Below is a quick timeline summary of the history of Wolfhampcote and its church. For further details read more in A Short History, or click on one of the links shown below for specific information.
-250,000,000 BC
Fossils.
The conglomeration of ammonites were found in Stockton quarry nearby. The others in fields and ponds around Wolfhamcote. Photographs can be found here to view.
1086 AD
Domesday book – see further information in A Short History
The land of Thornkil of Warwick in Marton Hundred
The same Thorkil holds WOLFHAMPCOTE. There are 41/2 hides. there is land for 3 ploughs. in demesne is 1 [plough], and 4 slaves; and 7 villans with a priest and 10 bordars have 4 ploughs. There are 5 acres of meadow. It was and is worth 40s. Eskil held it freely TRE.
Warwickshire
From Thorkil, 4 brothers hold in WOLFHAMPCOTE 1 hide and half a virgate of land. There is land for 2 ploughs, and yet there are 3 ploughs, and 3 acres of meadow. it was and is worth 20s. The same men themselves held it, and were free.
Hide
Enough land to support a free family and dependents.
As much land as could be tilled with one plough in a year.
So size dependent on quality of land.
Virgate
Averaging 30 acres but varying greatly
Vill
A division under the fuedal system consisting of a number of houses and adjacent lands
Demesne
In the Feudal system, demesne (also spelled desmesne; via Old French demeine from Latin dominium) was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the Manor House, that was retained by a lord for his own use – as distinguished from land “alienated” or granted to others (alieni) as freehold tenants.
Villan, villein
Occupier of land in the feudal vill
Villager, peasant
Bordar
A villein of the lowest rank, who held a cottage at his lords pleasure, for which he rendered menial service
1248 AD
First recorded facts Geoffrey de Langeley puts a chaplain in charge.
1549 AD
The will and inventory of John Good is here
Thanks to Bob Houghton for the translation
1799 AD
Authorized by the act of the 28th of march 1794. the canal was slated to go from Warwick to Birmingham and then to Oxford. the lines name was changed to the Oxford canal at Napton. the canal officially opened on 19 December 1799.
1892 AD
New Church of St Mark’s built in Flecknoe. The vicar’s letter.
1899 AD
The Great Central line opens.
1932-1944 AD
Click here for an extract from the journals of Stephen Dawson who came to live in Wolfhampcote in 1919 when he was six years old.
1952 AD
Looters violate coffin for jewels. Daventry weekly Express 14 November 1952.
1957 AD
It is proposed to move the church to a housing estate in Nuneaton. Reported in The Coventry Evening Telegraph Friday December 27, 1957.
1970 AD
The friends of Wolfhampcote Church formed under the chairmanship of poet laureate Sir John Betjeman
RCF refers to The Redundant Churches Fund which was set up in 1969 and later became The Churches Conservation Trust.