Alveston Parish History
Below are a list of the key dates in the history of Alveston Parish. A comprehensive history of the village and the larger parish is covered in a book “Just Six Square Miles”. Details can be obtained by emailing the author, Brian Johnson, at BJoh848332@aol.com
410AD - 114 Saxons buried in Tiddington
Soon after the Romans pulled out of Britain to face the threat to Italy from the Visigoths the Saxons stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
200 million years BC - Exotic animals in the Avon valley
Looking across the green, undulating meadows of Warwickshire today it seems impossible that in the past it has been covered with deep seas, river deltas, swamps, shallow tropical seas and glaciers.
4000BC - Alveston Settled
There is no evidence to confirm the date when the village of Alveston was first populated.
500BC - Salt Route through Alveston
Salt was a very important commodity in early times. Its main use was to preserve meat, particularly pork, over the winter period.
43AD - Roman camp in Tiddington
The Romans arrived in Britain in 43AD, and moved swiftly to colonise the south east of the country.
961AD - First mention of Alveston
The church was changing at this time with monasteries being reinvigorated and sloppy practices prevented. The church had suffered from self indulgent luxury and too much land had been bequeathed to local landlords. A new regime was instituted.
1086AD - Population of Alveston Recorded
William the Conqueror ordered this survey in order to find out what he had gained from his conquest of England.
1348AD - Alveston suffers The Black Death
The Black Death starts in China and reaches England in 1848.
1509AD - Prior More and Alveston
Prior More was born William Peers c 1472. He was Prior of Worcester 1518-1535.
1559AD - Shakespeare in Alveston?
There is no tangible proof that Shakespeare ever visited Alveston though it is unlikely that he did not.
1651AD - Charles II in Alveston?
After being defeated at Worcester by Cromwell’s army Charles II goes on the run, firstly northwards to Shropshire where he hides up an oak tree.
1743AD - Alveston as a spa
The battle at Dettingen in Germany where George II led his troops into battle (the last English monarch to do so) has connections with Alveston.
1837AD - Alveston needs a grander church
Queen Victoria took to the throne in a prosperous period following the Napoleonic Wars.
1924AD - Alveston Parish now a part of SoA
The parish of Alveston becomes a part of Stratford.
2009AD - Modern Alveston
The parish of Alveston is a busy and vibrant place of about 7,000 people. The ageing population means that there are a number of care homes in the parish. Alveston Leys is one example; another is Margaret Court in Tiddington which is nearing completion.