Snitterfield

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=image pending
latitude= 52.14
longitude=-01.44
official_name =Snitterfield
population = 1400
shire_district=
shire_county= Warwickshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster=
post_town= Stratford-Upon-Avon
postcode_district = CV37
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SP2160

Snitterfield is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England, just off the A46 road, between Coventry and Stratford upon Avon.

The early name of Snitterfield was "Snytenfeld". "Feld" signified a cleared stretch of land amid the Forest of Arden and "Snyten" referred to the snipe frequenting the meadows near the Sherborne Brook which runs through the village. The earliest record of Snitterfield is on a map dated 1630 by John Speed. Even up to 1814, Snitterfield was spelt as Snitfield.

The village has grown with a 10% increase in the amount of housing between 2002 and 2003. Further development is limited to barn conversions and plots for no more than five properties.

The parish church is of St James the Great. It was built in the 13th century and 14th century.

The village has two pubs, The Snitterfield Arms and The Foxhunter, and a village shop, (voted England's best in 2002). In June 2007 The Foxhunter was badly damaged by fire and is presently closed.

The village was home to William Shakespeare's father John Shakespeare, and contains houses and buildings he visited. The Shakespeare connection is reflected in the home of some of Snitterfield's major employers, at Prospero Barn; Prospero was a character in The Tempest. Prospero Barn houses Structured Training, SalesPathways and Predaptive. Other employers include the Stratford Manor Hotel, a Mercedes-Benz dealership, and the local Wyvale Garden Centre.

Snitterfield has a sport horse training centre, a riding school, a gliding club, and a sports club, incorporating tennis, bowls, cricket, and football.

The local Scouts Group is 'Bearley & Snitterfield' which includes Beaver, Cub and Scout sections.

Snitterfield is also home to one of the UK's oldest-established independent factoring (finance) brokerages, [http://www.factoringpartners.co.uk Factoring Partners] .

Notable residents

* John Grant (Gunpowder plotter) was born here in the 16th century.
* Richard Jago, the poet, was rector here.
* John Shakespeare
* Clara Rose

External links

* [http://www.snitterfield.com/ Village Website]
* [http://bs-scouts.org.uk/ Bearley & Snitterfield Scouts Website]

Between December 1954 and March 1956, members of the Snitterfield Women's Institute and others compiled the 'History Scrap-book of the village of Snitterfield'. Although a little out of date, it is worth getting hold of a copy.