Whitnash

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Whitnash
latitude= 52.268
longitude= -1.524
population = 7,798
shire_district= Warwick District Council
shire_county= Warwickshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district=
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference=

Whitnash is a small town in Warwickshire, England.It is near to, and joined with Royal Leamington Spa, and is seen by many as effectively being a suburb of Leamington. In 2001, it had a population of 7,798.

History

Whitnash is a very ancient settlement. Its earliest origins can be traced back to pre-Roman occupation. Whitnash has several possible origins as a place name. It could variously mean "at the white ash", "place by the wood", "sacred ash", or even "meeting place of the wise". However, the first meaning is the considered most likely to be correct.

By the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086, Whitnash was part of the Stoneleigh Hundreds area, and referred to as Witenas. The population consisted of 11 villagers and 8 smallholders. It remained a small village for many centuries, not even being connected to local towns by anything more than country lanes until around 1850.

Dramatic population growth began during the second half of the 20th century. In the space of a few decades, the population increased by over five times. Reflecting its much larger size, Whitnash became a town in 1972.

Warwick Gates

Since the 1990s, the construction of the adjacent Warwick housing estate Warwick Gates has resulted in further local population growth. The administrative border between Whitnash and Warwick runs along a brook near the eastern edge of the estate, meaning that almost all of it is formally in Warwick and outside the boundaries of Whitnash. Despite this, the estate is directly adjacent to Whitnash, and isolated from the main body of Warwick. The combined population of Whitnash with Warwick Gates is over 10,000. Separating the old and new parts, and situated right by a pedestrian crossing connecting them, is a venerable oak tree, the Whitnash Oak, which could easily be 500 years old or more.Fact|date=June 2008

Town centre

There is no real town centre in Whitnash. The focal point of the old village was the church of St. Margaret's. The church dates back to Saxon times, and has been greatly altered over the years. One of its most famous features was an enormous elm tree which dominated the open space in front of the church for many years. The tree had to be removed when it became dangerous. There are two other churches in the town, the Catholic St. Joseph's and the Whitnash Methodist Church.

Another focal point was the village public house (pub). The Plough and Harrow is a 17th century building that remains a pub to this day. There are now two other pubs in Whitnash, The Heathcote and The Hodcarrier, which are much more modern.

Education

St. Margaret's School dates back to Victorian times and was founded by the church. It is now a county council-run junior school. Originally sited in Whitnash Road it transferred to new premises in Coppice Road in the 1970s. The original building is now derelict following a fire caused by arson having, for many years, been used as a church hall. The Coppice Road site is also home to Briar Hill School which is an infant's school. The two other schools in Whitnash are Whitnash County Primary School and the Roman Catholic St. Joseph's School.

Politics

Politics in Whitnash has a very local character. A party representing the residents of the town, the Whitnash Resident's Association, dominates the town council, holding all 15 seats. All three of Whitnash's seats on the District Council and the single County Council seat are also held by the Whitnash Residents Association.

External links

* [http://www.whitnashtowncouncil.gov.uk/index.aspx Whitnash Town Council]
* [http://www.whitnash.co.uk Unofficial but Informative Whitnash site]