Radford Semele
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|52.277000|-1.496000|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Radford Semele
| static_image =
| static_image_caption =
| population = 2,488
| population_ref = (2021 census)
| civil_parish = Radford Semele
| shire_district = Warwick
| shire_county = Warwickshire
| region = West Midlands
| constituency_westminster =
| post_town = Leamington Spa
| postcode_district = CV31
| postcode_area = CV
| dial_code =
| os_grid_reference = SP344644
}}
Radford Semele {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|æ|d|f|ər|d|_|ˈ|s|ɛ|m|ᵻ|l|i}} is a village and civil parish in Warwickshire, England, situated close to the Regency spa town of Leamington Spa. According to the 2001 Census, Radford Semele parish has a population of 2,448, according to 2021 census.{{cite web |title=UK Office for National Statistics (web). |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwales/census2021unroundeddata#population-and-household-estimates-england-and-wales-data |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=Office of National Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}
It lies on the A425 route between central Leamington (2 miles to the west) and Southam (5.5 miles to the southeast). It has a 16th-century pub with a priest hole. The local school is the Radford Semele Church of England School. This is a primary school and most senior pupils go to school in either Southam, Leamington Spa or Warwick which are close by. As well as the parish church of St Nicholas the village also has a second church built in 1874, the Radford Semele Baptist Church.{{cite web|url=http://www.rsbc.info|title=Home - RSBC|publisher=Radford Semele Baptist Church|access-date=1 January 2012}}
History
A poorly preserved Roman villa was excavated in 1974 near Pounce Hill Farm, approximately {{convert|1.5|km|mi|0|order=flip}} south of the village.{{Cite web|url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record?titleId=98199|title=Archaeology Data Service}} The village is named after a family from Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly in Normandy - they were lords of the manor in around 1120. The old Weedon to Leamington Spa line used to run through the village but in the late 1960s the line was closed to passengers. The site of where the old line used to be is now a new cycleway as part of The National Cycle Network.
The village has a 16th-century pub called The White Lion situated on the main road running through the village. On 2 February 2006 the pub caught alight, ruining the thatched roof and interior.{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/4675794.stm
|title = Firefighters tackle old pub blaze
|access-date = 13 May 2016
|date = 3 February 2006
|work = BBC News Online
|publisher = BBC
}} As of January 2011 the pub is open again.
St Nicholas Church
File:St Nicholas Church Radford Semele.jpg
File:St Nicholas Church Radford Semele after fire.jpg
St Nicholas Church, a Grade II listed building, that caught fire on 16 March 2008 and all that remained was the tower and shell of the building.
{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7299456.stm
|title = Medieval church damaged by fire
|access-date = 18 March 2008
|date = 16 March 2008
|work = BBC News Online
|publisher = BBC
}}
The fire was initially not considered suspicious;
{{cite news
|url = http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0150swarksnews/tm_headline=warwickshire-blaze-church-will-cost-millions&method=full&objectid=20639270&siteid=92746-name_page.html
|title = Warwickshire blaze church will cost millions
|access-date = 19 March 2008
|date = 18 March 2008
|work = icCoventry.co.uk
|publisher = Coventry Telegraph
}} however, there is evidence that there was a break-in on the night of the fire, and it is believed to have been arson following failed attempts at several other churches nearby.
{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7419161.stm
|title = Fire church now cleared of debris
|work = BBC News Online
|publisher = BBC
|date = 25 May 2008
|access-date = 11 November 2008
}}
The church has since been restored and was reopened on 15 May 2013.{{cite news
|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-22501505
|title = Arson-hit St Nicholas' Church to reopen after restoration
|work = BBC News Online
|publisher = BBC
|date = 12 May 2013
|access-date = 14 May 2013}}
References
{{Reflist|35em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Radford Semele}}
- {{NHLE |num=1364924|desc=St Nicholas Church}}
{{Warwick district}}
{{authority control}}