Redmarley D'Abitot explained

Country:England
Type:Village and civil parish
Coordinates:51.9805°N -2.3604°W
Official Name:Redmarley D'Abitot
Static Image Name:Phone box on Hyde Park Corner, Redmarley D'Abitot - geograph.org.uk - 850484.jpg
Static Image Caption:Hyde Park Corner, Redmarley D'Abitot
Constituency Westminster:Forest of Dean
Post Town:Gloucester
Postcode District:GL19
Postcode Area:GL
Dial Code:01531/01452
Os Grid Reference:SO752314
Shire District:Forest of Dean
Shire County:Gloucestershire
Region:South West England
Population:756
Population Ref:(2011 Census)[1]

Redmarley D'Abitot is a civil parish and village in the Forest of Dean district, Gloucestershire, South West England. In addition to the village of Redmarley, the civil parish also includes the settlements of Lowbands, Haw Cross, Playley Green, Kings Green and Durbridge.[2] At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 705,[3] increasing to 756 at the 2011 census.

Although now in Gloucestershire, Redmarley was in Worcestershire until 1931.[4]

History

See also: History of Worcestershire and History of Gloucestershire. The name Redmarley comes from 'woodland clearing with a reedy pond',from the Old English words hrëod and lëah.[5] An alternative cod-derivation has been suggested as from the local red heavy clay or marl.[6] The difficulty with this explanation is that the word marl entered the language many centuries later. D'Abitot is thought to come from Urse d'Abetot, who was Sheriff of Worcestershire and who held the manor in 1086.[7]

Sometimes a circumflex is placed on the 'o' of d'Abitot, but this usage has been criticised. As Eric Smith says: "It is to be regretted that the Gloucestershire County Council placed a circumflex in the signs on the A417. This is emphatically incorrect, both historically and linguistically, Abitot is a word of (Germanic) Anglo-Saxon origin."[8]

Great Domesday

The King, William the Conqueror, received a report on Redmarley D'Abitot in the Domesday Book of 1086 though it would have been a very small part of his nationwide review of tax assessments. People mentioned include: Aethelric; Alvred; Alweard; Ansgot; Azur; Beorhtric son of Aelfgar; Beorhtwine; Cyneweard daughter of Sigrefr; Dodda; Durand; Ealdraed, etc.

Battle of Redmarley

Redmarley's fields were the site of a battle in 1644 during the Civil War. About 2000 to 3000 troops were involved and Royalist leader General Mynn was killed.

Governance

The village falls in the 'Redmarley' electoral ward. This ward stretches south to Pauntley. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 1,856.[9]

Famous residents

Distances from Redmarley

File:The Causeway, Redmarley D'Abitot - geograph.org.uk - 850481.jpg|The CausewayFile:Redmarley D'Abitot, Old house opposite the church.jpg|Old buildingFile:The Village Hall, Redmarley D'Abitot - geograph.org.uk - 368591.jpg|Village hallFile:Redmarley D'Abitot War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 886929.jpg|War memorialFile:Fine-looking house, Redmarley - geograph.org.uk - 849716.jpg|Once an innFile:Market gardening land near Redmarley - 1 - geograph.org.uk - 1711539.jpgFile:Snow covered farmland, near Redmarley - geograph.org.uk - 1726381.jpgFile:Exit from Pauntley Court - geograph.org.uk - 850781.jpgFile:Poppy invasion, Ryton - geograph.org.uk - 1335295.jpgFile:Meadow cranesbill - geograph.org.uk - 1335397.jpg

References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 28 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103315/https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11127869&c=GL19+3JZ&d=16&e=62&g=6427392&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1427554955146&enc=1. 2 April 2015.
  2. http://www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/redmarleyparish Welcome to Redmarley D'Abitot
  3. Web site: Redmarley D'abitot CP (Parish) . 2001 . Neighbourhood Statistics . . 12 September 2010.
  4. Book: Youngs, Frederic A Jr. . Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol.I: Southern England . 1979 . . London . 0-901050-67-9 . 184.
  5. Mills, A. D. (1991): A Dictionary of English Place-Names, Oxford University Press.
  6. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/RedmarleydAbitot/index.html Redmarley D'Abitot at genuki.com
  7. [Domesday Book]
  8. Warde, Eric (2007): Prosperity to this Parish, A History of Redmarley D'Abitot
  9. Web site: Ward population 2011. 28 March 2015.
  10. John Pearson (Henry Cloud), Barbara Cartland: Crusader in Pink, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1979

External links