Acton Burnell

Acton Burnell

St Mary's church and the 'castle', actually a fortified manor, at Acton Burnell.
Acton Burnell
 Acton Burnell shown within Shropshire
OS grid referenceSJ529020
Civil parishActon Burnell
Unitary authorityShropshire
Ceremonial countyShropshire
RegionWest Midlands
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town SHREWSBURY
Postcode district SY5
Dialling code 01694
Police West Mercia
Fire Shropshire
Ambulance West Midlands
EU Parliament West Midlands
UK ParliamentShrewsbury and Atcham
List of places
UK
England
Shropshire

Coordinates: 52°36′50″N 2°41′42″W / 52.614°N 2.695°W / 52.614; -2.695

Acton Burnell is a village and parish in the English county of Shropshire. Home to Concord College, it is also famous for an early meeting of Parliament where the Statute merchant was passed in 1283. The population at the 2011 census was 544.[1]

The village today has a post office and Anglican parish church, as well as a Roman Catholic cemetery.

Attractions

There are the remains of Acton Burnell Castle – not truly a castle but a fortified manor house — created by Robert Burnell and dating to the 13th century. Robert Burnell was the Bishop of Bath and Wells and Lord Chancellor to King Edward I. His family name was added to the placename Acton to give the village's name.

The entire village is designated as a conservation area.[2]

Acton Burnell Hall is now inhabited by Concord College, an international college, in the grounds of which stand the remaining walls (gable ends) of the 'Parliament Barn' where the first English Parliament at which the Commons were adequately represented met in 1283. Previously Parliament had met at Shrewsbury.

Approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south of the village is Langley Chapel.

St Mary's Church

Elizabethan tomb of Sir Richard Lee (died 1591) and his wife in St Mary's Church, ancestors of Robert E. Lee.

Acton Burnell's parish church — St Mary's — was also built by Robert Burnell and dates from circa 1260, though additions were made to it during the 16th century. The church is situated approximately 50 metres from the Castle.

Roman road

Running to the NW of the village is a Roman road, that ran between the modern day settlements of Wroxeter and Leintwardine.

Nearby villages

Nearby villages include Frodesley and Pitchford.

References

  1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. Shropshire Council Acton Burnell conservation area map

External links

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