Abbots Bromley is a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
and
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Staffordshire, England. The council is based in Burton upon Trent. The borough also contains the town of Ut ...
district of
Staffordshire
Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...
and lies approximately east of
Stafford
Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, England. It is located about south of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Wolverhampton, and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 71,673 at the 2021–2022 United Kingd ...
, England. According to the University of Nottingham English Place-names project, the settlement name Abbots Bromley could mean 'clearing/wood frequented by
broom
A broom (also known as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool, consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a ...
'. The prefix 'abbots' was added because the village was held by
Burton Abbey. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,779.
Abbots Bromley was rated the best place to live in the Midlands by the ''
Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' in 2013 and again in 2016. The
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
is a regular entrant and often winner of the
Staffordshire
Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...
Best Kept
Village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
Competition
Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indi ...
which takes place across the county each year. Originally organised by the
Community Council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.
In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies. ...
of
Staffordshire
Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...
there is a best-kept village award for a large and small village in each of the county's Districts and Boroughs. Whilst down the years the
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Staffordshire, England. The council is based in Burton upon Trent. The borough also contains the town of Ut ...
district prize has been awarded to Abbots Bromley on a number of occasions the overall county title continues to elude. In August 2017 the village won the double honour of winning both the best kept village and community council trophy award, a double not achieved for many years. This double was repeated again in 2018. In 2019 the competition was taken on by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Abbots Bromley won for the third consecutive year. Through the competition Abbots Bromley maintains a healthy rivalry with nearby
Yoxall, also a regular winner in the
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Staffordshire, England. The council is based in Burton upon Trent. The borough also contains the town of Ut ...
section.
The village is world-renowned for its annual
Horn Dance, an ancient tradition which attracts visitors from far and wide.
Location
The village sits within the Postal Area of the nearby settlement of
Rugeley
Rugeley ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the north-eastern edge of Cannock Chase next to the River Trent; it is north of Lichfield, southeast of Stafford, northeast of ...
which is the closest town to the village at from Abbots Bromley. The village and civil parish lie within the
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Staffordshire, England. The council is based in Burton upon Trent. The borough also contains the town of Ut ...
District. The village is north of the city of
Lichfield
Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...
and is south west of
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border.
The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...
.
[- Staffordshire A-Z County Atlas: 2011 Edition: Scale:3.8 inches to 1 mile (5.9cm to 1km) ] The nearest railway station is at
Rugeley
Rugeley ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the north-eastern edge of Cannock Chase next to the River Trent; it is north of Lichfield, southeast of Stafford, northeast of ...
which is south west of the village. The
Blithfield Reservoir[History of Reservoir](_blank)
retrieved 11 April 2013 is from the centre of the village. Within the parish there are the natural features of
Bagot's Wood and the largest remaining part of the
Needwood Forest.
Phil Drabble's Goats Lodge nature reserve is also in the parish.
Chaserider hourly bus service 63 links the village to Uttoxeter, Rugeley,
Hednesford and
Cannock.
History
The first historical record of the village dates from 942, when the manor of "Bromleage" was given to Wulfsige the Black. The will, dated 1002, of
Wulfric Spot, Earl of
Mercia
Mercia (, was one of the principal kingdoms founded at the end of Sub-Roman Britain; the area was settled by Anglo-Saxons in an era called the Heptarchy. It was centred on the River Trent and its tributaries, in a region now known as the Midlan ...
, gave the village to the Abbey of
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a market town in the borough of East Staffordshire in the county of Staffordshire, England, close to the border with Derbyshire. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 censu ...
. There is some evidence that the current settlement was a planned town – there is evidence of burgage plots, a grid pattern of streets and a wide market place.
''Domesday Book''
Abbas Bromley is recorded in the ''
Domesday Book
Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
'' of 1086–7 as ''Brunlege'', when it was part of the land of St Mary of Burton.
Royal Charter
In 1227, a weekly market was confirmed by Royal Charter at the site of the
Buttercross (recorded in 1339, the present structure said by
Pevsner to date from the 17th century), which survives to the present. The current, triangular market place is now grassed over and serves as a
village green
A village green is a commons, common open area within a village or other settlement. Historically, a village green was common pasture, grassland with a pond for watering cattle and other stock, often at the edge of a rural settlement, used for ...
and the focus for events on Horn Dance Day.
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The village remained affiliated to the Abbey till the
Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1545.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
gave ''Bromley Abbatis'' to Sir William Paget, Clerk of the Signet and Privy Councillor. The village was known as ''Paget's Bromley'' for several centuries, (distinguishing it from the part of the parish in the hands of the Bagot family, still known as ''Bagot's Bromley'') but eventually the influence of the Paget family declined, and the name reverted to ''Abbots Bromley''.
Industry
Despite being an agricultural centre on account of its market and fairs, Abbots Bromley enjoyed some industrial success. In the 16th century it was a major centre for
glass manufacture. In 1606 it gained a
grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a Latin school, school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented Se ...
, now Richard Clarke First School.
Decline
Despite nineteenth century efforts to connect the village to the expanding railway network the
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) was a Great Britain, British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shro ...
received an act of parliament to build a branch line from
Stowe-by-Chartley which was never taken advantage of. Abbots Bromley remained comparatively isolated and in decline, losing its market, fairs and economic status.
20th century
By the 1950s the village faced economic decay and an ageing population. It was also comparatively late in receiving mains electricity and gas services. More recently it has become a
dormitory settlement for surrounding urban areas such as the
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the large conurbation in the West Midlands region of England. The area consists of two cities and numerous towns: to the east, the city of Birmingham, along with adjacent towns of Solihull and Sutton Coldfield; a ...
and
Derby
Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...
. There has been some new development as well as the restoration of historic buildings, with a Millennium Hall perhaps the most noted recent example.
Parish Council
Nine Parish Councillors, elected every four years represent the community. Every year the Council elects a chair (currently Cllr Richard Love) and vice chair. The
Parish Council is supported by the
Parish Clerk. Meetings are usually held in the village hall at 19:00 on the last Wednesday of every month (except August and December due to holidays). All meetings are open to the public. One Parish surgery is also held every other month on a Saturday morning in the Church House to enable Parishioners to bring any local issues to the attention of a
Councillor
A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...
so that it can be reported to the full Parish Council
meeting
A meeting is when two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal or business setting, but meetings also occur in a variety of other environments. Meetings can be used as form of group decision-making.
Definiti ...
. Following the election of new Parish Councillors in May 2015 the council began the process of developing a
Neighbourhood Plan, administered through a sub-group of the Parish Council.
Other local representation
Abbots Bromley is part of the Bagots and Needwood Ward on
East Staffordshire Borough Council and is currently represented by three Conservative Borough Councillors. At County level the village is part of the Needwood Forest Division, represented by Conservative Catherine Brown on
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire County Council is the upper-tier Local government in England, local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Staffordshire, England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includ ...
. The village is part of the
parliamentary constituency
An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...
of
Lichfield
Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...
and is currently represented by Labour MP Dave Robertson.
Schools
The village is home to The Richard Clarke First School, run by the Uttoxeter Learning Trust for pupils aged 4–9. The school was founded in 1606 via a bequest made by Richard Clarke a local man who achieved success in London in the trade of a dyer. The school was originally known as 'Clarke's Grammar School'. The current school is rated as good by
OFSTED
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
with outstanding features.
The village is part of the three tier school system, now quite rare in England. From age 9-13 pupils go to Oldfields Hall Middle School in
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border.
The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...
and then from age 13-16 (or 18 if students opt to stay on in the
sixth form
In the education systems of Barbados, England, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepa ...
) to
Thomas Alleyne's High School also in
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border.
The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...
.
The village was also the home of one of the original
Woodard Schools, and the first in the Woodard Group for girls
Abbots Bromley School (formerly known as Abbots Bromley School for Girls and before that the School of S. Mary and S. Anne). In 2015 the school opened a new International College on the former St Mary's site. The school closed in July 2019 and the site has been sold. The future of the site since the sale is as yet unclear.
Historic buildings
The village has a large number of listed buildings, and its historic core has
conservation area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewoo ...
status, reflecting its pre-industrial townscape. Of these, the half timbered Church House,
[Listed building status- Church House](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013 The Goats Head Inn,
[Listed building status-Goats head Inn](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013 which is claimed to be the original town hall, and the Schoolhouse
[Listed building status- Old School House](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013 (Richard Clarke's 1606 Grammar School) are some of the most noteworthy. The Market Cross (
Buttercross) has been designated a scheduled Ancient Monument.
Gallery
File:The Butter Cross, Abbots Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 123390.jpg, The Butter Cross, A scheduled Ancient Monument.
File:Bentilee - geograph.org.uk - 402725.jpg, Bentilee Park Farmhouse, Grade II listed
File:Approaching The Hurst from Priory Farm. - geograph.org.uk - 439511.jpg, Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II listed
File:Abbots Bromley School for Girls - geograph.org.uk - 511397.jpg, Coleridge House, School of St Mary and St Anne, Grade II listed
File:St. Nicholas, Abbots Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 118977.jpg, Church of St. Nicholas, Grade II listed
Listed Buildings in Abbots Bromley
* Dwellings at No's 5, 6, 7, 8, High Street, Grade II, Hall Hill Lane
[4 Houses Listings](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Bagot's Bromley Monument, near Bromley Farmhouse, Grade II
[Bromley Monument Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Bank House, Grade II, High Street.
[Bank House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Barn and Cartshed close to Park Lodge, Grade II.
[Barn and Cart shed listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Barn in Goose Lane, Grade II.
[Goose Lane Barn Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Barn, Hurst Farm, Grade II.
[Hurst Farm Barn Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Barn, High Elms Farm, Grade II.
[High Elms Barn Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Batkin House, Harley Lane, Grade II.
[Batkin House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Bentilee Park Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Bentilee Park Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Bromley House, Grade II.
[Bromley House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Cael Cottage, Grade II.
[Cael Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Cedar Cottage, Grade II.
[Cedar Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Chesterton House, Grade II.
[Chesterton House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Saint Nicholas Parish Church, Grade II.
[Parish Church Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Church View Farmhouse. Grade II.
[Church View Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*North West Leafields Farm, Associated building and structures. Grade II.
[Leafield Farm Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Coleridge House School, Grade II.
[Coleridge House School Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Croft's House, Grade II.
[Croft House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Crofts Cottage, Grade II.
[Crofts Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Dandelion Cottages and Associated structures, Grade II.
[Dandelion Cottages listings](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Falcott Inglenook, Grade II.
[Falcott Inglenook Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Georgian House, Grade II,
[Georgian House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Gilleon's Hall, Grade II.
*Goats Lodge, Grade II.
[Goats Lodge Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Granary and Associated structures at Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II,
[Hurst Farm Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Grange Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Grange Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Narley Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Narley Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Heatley Green Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Heatley Green Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Dwelling on Market Place, Grade II.
[Market Place Dwelling Listed](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Dwelling Owned by Goodwin, Grade II.
[Goodwin Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Inglenook Oak Cottage, Grade II.
[Oak Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Lancsuss House, Grade II.
[Lancsuss House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Laurel Cottage, Grade II.
[Laurel Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Leacross Cottage, Grade II.
[Leacross Cottage Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Leafields Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Leafields Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Lychgate to the parish Church Saint Nicholas, Grade II.
[Lychgate Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Manor Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Manor Farmhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Maxstoke House, Grade II.
[Maxstoke House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Middleton House, Grade II
[Middleton House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* five different Milepost in the parish, Grade II.
[Mile Post Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Mount Pleasant Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Mount Pleasant Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Norfolk House, Grade II.
[Norfolk House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Norman Villa, Grade II.
[Norman Villa Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Northwood House, Grade II.
[Northwood House listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Park Lodge, Grade II.
[Park Lodge Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Parkside Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Parkside Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Premises of C. Taswell, Grade II.
[C. Taswell Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Newsagent Premises of J.M. Meadows, grade II.
[JM Meadows Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Butchers Shop Premises of V.G. Wilson, Grade II.
[Premises Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Rose House, Grade II.
[Rose House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Saint Helens, Grade II.
[Saint Helens Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Assorted structures Bentilee Park Farm, Grade II.
[Bentilee Listings](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Assorted structures Leafields Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Leafields Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Sunny Brae and Sunny Mead, Grade II.
[Sunny Listings](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
* Bagot Almshouses, Grade II.
[Almshouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Bagot Arms, Grade II.
[Bagot Inn Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Bakery, Grade II.
[Bakery Listing](_blank)
retrieved 12 April 2013
*Big House, School, Grade II.
[Big House Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
*Butter Cross, Grade II.
[Butter Cross Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* St. Mary and St. Anne school, Grade II.
[School Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* Coach and Horses Public House, Grade II.
[Coach and Horses Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* The Cross, Dwelling, Grade II.
[Cross Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
*The Green, Grade II.
[Green Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Hurst Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
*The Maltings, Dwelling, Grade II.
[Maltings Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* Old Schoolhouse, Grade II.
[Schoolhouse Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
*Royal Oak Public House, Grade II.
[Royal Oak Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
*Town End Farmhouse, Grade II.
[Town End Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* Gilleon's Hall, Associated structures. Grade II.
* War Memorial, Grade II.
[Memorial Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
* Wheelwright House, Grade II.
[Wheelwright Listing](_blank)
retrieved 13 April 2013
Traditions
The Horn Dance
Abbots Bromley is known for its annual
Horn Dance, an English
folk dance
A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, Ritual, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances ...
dating back to the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. The modern version of the dance involves
reindeer
The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, taiga, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only re ...
antler
Antlers are extensions of an animal's skull found in members of the Cervidae (deer) Family (biology), family. Antlers are a single structure composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. They are generally fo ...
s, a
hobby horse
In folklore, a hobby horse is a costumed character that features in some traditional seasonal customs, processions and similar observances around the world. In England, they are particularly associated with May Day celebrations, mummers' plays a ...
,
Maid Marian, and a Fool. The dance takes place on Wakes Monday, the day following Wakes Sunday, which is the first Sunday after 4 September. It begins in the morning on the village green and passes to
Blithfield Hall, returning to the village in the early afternoon with the dancers then making their way around the pubs and houses, eventually finishing with a service of
Compline
Compline ( ), also known as Complin, Night Prayer, or the Prayers at the End of the Day, is the final prayer liturgy (or office) of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours, which are prayed at fixed prayer times.
The English wor ...
at the church.
Sport and leisure
Cricket
Abbots Bromley Cricket Club is an
English amateur
cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
club with a history of cricket in the village dating back to 1881.
The club ground is based on Mill Green Lane. Abbots Bromley CC have 2 Saturday senior XI teams that compete in the
Derbyshire County Cricket League,
a Sunday XI team, and a junior training section that play competitive cricket in the Burton & District Youth Cricket League.
Football
Abbots Bromley has a men's senior football team, Abbots Bromley FC, nicknamed 'The Stags'.
[Abbots Bromley FC](_blank)
retrieved 14 April 2013 They were reformed after over 10 years in 2010. They compete in division 2 of the Stafford & District league and play home games at the Abbots Bromley School grounds named 'The Lowers'. The Stags main sponsors are Gallery 3, The Room Network & Edwin Ferneyhough Vehicle Sales. The president of the club is former
Aston Villa
Aston Villa Football Club (commonly referred to as simply Villa) is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club, founded in 1874, compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The team have p ...
&
Stoke City footballer,
Harry Burrows.
The club reached the
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border.
The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...
& District division 2/3 cup final in May 2012 but narrowly lost to Cheadle Town End on penalties in front of a crowd of 150+. The Stags also narrowly missed out on promotion to the Uttoxeter & District first division in 2012 after finishing third. The Stags were finally promoted to division 1 the following year and completed the double by winning the Subsidiary Cup after beating The Three Tuns FC in the final 4-1 at the Oldfield sports ground, Uttoxeter. The Subsidiary Cup win was repeated in 2017 when a 6-2 victory against Stone Town FC at Abbots Bromley School saw Will Ferneyhough score five goals.
The club remained in division 1 until 2018, a campaign that ended in relegation. The following season saw a second placed finish and promotion, narrowly losing out by a point to Doveridge FC as well as a 2-1 Division 2 League Cup final victory over Doveridge FC at Hillsfield, Rocester FC in front of over 200 spectators.
The club's committee voted to transfer to the Stafford & District League for the 2019-20 season and started out in the third tier (Division 2).
Netball

Abbots Bromley Netball Club is affiliated to England Netball with a Bronze CAPS status through the Sport England Clubmark scheme and consists of players of all ages from Abbots Bromley and surrounding areas. The club uses the training and playing facilities at Abbots Bromley School, and field up to 3 squads in the Burton and District league.
Tennis
Abbots Bromley Tennis Club was founded in 1913 and has two outdoor courts situated behind the Village Hall, off Bagot Street.
Notable people
*
Alice Mary Coleridge (1846–1907) a British promoter of girls' schools. founded
Abbots Bromley School for Girls
*
Stephen Smith (1874 in Abbots Bromley – 1935) an
England international footballer, he played 162 games for
Aston Villa
Aston Villa Football Club (commonly referred to as simply Villa) is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club, founded in 1874, compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The team have p ...
*
Phil Drabble OBE (1914 – 2007 in Abbots Bromley) countryman, author and TV presenter. He created a local nature reserve and also lived in wrote about the countryside of north Worcestershire.
*
Philip Lawley (1927 in Abbots Bromley – 2011) chemist, demonstrated that
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...
damage was the base cause of cancer
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Harry Burrows (born 1941) footballer who played 420 games, mainly for
Aston Villa
Aston Villa Football Club (commonly referred to as simply Villa) is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club, founded in 1874, compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The team have p ...
and
Stoke City. He lived locally on retirement and is the president of Abbots Bromley Stags
See also
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Listed buildings in Abbots Bromley
References
External links
The Richard Clarke First SchoolAbbots Bromley Nostalgia Team
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Villages in Staffordshire
Borough of East Staffordshire