Over the years King’s Newnham has had a rich history with both King’s Newnham Hall and the Manor House heavily featured. Perhaps because of the prominence of these, and also Highfields House and The Laurels, it does not have a specific central landmark such as a Village Green – although there were some green spaces next to the road which have been used for recreation over the years.
Back in 1982 the central green area in the village was honoured contributing to the Best Kept Hamlet in the Rugby area, as detailed by village resident John Forsyth in the Parish Magazine, as follows:
King’s Newnham – Best Kept Hamlet – Summer 1982
On one of the best days of our Indian. Summer, a Saturday in mid September, a delightful ceremony took place at King’s Newnham when Mrs Mary Meikle received a Silver Challenge Cup on behalf of the residents for the Best Kept Hamlet in the Rural area of Rugby.
The Meikle lawns and bright hues of flowers and trees gave the right setting for the ladies, attractive in their summer frocks, children playing around and all the men spruced up (what all? Well nearly all). The. whole affair had the air of a typical English Garden Party even down to the parting glass of sherry.
It was interesting to learn in a preamble from Mr F.G. Lockwood, the Chairman of the Rugby Area Best Kept Village and Hamlet Committee, that this national and now, as well, Continental organisation, with the object of encouraging pride of the living places in rural communities, started on Bilton Village Green, just three miles away.
It was one of the initiatives, and activities of the Late indefatigable Wing Commander Norman Edyvean-Walker D,L, who, in the 1950’s called a meeting on the green, gathered a committee round him and started an annual competition for villages in the district. Now every county in Great Britain and much of the continent have followed suit. Two years ago the local Committee set up a separate class for Hamlets and this year participants were judged from Stretton Baskerville to Sawbridge.
It was a fitting touch that Mrs Janet Bocus of Kites Hardwick made the presentation to Mrs Meikle, since it was her Mother, the Late Mrs Hilary Gilks, who donated the Trophy and had fostered the scheme.
A right-angled corner in a country road round which half the cars in Warwickshire speed with screeching tyres and squealing brakes, is a pretty unlikely start for a Hamlet of beauty and tidiness but, Mary Meikle with her green fingers and unflagging industry has made it so, inspiring the rest of us to keep our grass cut, the edges trim and the weeds down. Little wonder we toasted her so enthusiastically that celebrated Saturday afternoon.
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There is a page which looks at the central area of the village here, and further discussions of the village history on other pages looking at the various farms and listed buildings, along with the roads in the parish. There are then separate discussions on the geology and archaeology in the area, as well as the various pages discussing the censuses and the cottages, as well as the auctions in 1918 and 1938.
The above maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. They were produced in 1886 and revised in 1903/5. These maps and more can be found via this link. There are different ways of navigating the maps there – the “Marker Pin” option is ideal for finding maps that cover a particular area, and the “Side By Side” viewer is excellent for comparing an old map with a current day view.