60-646: The Millennium Link is one of the biggest engineering projects ever undertaken by British Waterways . The Union Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal were originally joined by a flight of locks . The Millennium Link project replaced the locks with a boat lift , the Falkirk Wheel . The project launch was in October 1994, and it received a grant of £32 million from the Millennium Commission ;
120-403: A mutual organisation , but no further details were released. BW welcomed the announcement, with the chairman Tony Hales stating that the plan would preserve the canals and their associated infrastructure, and "safeguard against a return to the decline and dereliction which they faced in the last century". It would also "unlock the enormous public support that there is for them." By September of
180-487: A decline in the wearing of hats, the trade had declined substantially by the 1970s with just three companies remaining, Denham & Hargrave Ltd, Vero & Everitt Ltd and Wilson & Stafford Ltd. The production of felt hats in the town ceased altogether with the closure of the Wilson & Stafford factory in 1999. As of 2018 the factory received the go-ahead to be redeveloped into canalside residential apartments. However,
240-633: A further hundred are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Through its charitable arm The Waterways Trust , British Waterways maintained a museum of its history at the National Waterways Museum 's three sites at Gloucester Docks, Stoke Bruerne and Ellesmere Port . Since the transfer of the assets and responsibilities of British Waterways to the Canal & River Trust, The Waterways Trust in England and Wales has merged with
300-399: A further £14 million through third party contributions. However, operating revenue for the company was at a deficit of £3.7 million, a result of a large cut of 16 per cent in the government grant given to BW, and through the continuing programme of renovation and works costing £92.1 million. British Waterways owned a large canalside property portfolio which made a considerable contribution to
360-495: A number of Barrow supporters. The ringleaders and other participants of the crowd trouble were subsequently arrested, charged and sentenced to various jail terms. Since this incident the club has established itself as a family and community orientated club. The rugby union team is Atherstone Rugby Football Club who play in the Warwickshire Two League. Their ground is situated on Ratcliffe Road. The same ground
420-476: A number of rivers and docks in England, Scotland and Wales . On 2 July 2012, all of British Waterways' assets and responsibilities in England and Wales were transferred to the newly founded charity the Canal & River Trust . In Scotland, British Waterways continues to operate as a standalone public corporation under the trading name Scottish Canals . The British Waterways Board was initially established as
480-452: A public highway with large crowds. The game celebrated its 800th anniversary in 1999. The game is a complete free-for-all played along Watling Street (the old Roman road ) at the point where it forms the main street of Atherstone town. The ball is decorated with red, white and blue ribbons that are exchanged for money by who ever is able to obtain one and is made of thick leather to make it too heavy to kick far. The match starts at 3:00pm when
540-778: A result of the Transport Act 1962 and took control of the inland waterways assets of the British Transport Commission in 1963. By the final years of its existence, British Waterways was sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in England and Wales, and by the Scottish Government in Scotland. British Waterways managed and maintained 2,200 miles (3,541 km) of canals , rivers and docks within
600-400: A result, many remainder waterways could face abandonment or transference to the local authority who would contribute to the waterway's upkeep as part of the act. Additionally, many of these remainder waterways were crossed by new roads and motorways without provision for boat navigation. As the century progressed, leisure boating on the canals began to expand, with numbers reaching 20,000 by
660-500: A typical Midlands market town, taking full advantage of its location and agricultural setting. The argument that Altherstone declined in favour of emerging cities in the 18th century has been challenged. In the 1750s, Altherstone was very much still a vibrant settlement, possessing both a book club and a bowling-green. It was regularly frequented by the leisure-seeking gentry, including Sir Roger Newdigate and his circle of friends. The Coventry Canal reached Atherstone in 1769, and
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#1732772290018720-418: A waterways manager. These regions were: British Waterways was funded through a mixture of commercial activities, government grants and grants and donations from charitable bodies. In 2010/11, BW raised over £103.6 million from their commercial activities, including waterways licensing, received £58.9 million from a government grant, issued via the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs , and gained
780-565: Is North Warwickshire Borough Council , which, since May 2023, has been under no overall control . As a civil parish , Atherstone also has a Town Council ; Atherstone Town Council has 15 councillors representing three wards. Atherstone is situated 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Nuneaton , 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Tamworth , 13 miles (21 km) north of Coventry , 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Birmingham , and 17 miles (27 km) east-southeast of Leicester . The village of Mancetter has become contiguous with Atherstone to
840-401: Is not widely accepted. The main argument put in favour of this theory, is that financial reparations were made to Atherstone after the battle and not to Market Bosworth. The battle has now been definitively located around the 'Fenn Lanes', which run from near Atherstone to Sutton Cheney. The battle site is NW of Stoke Golding, roughly halfway between Atherstone and Market Bosworth, and near
900-611: Is on the A5 national route, and is adjacent to the border with Leicestershire which is here formed by the River Anker . It is situated between the towns of Tamworth and Nuneaton . Atherstone is the administrative centre of the North Warwickshire district, with the offices of North Warwickshire Borough Council located in the town. Atherstone has had its own local tradition of holding an annual Shrove Tuesday Ball Game in
960-520: Is on the main A5 national route and close to the M42 motorway . The Coventry Canal and a series of eleven locks runs through the town, as does the West Coast Main Line railway. Atherstone has its railway station on this line, with an hourly service 7 days a week to both London and Crewe via Stafford . The current level of service was introduced in 2008, and is a big improvement on
1020-416: Is only one rule: players are not allowed to kill one another. Whoever is able to hang onto the ball at the end of the game not only wins the game but is allowed to keep the ball as well. The game is controlled by a number of "marshalls" some of whom are former winners. Police are present but for the two hours the game is in progress stand back and allow the action to continue. Legend has it that many an old feud
1080-487: Is served by the local newspapers, Atherstone Herald and Tamworth Herald . The major football team in the town is Atherstone Town , known as 'the Adders'. This is after the tradition which has Atherstone being a corruption of the name "Adders – stone". Their ground is located on Sheepy Road. Atherstone's team started out as Atherstone Town Football Club in 1887 but folded in 1979, from 1979 to 2003 Atherstone's football team
1140-411: Is settled on Ball Game day. This Shrove Tuesday ball game has been held annually since the early 12th century and is one of Atherstone's claims to fame. The 2019 edition of the game was noted for being extremely violent with several videos of the event being uploaded to social media. Event organisers disputed the accounts of violence as "nothing new". The origin of the game, in the reign of King John ,
1200-565: Is shared by Atherstone Town Cricket Club, Atherstone Rangers Junior Football Club and is the home of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club, who play at the nearby Queen Elizabeth Academy. Atherstone Leisure Complex is at the north end of Long Street and consists of a swimming pool and gym. Atherstone Memorial Hall is also part of the leisure complex. An annual tradition in Atherstone is the Shrove Tuesday Ball Game played on
1260-538: Is thought to have been a "Match of Gold that was played between the Warwickshire Lads and the Leicestershire Lads on Shrove Tuesday" . The 'ball' used is specially made each year and is 'thrown out' by a prominent sporting or show business personality. Shop windows are boarded-up and traffic is diverted on the afternoon whilst the game, in which hundreds of people take part, progresses along
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#17327722900181320-564: Is to the southeast. The A5 road (former Watling Street ) historically ran through the town centre, but a dual carriageway bypass was opened in 1963. Atherstone is one of the closest towns to the geographic centre of England , which since 2002 has been recognised as being at Lindley Hall Farm , around 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Atherstone, across the county border in Leicestershire. Atherstone used to be known for its hatting industry. In part due to its central location in
1380-478: The A5 ) ran through what is now Atherstone, and an important defended Roman settlement named Manduessedum existed at Mancetter near the site of modern-day Atherstone. It is widely believed that the forces of the rebel Queen Boudica were defeated in their final battle against the Romans at a location near Manduessedum in around AD 60. This was suggested as the most likely location of the battle by among others,
1440-508: The Canal & River Trust . The following waterways and dockland were under British Waterways' ownership and care: The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the non-tidal River Thames , rivers in the Fens and East Anglia and some other waterways. The Port of London Authority is that for the tidal section of the Thames. The Broads Authority is the navigation authority for
1500-552: The Norfolk Broads . The Manchester Ship Canal , Bridgewater Canal , Basingstoke Canal , Neath and Tennant Canal , Cam and Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation were managed by other authorities. Atherstone Atherstone / ˈ æ ð ər s t ən / is a market town and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire , England . Located in the far north of the county, Atherstone
1560-640: The Transport Act 1962 , the British Transport Commission was split into several new organisations, including the British Railways Board and the London Transport Board , with the inland waterways of Britain becoming part of the new British Waterways Board (BWB). In the same year, a remarkably harsh winter saw many boats frozen into their moorings, unable to move for weeks at a time. That was one of
1620-437: The 1970s), while metalworkers , locksmiths and nailers fired their furnaces with local coal and the alemakers supplied thirsty palates on market days. The surviving inventories from 16th century Mancetter provide a fascinating glimpse into Atherstone's Elizabethan merchants and traders, before the town was economically overshadowed by the bustling cities of Coventry and Birmingham . They show Atherstone at this time as
1680-507: The 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of canals and rivers in England and Wales cared for by British Waterways. The new name, the Canal & River Trust , and logo were revealed in October 2011, and the trust was granted charitable status on 5 April 2012. On 2 July 2012 all of British Waterways' responsibilities for waterways in England and Wales were transferred to the Canal & River Trust . The Scottish Government , however, decided that
1740-440: The Canal & River Trust. It continues, however, as an independent charity in Scotland. During the early 20th century, the canal network was in decline because of increasing competition from the railways and road transport. Until the 1950s, freight and other cargo was still carried on the canals, by then owned by the railway companies. When the railways were nationalised in 1948, the canals they owned were also incorporated into
1800-515: The UK, Atherstone's economy has expanded rapidly since the 1980s, with several major companies such as 3M (1964) TNT (1987), Aldi (1990s) setting up their head office operations and/or national distribution centres in the town. The British Home Stores warehouse which had operated in the town for 40 years, closed in August 2016, It is now used by Royal Mail as a regional sorting office. Atherstone
1860-471: The United Kingdom including the buildings, structures and landscapes alongside these waterways. Half of the United Kingdom population lives within five miles of a canal or river once managed by British Waterways. In addition to the watercourses, British Waterways also cared for and owned 2,555 listed structures including seventy scheduled monuments . A further 800 areas have special designation and
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1920-444: The ball is thrown from the balcony of the local Conservative Club (since the closure of the local branch of Barclays Bank , from whose upper floor the ball was previously thrown, in 2019) and continues until about 5:00pm. However the ball may legitimately be deflated or hidden after 4:30pm. There are no teams and no goals, though in the last century the match was played between a team from Warwickshire and one from Leicestershire. There
1980-606: The canals to users other than boaters, BW set up the Waterscape website in 2003 to be an official information and leisure resource for UK inland waterways. The website worked alongside the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority and covered all canals, rivers and waterways in England, Scotland and Wales. The Waterscape website was taken down on 3 July 2012 and was replaced by the new website of
2040-584: The chairman (in the final phase of operations, Tony Hales), and appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Government (eight by the former and two by the latter). In addition, there were nine executive directors led by Robin Evans, the Chief Executive. At a regional level, British Waterways was divided into thirteen regional waterways; each appointed
2100-483: The conservation of historic structures". However, by the late 1990s the canal network and British Waterways were flourishing; revenues generated for canal maintenance reached £100 million for the first time in 1998, large grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund allowed the canal network to expand again by restoring former canals and additional funding was announced for British Waterways in 1999 by
2160-580: The creation of burgage plots, a type of land tenure that provided them with special privileges. A manuscript discovered by Marjorie Morgan among the muniments of Cambridge's King's College (Ms. C9), refers to the creation of nine new burgage strips from land belonging to seven of the tenants in Atherstone vill . By the late Tudor period Atherstone had become a centre for leatherworking , clothmaking, metalworking and brewing . Local sheep farmers and cattle graziers supplied wool and leather to local tanners and shoemakers (an industry that continued until
2220-416: The early 12th century. The chapel was granted to Henry Cartwright in 1542, then left abandoned and neglected until 1692 when Samuel Bracebridge settled a yearly sum for the parson of Mancetter to preach there every other Sunday in the winter season. After this, St. Mary's Chapel seems to have experienced something of a revival. Its square tower being rebuilt in the fashionable " Gothic " style in 1782, and then
2280-404: The early 1980s. Additionally, the work of voluntary restoration groups succeeded in restoring some waterways to their former condition. However, despite this steady progress throughout the 1970s and 1980s, organisations such as English Heritage criticised the newly named British Waterways for failing to provide "adequate training or access to professional advice [for British Waterways officers] on
2340-584: The eminent archaeologist Graham Webster , although no firm evidence has emerged to confirm this to be the case. The Domesday Book of 1086, records that Atherstone (then named Aderestone ) was held by Countess Godiva . The name likely originated from the Old English Aedelred's tun 'tun' meaning farmstead or town. After the Norman Conquest , the manor of Atherstone was given to Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester who bestowed it to
2400-437: The funding of the waterway network. This amounted to £130m in the five years prior to 2008. As of 2008, a HM Treasury team was reviewing the management of this portfolio in terms of public sector savings and efficiencies. Another source of revenue contemplated by BW in October 2008 was the installation of 50 wind turbines on waterside land, generating around 100 megawatts. As part of British Waterways' commitment to promote
2460-417: The junction with the road running south from Market Bosworth. In Tudor times , Atherstone was a thriving commercial centre for weaving and clothmaking. The town's favourable location laid out as a long ‘ribbon development’ along Watling Street , ensured its growth as a market town . While it remained an agricultural settlement in medieval times, attempts were made to encourage merchants and traders through
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2520-470: The monks of Bec Abbey of Normandy . In 1246 the monks of the Abbey obtained a charter from Henry III to hold a weekly market at Atherstone, thus transforming the settlement into a market town . In the 14th century, the town flourished, and Ralph Basset founded a house of Augustinian friars here in 1375, although this never became very important. The ancient St Mary's Church in Atherstone dates from
2580-459: The nationalised waterways into three distinct categories as specified by BWB: British Waterways Board was required under the Act to keep commercial and cruising waterways fit for their respective traffic and use. However, these obligations were subject to the caveat of being by the most economical means and BWB had no requirement to maintain remainder waterways or keep them in a navigable condition. As
2640-770: The new British Transport Commission . The Commission focused on encouraging commercial traffic to the waterways, but with the construction of motorways in the 1950s, and legislation such as the Clean Air Act 1956 affecting the coal carriers using the waterways, that policy could not be sustained. The last regular coal long-distance narrow-boat-carrying contract, from Atherstone to the Kearley and Tonge jam factory at Southall near London, ended in October 1970, although lime juice continued to be carried by narrow boat from Brentford to Boxmoor until 1981, and aggregate from Thurmaston to Syston from 1976 until 1988. Under
2700-473: The potential for volunteers on the waterways, allowing the waterways community to play a greater role. Its plans involved moving to become a charitable trust , in charge of the current canal systems in addition to acquiring other waterways, such as those operated by the Environment Agency . In March 2010, the plans were given a boost when the government announced in the Budget that it intended to turn BW into
2760-505: The railway station building is occupied by a local veterinary practice. Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central . Television signals are received from the Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC CWR , BBC Radio Leicester can also be received, Capital Midlands , Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire and Greatest Hits Radio Midlands . The town
2820-512: The railways arrived in 1847, with the opening of the Trent Valley Railway , upon which Atherstone has its station . These transport links helped the industrialisation of the town. Atherstone was once an important hatting town, and became well known for its felt hat industry. The industry began in the 17th century and at its height in the early 20th century there were seven firms employing 3,000 people. Due to cheap imports and
2880-459: The reasons given for the decision by the BWB to formally cease most of its commercial narrow boat traffic on the canals. By that time, the canal network had shrunk to just 2,000 miles (3,200 km), half the size it was at its peak in the early 19th century. However, the basic network was still intact, with many of the closures affecting duplicate routes or branches. The Transport Act 1968 classified
2940-471: The remains of the town's last hat manufacturing site, on Coleshill Road, were scheduled for demolition in 2022, after the local council decided it could not be safely redeveloped for residential use. Atherstone is part of the parliamentary constituency of North Warwickshire and Bedworth . The current Member of Parliament (MP) for the area being Rachel Taylor of the Labour Party . The local authority
3000-449: The same year, the proposals seemed likely to be enacted; a leaked list of quangos that were due to be abolished was acquired by the BBC , including British Waterways, with the note: "Abolish as a non-departmental public body and mutualise". The following month saw an official announcement from British Waterways confirming the leaked list, and that a new charity would be established to tend
3060-487: The service two decades earlier there were only five trains a day, just going between Stafford and Rugby. The historic station building, built in 1847, was under threat of demolition in the early 1980s. Thanks to a local group, the Railway and Steam Traction Society, listed status was obtained, with the building celebrating its 150th anniversary in 1997. Building work won a special Ian Allan conservation award. As of 2008,
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#17327722900183120-450: The southeast, although it remains a separate civil parish . Atherstone is close to the River Anker which forms the boundary between Warwickshire and Leicestershire . The village of Witherley is located on the opposite bank of the river in neighbouring Leicestershire. Other nearby villages include Sheepy Magna , Ratcliffe Culey , Fenny Drayton , Grendon , Dordon , Baxterley , Baddesley Ensor and Hartshill . The town of Coleshill
3180-467: The streets, which has been played annually for over 800 years since 1199. In the 2021 census the population of the civil parish of Atherstone was at 9,212. The population of the larger built-up area which includes the adjoining village of Mancetter was 11,259. Atherstone has a long history dating back to Roman times: The Roman road, the Watling Street (most of which later became part of
3240-595: The subsequent battle. The battle, which is believed to have occurred eight miles (thirteen kilometres) away near Market Bosworth in Leicestershire , resulted in Tudor's forces defeating those of King Richard III , enabling Tudor to claim the throne and become King Henry VII, establishing the Tudor dynasty . A theory exists, that the battle actually took place in the fields of Merevale above Atherstone, although this
3300-427: The then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott . By the early 2000s, boating numbers had overtaken the previous industrial revolution high and the canal network was officially classed as 'safe' following the completion of all outstanding safety works. By 2009, British Waterways was looking for a means of gaining a larger and more secure supply of funding in order to plug a £30m shortfall in its budget, while utilising
3360-413: The total cost of the project was £78 million. Work started in 1999. 56°0′0″N 3°50′26″W / 56.00000°N 3.84056°W / 56.00000; -3.84056 British Waterways British Waterways , often shortened to BW, was a statutory corporation wholly owned by the government of the United Kingdom . It served as the navigation authority for the majority of canals and
3420-583: The town's main streets. Atherstone has strong naval connections. Three Royal Navy ships have been named HMS Atherstone after the town: the vessels were commissioned in 1916 , 1939 , and most recently, 1985 . Primary age schools in Atherstone include the Outwoods Primary School, the Racemeadow Primary Academy, and St Benedict's RC Primary Academy. The Queen Elizabeth Academy is the state secondary school in
3480-510: The waterways in Scotland would not be part of the new charity, and that British Waterways Scotland would remain a state-owned entity, operating as Scottish Canals . British Waterways operated from headquarters in Watford , with additional administrative offices in Leeds and thirteen regional waterway offices. At the strategic level, there were ten non-executive board members, who were led by
3540-699: Was further redesigned in 1849 by Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon. On 21 August 1485, Henry Tudor , and up to 11,000 troops stayed at Atherstone the day before the Battle of Bosworth . Tudor was said to have stayed at the Three Tuns Inn in Long Street, while his troops camped in a meadow north of the parish church. Reputedly, whilst in Atherstone, Tudor secretly met with the powerful noblemen Thomas Stanley and his brother William Stanley who pledged their support for Tudor, which would prove decisive in
3600-404: Was known as Atherstone United Football Club but folded again mid-season in 2003. The team then reverted to its previous name Atherstone Town Football Club. The club made the national headlines in October 2013 when during an FA Cup 3rd Qualifying round against Barrow A.F.C. crowd violence erupted during the first half when a small "minority" of Atherstone supporters ran across the pitch and attacked
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