The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Barford

Through World Wars and two monarchs, King George’s Fields has stood the test of time. 1936 To celebrate the coronation of King George, the King George V Jubilee Trust Fund is established to turn the land into a playing field. "The parish meeting approves of the Parish Council’s recommendation that the field known as Chesland Piece be acquired as a playing field for the parish” “A committee was formed to formulate plans for the festivities.” Passed resolution of the Parish Council, Leamington Spa Courier, 6th November 1936.

The war memorial in the village of Barford is set into the wall surrounding the churchyard of St Peter’s church, at the corner of Church Street and Church Lane. Five stone plaques are set into the wall; the three central ones commemorate World War I and two smaller ones either side of this, World War II. This section of the wall is heightened and a stone cross on a triple plinth rises from the top of the wall above the plaques. The dedication on the World War I plaque reads IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY 1914 – 1919 The names of the fallen are listed below this: GEORGE HIRONS JOHN SMITH M.M. REUBEN BARNBROOK ARTHUR HOPKINS H. DENNIS SMITH-RYLAND Capt. HARRY WOODWARD FRANCIS H. FREEMAN Wm HENRY REEVE FRANCIS H. TALBOT ALBERT E. WINSTON L-C FREDERICK PILKINGTON WILLIAM CARTER Cpl FREDERICK BARTLETT C WESLEY HUNT FRANK A. BAKER L-C MARY M. GRAHAM and are followed by the words THEY POSSESS THE REWARD OF THEIR VALOUR WITH GOD IN HEAVEN AND LEAVE TO THE WORLD THE RICH INHERITANCE OF THEIR MEMORY The two World War II memorial plaques have the dates 1939 – 1945 and record names of the fallen. MAURICE S BARKER Major LAURENCE E W BYAM Mid JOHN FINCH RICHARD H HADLEY WILLIAM PUMFREY AUBREY A UPSTONE Hon GUSTAVUS L HAMILTON-RUSSELL Lt The original (World War I) memorial, was first unveiled on Sunday 18th September 1921. By 2003 the old bricks had deteriorated beyond repair and the stone plaques were becoming illegible due to spalling which necessitated significant restoration work. The restored memorial was rededicated prior to the Remembrance Day service on Sunday 9th November 2003.

St Peter’s has almost certainly been a site of Christian worship for over 1000 years. There was a resident priest here in 1085 according to Domesday Book. At the beginning of the 13th century the Saxon church was rebuilt and stood for 600 years. It is possible that the work at Barford may have been carried out by the same masons whom Thomas Beauchamp employed to build the present Warwick Castle and St Mary’s chancel. There are shot marks on the sides of the tower said to have been made by the Parliamentary soldiers before the battle of Edgehill in 1642. The building, except for the tower which remains today, was rebuilt between 1844 and 1845 largely through the generosity of Miss Louisa Ann Ryland. Inside the tower is the ringing gallery from which the peal of six bells is rung. Under the gallery is a 14th century recumbent stone effigy of a woman in a close fitting dress. Nearby is the “Churching Pew” formerly used by women who had recently given birth. By the organ is a 16th century iron-bound chest with two locks which was used to store documents and money. This was distributed to the poor of the village and known as “Parish Relief”. The East window is by Holland of Warwick. In the churchyard, near the line of yews, is the grave of Joseph Arch (1826 – 1919) who started the Union of Agricultural Workers and later became an MP.

Bridge information is for a different location and not Warwickshire.

Barford Bridge, a stone bridge built in the Imperial period to replace an earlier structure. It crosses the Avon to the north west of the village. Stone bridge of three arches, built in 1785 to replace older structure. It has large round holes on each side to take flood water. A section through the causeway leading to Barford Bridge revealed the foundation stonework of an 18th century winged flood culvert and part of the facing arch of the bridge. Circa C18 sandstone ashlar bridge over the River Avon. Five semi-circular arches (four-span river, one on north bank) and two subsidiary round flood water channels at north and south. String course at road level and plain parapet.