Our community
The Village
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Whatcote is a small, thriving, largely agricultural community, just near Shipston-on-Stour and Tysoe
"Idliote on the hill, Whatote Downderry, Beggardly Oxhill, Lous Fulready, Yawning Yittington (Ettington), Peeping Pillarton (Pillerton), and one-eyed Marston" (attr W. Shakespeare)
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Quartercote was mentioned in the Domesday Book where it records that in 1086 Hugh de Grandmesnil, one of William the Conqueror's military commanders, owned the manor. There were 174 inhabitants and a priest in 1086 and there were143 inhabitants and a priest in 2011!
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Whatcote stands at the crossing of two secondary Roman roads in what is known as the Vale of the Red Horse, so called after an ancient horse cut into the hillside below Sunrising Hill. The actual site is no longer known after being neglected and eventually ploughed up.
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Tales abound of life in previous centuries! The village has the dubious distinction of being one of the last places in England where they carried out the practice of rough music. When a couple was found to be living out of wedlock they were driven from the village by inhabitants who gathered outside their house banging metal objects and burning effigies of the unlucky couple!
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The Royal Oak pub is thought to have been built to house the workmen building St Peter's church in 1150. It has had many incarnations since then but has served ale for many of the intervening centuries. making it one of the oldest inns in the county.
It is said that Cromwell and his officers had temporary quarters there before the battle of Edgehill in the first Civil War and that they returned for food and drink after the battle
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The village has around 150 people living mainly in the centre. The houses are varied in size and style and range in age from a couple of centuries to around 20 years ago. It is an agricultural area and there is still a working dairy/arable farm in the village as well as farms outside the village but within the Parish of Whatcote.
The Royal Oak has recently re-opened following an extensive restoration and renovation by Henry Jervis and his team. We think you will agree that it's looks wonderful.
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