Studley

:"There is also a village in Wiltshire called Studley."

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Studley
latitude= 52.26961
longitude= -1.89151
civil_parish= Studley
population = 6,624 (2001)
shire_district= Stratford-on-Avon
shire_county= Warwickshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Stratford-on-Avon
post_town= STUDLEY
postcode_district = B80
postcode_area= B
dial_code= 01527
os_grid_reference= SP075635

Studley is a large village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England.

Studley is on the western edge of Warwickshire near the border with Worcestershire and is 8 km (5 miles) south-east of Redditch and 21 km (13 miles) north-west of Stratford. The Roman road of Ryknild Street, now the A435 road, passes through the village on its eastern edge, parallel to the River Arrow.

Studley is sometimes claimed to be the largest village in England, however this is incorrect as it is not even the largest village in Warwickshire. Both Polesworth and Bulkington are larger. The United Kingdom Census 2001 reported Studley's population as being 6,624.

History

The village is old to enough have been recorded as existing in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is the site of both a castle and the remains of a medieval priory. The Augustinian priory was founded in the 12th century but was closed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII of England and was used as a source of stone for other local buildings, nothing remaining today apart from the use of priory in a few local building names such as Priory Farm etc.

Studley is also known for being the site of a sewing needle and surgical needle making industry. This specialisation started when Elizabeth I permitted a number of Huguenot refugees to settle here, bringing this rare craft with them. Their expertise enabled English needle manufacture to catch up with French methods and Studley was a leading area in this advance, gaining a European and even worldwide reputation. From the 19th century precision made surgical needles were in demand and with advances in manufacturing technology such was the demand that over 3,000 workers were employed. In 1977 the old factory where needles were made was burnt down, and the production of "Aero" needles moved to a nearby site. The original factory site now contains a supermarket, other retail outlets, and housing. One of the streets in the village is named "Crooks Lane", ostensibly because the crooked needles from the original factory were dumped at the end of this lane, but the road was there before the village had a needle factory.

Studley is often noted as having many pubs (17 within one square mile, plus numerous restaurants which also serve alcohol) and it has been suggested that the village has the second-highest number of pubs per head of population (second only to Blackpool).

The original village was along the banks of the River Arrow, where the parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary still remains; it features a north wall and window dating back to Norman times, fine surviving examples of opus spicatum or herringbone masonry, a medieval rood screen, Elizabethan era table and dug out chest, Jacobean era pulpit and brasses and other points of interest. Over the years the village expanded and moved up the hill to the site of the Roman road which by 1721 was also the main turnpike road between Stratford and Birmingham and therefore offering more opportunities for trade from the Mail coach and other passing trade.

Amenities

Studley has four schools: Studley Community Infants School (formerly Studley County Infants School), Saint Mary's Roman Catholic School, Saint Mary's Church of England School and Studley High School. Studley High School has recently gained specialist status in Humanities and Music.

Famous Residents

Andy Smith (darts player) currently ranked 22nd in the Professional Darts Corporation Order of Merit counts Studley as his home town.

External links

* [http://www.studleyparishcouncil.org.uk Studley Parish Council Website]
* [http://www.studleywarks.co.uk/index.htm Studley Village website]
* [http://www.studleyhighschool.org.uk Website of Studley high school]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3876741 Photos of Studley and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk]
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=9378 Studley on a Vision of Britain]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57007 British History Online : Studley]
* [http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/warwickshire/studley/photos/studley_photos.htm Old Francis Frith photos of Studley]