Whitnash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitnash |
|
|---|---|
 St Margaret's Church |
|
 Whitnash
|
|
| Population | 10,489 (2021 census) |
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEAMINGTON SPA |
| Postcode district | CV31 |
| Dialling code | 01926 |
| Police | Warwickshire |
| Fire | Warwickshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
|
Whitnash is a town in Warwickshire, England. It is located just southeast of Leamington Spa and Warwick. Whitnash is also a civil parish, which is a local government area.
In 2021, about 10,489 people lived in Whitnash. The town has grown quite a bit over the years. For example, in 2001, its population was 7,760.
Contents
History of Whitnash
Whitnash has a long and interesting history. It was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book. This book was created in 1086 to record information about England.
Back then, Whitnash was called Witenas. By 1326, its name had changed to Whitenasshe. This name likely means 'white ash', referring to a type of tree. Some people also think the name could mean 'place by the wood' or 'sacred ash'.
People have probably lived in Whitnash since ancient Celtic times. There's a local story about a Celtic fort that used to be on a hill east of town.
The main church in Whitnash is called St Margaret's. It has Anglo-Saxon origins, meaning it's very old. The church stands on a small hill. This spot might have been a special pagan site before Christianity came to England. The church was mostly rebuilt between 1855 and 1880. Sir George Gilbert Scott, a famous architect, designed the new parts.
The Holy Well Legend
Whitnash once had a special holy well. This well was about 400 meters east of the town. A local legend says that a church bell was accidentally dropped into this well. This happened while the bell was being taken to be blessed.
According to the story, the bell then gained the power to tell the future! At night, people would drop a stone into the well and ask a question. Then, at daybreak, the bell would give its answer. One ring meant "yes," and two rings meant "no." The bell is even shown on Whitnash's official town crest.
For most of its history, Whitnash was a small village. In 1931, only 586 people lived there. You can still see some old buildings from the 1600s in the historic part of the village. These include the Plough and Harrow inn. Many of these buildings are "half-timbered," meaning they have wooden frames filled with other materials.
Whitnash used to be quite isolated. This helped it keep a strong sense of local identity. However, the town started to grow very quickly in the second half of the 1900s. Because it became much larger, Whitnash officially became a town in 1978. Its parish council then became a town council.
Town Centre and Facilities
Whitnash doesn't have one big, central town area like some places. This is because Leamington Spa town centre is only two miles away. So, Whitnash mostly grew as a place for homes, around the old village area near St. Margaret's Church.
However, Whitnash does have three smaller shopping areas. You can find these around Coppice Road, Heathcote Road/Acre Close, and Home Farm Crescent.
In November 2021, the Town Council opened a brand new building. It's called the Whitnash Civic Centre and Library. This modern building has the Town Council office, a library, a café, and a meeting room. It also has a sports hall where you can play badminton and other fun activities.
Education in Whitnash
There are four primary schools in Whitnash. These schools teach younger children. They are Whitnash Primary, St Joseph's RC Primary, St Margaret's Middle School, and Briar Hill First School.
Whitnash does not have any secondary schools for older students. However, students from Whitnash can go to nearby secondary schools. These include Campion School, Myton School, and Trinity Catholic School. These schools consider Whitnash to be in their main area for students.
Recreation and Sports
Whitnash offers several places for fun and sports. The Whitnash Sports & Social Club is a popular spot. Here, you can find a petanque club. Petanque is a game where players throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball. There is also a Lawn Bowls club at the centre.
The Whitnash Sports and Social Club is also home to the Leamington Royals rugby league team. This team represents Leamington Spa, Warwick, and the areas around them. Whitnash Town FC is the local association football (soccer) club. The Leamington and County golf club is also located within the parish of Whitnash.
Local Media and News
You can get local news and TV shows in Whitnash from BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. These are regional TV channels. The TV signals come from the Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter.
For local radio, you can listen to stations like BBC CWR, Capital Mid-Counties, and Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire. Other options include Fresh (Coventry & Warwickshire), Heart West Midlands, Smooth West Midlands, and Greatest Hits Radio Midlands.
From 2003 to 2022, the Town Council published a free newspaper called the Whitnash Tymes. This paper came out four times a year. It was delivered to every home in Whitnash. It usually had messages from the mayor, local news, events, and advertisements for local businesses.
Population and Diversity
The 2021 census collected information about the people living in Whitnash. It showed that 78.2% of residents were White. About 15.5% were Asian, and 0.9% were Black. Another 2.8% were Mixed, and 2.5% belonged to other ethnic groups.
The census also looked at different religions in Whitnash. About 46.1% of people were Christian. Many people, 36.6%, said they had no religion. Other religions included Sikh (12%), Hindu (3.2%), and Muslim (1.5%).
Twin Towns
Whitnash is twinned with two other towns. This means they have a special friendship and often exchange visits.
- Weilerswist, Germany
- Villebon-sur-Yvette, France
See also
In Spanish: Whitnash para niños
