Chapter I: Front Matter

_VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES_

CAMBRIDGE By W. MATTHISON and M.
A. R. TUKER.

OXFORD By JOHN FULLEYLOVE and
EDWARD THOMAS.

SCOTLAND By SUTTON PALMER and
A. R. HOPE MONCRIEFF.

SURREY By SUTTON PALMER and
A. R. HOPE MONCRIEFF.

WARWICKSHIRE By FRED WHITEHEAD and
CLIVE HOLLAND.

WILD LAKELAND By A. HEATON COOPER and
MACKENZIE MACBRIDE.

_Other Volumes to follow._

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WARWICKSHIRE

BLACK’S
POPULAR
SERIES of
COLOUR
BOOKS]

WARWICKSHIRE

THE LAND OF
SHAKESPEARE

PAINTED BY
FRED WHITEHEAD

DESCRIBED BY
CLIVE HOLLAND

A&C BLACK LTD
4.5.6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1.]

_First Edition, with 75 Illustrations, published in 1906
Reprinted in 1912
Second Edition, revised, with 32 Illustrations, published in 1922_

_Printed in Great Britain by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_.

Preface to Revised Edition

To those who know Warwickshire well it will be unnecessary to either sing its praises, as not only one of the most historic but also one of the most fascinating of middle–England shires, or to urge its claims for the consideration of those who love the fair, open country, winding roads, and pleasant hills and vales. This county, of whose beauty poets from almost time immemorial have sung, possesses an added interest beyond the romantic elements afforded by its history, its magnificent survivals of bygone ages in castles, manor–houses, churches, and other domestic buildings, in that it is the land of Shakespeare. Around this beautiful district of England still hangs some of the unfading glamour which comes from the association with it of great deeds and great names; from amongst the latter of which that of “the nation’s poet” stands out with undimmed lustre as the centuries pass away.

The wealth of material which confronts both the writer and the artist who seeks to depict with pen and brush some of the most salient features of the county is so embarrassing that selection becomes a task of extreme difficulty. What to leave out presents itself as a most pressing problem, not easily solved; for, alas! space is not elastic; and even when the question is in a measure disposed of, it is still pregnant with regrets for the many beautiful things, historic places, scenes, and incidents which have had to be omitted for lack of space. To those who know the county only as one of England’s central shires, perhaps the book may give sufficient pleasure to induce them to visit the places described.

C. H.

EALING, W.5.
_June 1922._

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. WARWICKSHIRE AND ITS HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO
THE CLOSE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY 1

II. WARWICKSHIRE AND ITS HISTORY FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY TO
MODERN TIMES 24

III. FAYRE WARWICK TOWN: ITS HISTORY AND ROMANCE 43

IV. THE STORY OF WARWICK CASTLE 70

V. COVENTRY: ITS HISTORY, ROMANCE, CHURCHES, AND ANCIENT
BUILDINGS 89

VI. KENILWORTH AND ITS PRIORY—THE STORY AND ROMANCE OF
KENILWORTH CASTLE 125

VII. LEAMINGTON 144

VIII. THE STORY OF BIRMINGHAM 154

IX. THE STORY OF SOME ANCIENT MANOR–HOUSES—BADDESLEY
CLINTON—PACKINGTON OLD HALL—MAXSTOKE CASTLE—ASTLEY CASTLE 174

X. THE STORY AND ROMANCE OF SOME SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE
MANOR–HOUSES 189

XI. SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND SHAKESPEARE’S TOWN 202

XII. A GROUP OF SHAKESPEARE’S VILLAGES 240

INDEX 256

List of Illustrations

1. Warwick Castle from the Bridge _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

2. Henley–in–Arden 4

3. Salford Priors 9

4. Coughton Court 16

5. Dunchurch 25

6. Southam 32

7. Warwick Castle 41

8. Leicester’s Hospital, Warwick 48

9. Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick 57

10. Guy’s Cliffe Mill 64

11. Peeping Tom, Coventry 73

12. Palace Yard, Coventry 80

13. Ufton 89

14. Kenilworth Castle 96

15. Stoneleigh Abbey 105

16. The Parade, Leamington 112

17. St. Martin’s Church, Birmingham 121

18. Baddesley Clinton Hall 128

19. Maxstoke Castle 137

20. Compton Wynyates 144

21. Burton Dassett Church 153

22. Little Wolford Manor–House 160

23. Long Compton 169

24. Ann Hathaway’s Cottage 176

25. Shakespeare’s Birthplace 185

26. Stratford–on–Avon. The Grammar School 192

27. Stratford–on–Avon 201

28. “Hungry” Grafton 208

29. Abbots Salford 217

30. Bidford Bridge 224

31. Charlecote 233

32. Rugby School 240

_Sketch Map facing p. 1_

WARWICKSHIRE