Armitage
{{Short description|Village in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Armitage
| country = England
| region = West Midlands
|static_image_name =Church of John the Baptist, Armitage - geograph.org.uk - 1616795.jpg
|static_image_caption=St John the Baptist's
| os_grid_reference = SK084160
| coordinates = {{coord|52.74156|-1.87702|type:city_region:GB-STS|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = RUGELEY
| postcode_district = WS15
| postcode_area = WS
| dial_code= 01543
| constituency_westminster= Lichfield{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/|title = United Kingdom Parliament|accessdate = 18 September 2009}}
| civil_parish = Armitage with Handsacre
| shire_district = Lichfield
| shire_county = Staffordshire
}}
Armitage is a village in Staffordshire, England, on the Trent and Mersey Canal south of Rugeley and north of Lichfield. With the village of Handsacre it forms the civil parish of Armitage with Handsacre, which had a population of 5,335 at the 2011 Census.
Armitage is the home of Armitage Shanks sanitary porcelain factory. Its parish church, St. John the Baptist church, is at the north end of the village. The organ of St John the Baptist church is of particular interest due to its size, age and history.{{cite web |url=http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/NPORView.html?RI=A00285 |title=The National Pipe Organ Register |accessdate=2014-01-07 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107143907/http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/NPORView.html?RI=A00285 |archive-date=2014-01-07 }} The organ was built in 1789 for nearby Lichfield Cathedral, but moved here in 1865, commissioned by the then organist Josiah Spode (IV) who resided at nearby Hawkesyard estate, also known as Spode House.{{cite web |url=http://www.hawkesyardestate.com/home/hawkesyard-heritage/ |title=History and Heritage of Hawkesyard EstateHawkesyard Estate |accessdate=2014-01-07 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107145034/http://www.hawkesyardestate.com/home/hawkesyard-heritage/ |archive-date=2014-01-07 }} Armitage is served by Chaserider bus services 826 and 828 connecting to Lichfield, Rugeley and Stafford.
Etymology and location
The name comes from the Middle English Ermitage, meaning 'Hermitage',{{cite web |url=http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/ins/kepn/results_search.php# |title = Key to English Place Names |publisher = Institute for Name-Studies |access-date = 29 September 2009}} in turn derived from the Old French ermitage,{{Cite book |title=Place-names of Great Britain and Irelandv|last=Field |first=John |date=1980 |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0389201545 |location=Newton Abbot, Devon |oclc=6964610 |page=25}} from a tradition that a hermit lived between the church and the River Trent.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
It does not appear in the Domesday Book, although Handsacre does.
Armitage is now part of Armitage with Handsacre, although this is due to growth—historically they were once separate villages. It lies close to Hill Ridware along with the Hamstall Ridware, Mavesyn Ridware, Pipe Ridware and Longdon. It lies close to the town of Rugeley and a few miles north of Lichfield. It is located on the West Coast Main Line, the nearest stop being Rugeley. With continuous growth in the area Armitage and Rugeley are growing closer together.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Armitage}}
{{Civil Parishes of Lichfield}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Villages in Staffordshire
{{Staffordshire-geo-stub}}