History
The history of the village is available on the internet. There are also a number of written accounts, the most complete is "Sambourne in its Setting" by John R.S.Yates who lives in the village. This was completed in 2000 and comprises 145 pages including a detailed reference section. Unfortunately it is now out of print, but the author is prepared to consider a limited reprint if sufficient people are serious about purchasing a copy. The estimated price is £25-30 each. The same author produced an A5 pamphlet, covering the period up to 1920, which was distributed to all households to celebrate the millennium.
Sambourne is undoubtedly a village of environmental quality and delight. The neat and tidy village green is approached via four leafy lanes giving the visitor a very pleasant introduction to the village.
The earliest reference to Sambourne is of 714 when it is recorded as being given by Edwin Bishop of Worcester to the monastery at Evesham upon its foundation. Dugdale quotes the conventional date for the Abbey's foundation.
The holding is confirmed by the Doomsday Book which records Land of Evesham Church, "The church itself holds in Sambourne 3 hides. Land for 4 ploughs. In lordship; 2 villagers and 4 smallholders with 3 ploughs. Woodland 1 league long and one half league wide.".
The village and surrounding lands were for many years part of Feckenham Forest, in the ownership of King John, and as a Manor it was held by the Abbots of Evesham until the Dissolution. Henry V111 subsequently granted it to Robert Throckmorton in1540 for £445 to be paid in instalments.
In 1707 tenant commoners living in the village, 24 in number, petitioned the then Lord of the manor, Sir Robert Throckmorton, to enclose Sambourne and the Heath, to allow cattle to graze, with 60acres set apart for the benefit of poor persons. This land was to be held as to one half for the poor of Sambourne. Problems associated with disapproving tenants dragged on until an Act of Parliament was passed in 1773, approving the enclosure.
Farming was the main livelihood in Sambourne for many years, at present only Sambourne Hall Farm and Reins Farm are active. During the late 18 and early 19th century, there was a thriving Cottage industry centred on fishing hooks, needle making, glove sewing and brick making.
Whilst forming part of the ecclesiastical parish of Coughton with Spernall, Morton Bagot and Oldberrow, Sambourne has been a civil parish since at least the 17th century. It should be noted that there was previously a Chapel in Sambourne dedicated to St Andrew prior to the Reformation.
A dispute with the Throckmortons in the 18th century, concerning cost and provision of a Priest, caused the Church to fall into a state
of disrepair and be abandoned. The Villagers were left with no alternative other to than to be compelled to walk to the Coughton Church for services.
Located near the centre of the village one will see a small Church or Chapel of Ease. The funds to build this chapel were raised by the generosity of the churchgoing villagers, an action that took a considerable time. Details of the event and donors can be found in Alcester library. Consecration was performed in late 1882.
Sambourne possesses a fine village green, a well-kept triangle containing four mature trees. One will also find a number of bench seats placed on the Green, in memory of people who have contributed to the well being of Sambourne. In the centre stands a War memorial that was erected in 1919, around which each year, on November 11, Remembrance Day services are held.
Overlooking the Green there are a number of listed buildings, the most prominent is The Green Dragon Inn of the period 17/18 century, with a19th century coach house attached. In the early days. it was used as a Carters Inn, serving the needs of travellers and Drovers as they passed through to Feckenham Forest.
The Old Post Office and general stores closed during the 1980's and, seriously missed, was a casualty of the advance of large Stores in Redditch and Studley. It has since had a superb renovation that compliments the Village Green.
Tucked away at the rear of The Old Post Office, you will see another delight,Green Dragon Cottage, an attractive19th century building with lots of character, this has no known affiliation to the Inn.
To complete the scene, Yew Tree Cottage is a fine example of an Elizabethan period building. Thatched and timbered, it is a 16th century delight, well maintained, admired by the many visitors to Sambourne.
Other properties of note are the Almshouses in the ownership of The Sambourne Trust, a charity that dates back to February 1710.
The Charity provides assistance to the elderly in many ways and provides weekly transport for the villagers to go shopping in nearby Redditch.
The ancient farmstead and cottages in Perrymill Lane are considered to be of significant architectural quality, as is the 16th century Crossroads property, in all 15 properties are of local and historic significance in Sambourne.
Sambourne is protected by its location in a conservation zone
https://www.stratford.gov.uk/doc/175142/name/Sambourne%20A4P.pdf/
and no changes to it are envisaged. Community activities take place in The Chapel of Ease, local organisations such as the Village Association and Parish Council have their meetings there, it is used for Whist drives, Quiz nights, the local polling station and for other village events such as the Minifest.
Coughton.... Some historical notes
Coughton was written in Domesday as Coctune, belonging to Tuchill de Warwick who owned or possessed large tracts of land in what is now the Midlands. After the Conquest it passed to Henry de Newburgh, the first Earl of Warwick by whom the Advowson* was granted to Studley priory. Soon afterwards the estates were held by a family who adopted their family name Coctune from it.
By 1316 the De Spineto family held the rights of Coctune or Coughton, members of this family filled notable appointments in the County for a great part of Edward III’s reign. They were responsible for the arraying of archers for the French wars, and later on for seeing that the Statute for Labourers was enforced
Guy de la Spine, great grandson of the first Spineto, served as Knight of the Shire in parliaments of Richard the second's reign and was Escheator* for Warwickshire and Leicestershire. It was through marriage by John Throckmorton to de la Spine's daughter Allianore that the Lordship of Coughton passed into Throckmorton family. John Throckmorton purchased the lands of Spernall in 1441.
Robert Throckmorton, who built Coughton School and the Almshouses, enclosed the Park at Coughton in or about 1486. He was knighted on All Saints Day 1494. He died in 1518 whilst on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands.
The 17th century was a traumatic period for Coughton Court. The involvement in the Gunpowder Plot when the Wives and friends of the plotters were captured in the Court and a number were sent to death.
The Civil War 1643 saw the Court occupied and ransacked and on December 3"' which came to be known as 'Running Thursday'. The Court buildings were attacked and partly demolished.
Coughton Court and associated estates remained in the family until 1934 when the bulk of the land was sold to the Crown. Whilst the house, grounds and village remained in the Throckmorton family. The villagers in Sambourne were able to purchase a number of the Estate properties.
Acknowledgements
These notes were compiled from material extracted from The Victoria History of The County of Warwick. Supplemented with notes from Dugdale's History writings.
Definitions:
Advowson*.......The right of presentation to a vacant benefice
Escheator*... ...The reverting of property to the Lord of the Land or to the Crown.
League............ Equal to 1.5 Miles.
Hide............... ..Equal to 120 Acres
Whilst this booklet contains some historical data, it is not claimed to be fully embracing of events or developments in the life of Sambourne village.
Roger Loach 1992
Updated, Dec.2010
Updated, August 2021
Charities:
The Samboume Trust is a Charity that had its beginnings in 1710, by a donation from Robert Haynes, who, by Will gave £20, the interest to be applied to set poor children of Sambourne to be apprentices.
This generosity was continued by the following:
Joyce Whoman, who gave the interest on 40 shillings, to be given to seven Widows of Sambourne
William Hemming, gave £4, the interest to be given to four Widows.
Mrs Ann Gauton gave £100 for use of the poor.
John Hobbins of Studley, in 1735 left 20 shillings yearly out of land, in Great Aine to find gowns for two Widows of Sambourne on 1st of May.
These bequests and others subsequently, have provided the means to enable the Trustees of the past and present, to purchase properties that today are housing elderly and needy people.
The Sambourne Trust in accordance with the Charity Commission governing document, continues to provide assistance to elderly residents and to schoolchildren by means of grants, for specialised books etc.
For more information regarding The Sambourne Trust click on this link