Bidford-on-Avon
Bidford-on-Avon | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | ALCESTER | |
Postcode district | B50 | |
Dialling code | 01789 | |
Police | Warwickshire | |
Fire | Warwickshire | |
Ambulance | West Midlands | |
Bidford-on-Avon is a large village and
History
The Roman road
William Shakespeare is said to have joined a party of Stratford folk which set itself to outdrink a drinking club at Bidford-on-Avon, and as a result of his labours in that regard to have fallen asleep under the crab tree of which a descendant is still called Shakespeare's tree. When morning dawned his friends wished to renew the encounter but he wisely said "No I have drunk with “Piping Pebworth, Dancing Marston, Haunted Hillboro’, Hungry Grafton, Dodging Exhall, Papist Wixford, Beggarly Broom and Drunken Bidford” and so, presumably, I will drink no more." The story is said to date from the 17th century but of its truth or of any connection of the story or the verse to Shakespeare there is no evidence. The Falcon Inn was a favourite tavern in his day.[6]
Location
Bidford-on-Avon village is, as its name suggests, situated on the
Local government
Bidford-on-Avon is a
Bidford Community Library
When
Transport
The river is crossed by Bidford Bridge, which is a scheduled monument.[9] During the week beginning on Monday 26 November 2012, the Bridge had to be closed due to flooding, when the River Avon burst its banks, in various places.[10] On 9 June 2015, the bridge was closed to traffic after a heavy duty farm vehicle crashed into it, causing serious damage to the historic structure. Police cars were positioned either side of the bridge to alert drivers to the fact that the bridge was inaccessible to traffic. After repairs, the bridge has now re-opened.[11][12]
Bidford no longer has an active railway line, but it once had a station on the
.Churches
The
Twinning village
Bidford is twinned with
Notable people
- Fred Wilkes (1883–1942), professional footballer
References
- ^ "Bidford-on-Avon Parish in West Midlands". City Population. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Information for record number MWA591: Ford (Byda's Ford)". Warwickshire County Council. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Site of Saxon cemetery 100m N of Bidford Bridge". Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Warwickshire County Council: New Prehistoric Archaeology Objects
"Even further away in time, during the Bronze Age, we now have evidence of people taking care of their appearance. This leaf-shaped bronze razor was found near Bidford on Avon and is one of only a few of this type of Bronze Age razor to be found in this country." - ^ "Barbara Comyns profile". Virago Press. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Hutton, W. H. (1914) Highways and Byways in Shakspeare's Country
- ^ "Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council". Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
- ^ "Bidford Community Library". Archived from the original on 24 October 2020.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1355318)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Wet weekend for rain-soaked UK". ITV. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Bidford's historic bridge closed after crash | Stratford Herald". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Bidford Bridge update – 03/11/2015 – Warwickshire Direct - Residents". Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ Dunn, J.M., (1952) The Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway, Lingfield: The Oakwood Press
- ^ "St Laurence Parish Church, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire". St Laurence Parish Church. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "theBarn - Home of Bidford Baptist Church". Bidford Baptist Church. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council - Twinning Association". Archived from the original on 28 March 2007.
External links
Media related to Bidford-on-Avon at Wikimedia Commons
- Map sources for Bidford-on-Avon