New Bilton

The area was historically within the parish of Bilton (which has also been absorbed into Rugby) it emerged as a distinct settlement during the Victorian era, developing into a suburb primarily to house workers involved with the local cement industry and brick making industry;{{cite web |title=Roads J – Y |url=https://www.rugby-local-history.org/index.php/rugby-roads?id=118 |publisher=Rugby Local History Research Group |access-date=22 February 2022}} the cement industry still continues but the brick making industry has since died out. The area north of Lawford Road was entirely built-up by 1905, but the area south of the road was developed later in the 20th century.{{cite book |title=Rugby: Aspects of The Past, Volume 11 |date=2020 |publisher=Rugby Local History Research Group |pages=68–75}}

In 1867 New Bilton became a separate ecclesiastical parish from Bilton, and the parish church of St Oswald on Lawford Road was consecrated, later being enlarged in 1881.{{cite web |title=New Bilton History |url=https://forebears.io/england/warwickshire/rugby/new-bilton |website=Forebears.io |publisher=extract from Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire (1896) |access-date=24 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=New Bilton, Warwickshire Historical Description |url=https://ukga.org/england/Warwickshire/towns/NewBilton.html |website=UKGA.org |publisher=Transcribed from The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England & Wales, 1894–5 |access-date=24 January 2019}} In 2012, the church was renamed St Matthew and St Oswald's, after the nearby St Matthew church was closed.{{cite web |title=Our Heritage |url= https://www.stmatthews.org.uk/Groups/266398/m2o_Rugby/New_Site/Who_we_are/Our_Heritage/Our_Heritage.aspx|website=stmatthews.org |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190420032810/https://www.stmatthews.org.uk/Groups/266398/m2o_Rugby/New_Site/Who_we_are/Our_Heritage/Our_Heritage.aspx|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date= 20 April 2019}}

Despite being directly adjacent to it, much of New Bilton only became a part of Rugby in 1932 when the town's boundaries were expanded.Rugby Advertiser, Friday, 1 April 1932, p. 5

New Bilton comprises a mixture of Victorian terraced housing, and some later 20th century former council housing and a number of semi-detached houses. Some modern housing has been built on the former GEC site to the rear of Avenue Road up to the limestone quarries of Cemex. New Bilton is served by two primary schools; St Matthew's Bloxam CE Primary School and St Oswald's C of E Primary School. The local community are served by two pubs; the Royal Oak and Holly Bush, a number of local shops, including a Co-op store, and a Post Office based in a petrol station on Lawford Road.{{cite web |title=New Bilton Post Office closes doors despite concerns from residents and councillors |url=https://www.warwickshireworld.com/business/new-bilton-post-office-closes-doors-despite-concerns-from-residents-and-councillors-3920309 |publisher=Warwickshire World |access-date=10 January 2023 |date=16 November 2022}}

Webb Ellis Road in New Bilton is home to the grounds of Rugby Lions Rugby Football Club, Rugby Cricket Club and the Rugby Lawn Tennis Club.{{cite web |title=Sports clubs and organisations – Rugby Cricket Club |url=https://www.rugby.gov.uk/directory_record/7602/rugby_cricket_club/category/142/cricket |publisher=Rugby Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Sports clubs and organisations – Rugby Lawn Tennis Club |url=https://www.rugby.gov.uk/directory_record/7654/rugby_lawn_tennis_club/category/164/ten |publisher=Rugby Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Sports clubs and organisations – Rugby Lions Football Club |url=https://www.rugby.gov.uk/directory_record/7645/rugby_lions_football_club/category/158/ |access-date=10 January 2023}}

The New Bilton area is visually dominated by the large Cemex (former Rugby Cement) works, which towers to a height of {{convert|400|ft|m}},{{cite web |title=Chance to climb Rugby's Cemex tower |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/chance-climb-rugbys-cemex-tower-3079147 |publisher=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=23 September 2021 |date=31 August 2009}} A large disused quarry associated with the cement industry is located off Parkfield Road. In 2020 plans were put forward for this quarry to be filled in with spoil from the construction of the High Speed 2 railway line, which would involve bringing a short section of the former Rugby to Leamington railway line into use to deliver the material by train.{{cite web |title=Dangerous quarry near Rugby town centre to be filled with rubble from HS2 – but there are concerns over disturbance to residents |url=https://www.warwickshireworld.com/news/environment/dangerous-quarry-near-rugby-town-centre-to-be-filled-with-rubble-from-hs2-but-there-are-concerns-over-disturbance-to-residents-1392411 |publisher=Warwickshire World |access-date=10 January 2023 |date=7 February 2020}}

St Matthew & St Oswald’s Church, New Bilton 7.21 (1).jpg|St Matthew and St Oswald's Church.

Cemex Cement Works, from Lawford Road, Rugby 7.21 (2).jpg|Cemex cement works

New Bilton Quarry - geograph.org.uk - 851052.jpg|Parkfield Road disused quarry

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Category:Areas of Rugby, Warwickshire