters Association Hall of Fame in 2001, having been several times 'World Open All Round Weightlifting Champion' and for representing Great Britain in Drug Free Powerliftings World and European Championships (European Heavyweight Champion 1990). Steve also competed in International Strongman and Highland Games events with Geoff Capes, and represented the British Police at Tug of War in the World Police Championships in Sweden and Spain. Steve has won many National titles and International medals with the village tug of war club at Barton where he has been the coach since 1978. Holland Tug of War club are current Guinness World Record Holders for Tug of War Endurance.In 2008 Steve and the team achieved their greatest accolade to date as they were selected to represent England in the 2008 World Championships in Sweden.

See also

* Holland Tug of War Club - Village tug of war team from Barton under Needwood: Web site: www.hollandtugofwar.co.uk

J.C. British Sportsman, held the Somerset long jump record from 1963 to 1974, and gained his full amateur international cap for association football in 1972, but it was as a cricketer he was best known. In the Somerset county side from 1968 onwards. JC first coached Botham, Richards and Garner and in 1972 captained the team against Australia and South Africa.

During his undergraduate days at Oxford he won a blue for rowing, cricket, rugby, tennis and soccer.

Invited by the then conservative government he moved to the area in 1982 and helped coach in Barton.

References

External links

* [http://www.baydarts.com/ Barton Alrewas and Yoxall Darts League]
* [http://www.bartonchristadelphians.org.uk/ Barton-under-Needwood Christadelphians]
* Holland Tug of War Club (http://www.hollandtugofwar.co.uk)
* Thomas Russell Junior School - Outdoor Pool Fundraising Campaign [http://www.pool4all.org]
* [http://www.burton-on-trent.net/?CategoryID=9 Barton under Needwood Community Forum]