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Rugby is a market town in eastern Warwickshire, England, close to the River Avon.At the 2021 census, its population was 78,117, [1] making it the second-largest town in Warwickshire.
Rugby is located in the county of Warwickshire, West Midlands, six miles south-west of the town of Lutterworth, 11 miles east of the major city of Coventry, and 76 miles north-west of London. Rugby lies two miles west of the Northamptonshire border. Rugby falls within the district council of Rugby, under the county council of Warwickshire.
- History
- Rugby Today
- Geography
- Climate
- Demographics
- Culture and Recreation
- Economy
- Notable Buildings and Landmarks
- Transport
- Notable Residents
Ancient history
Early Iron Age settlement existed in the Rugby area: The River Avon formed a natural barrier between the Dobunni and Corieltauvi tribes, and it is likely that defended frontier settlements were set up on each side of the Avon valley. Rugby's position on a hill overlooking the Avon, made it an ideal location for a defended Dobunni watch settlement. During the Roman period the Roman town of Tripontium was established on the Watling StreetRoman road around 3.4 miles (5.5 km) north-east of what i...
Medieval
The small settlement at Rugby was taken over by the Anglo-Saxons around 560 AD, and it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Rocheberie; there are several theories about the origin of the name; one is that it is derived from an old Celtic name droche-brig meaning 'wild hilltop'. Another theory is that Rocheberie was a phonetic translation of the Old English name Hrocaberg meaning 'Hroca's hill fortification'; Hroca being an Anglo-Saxon man's name pronounced with a silent 'H', and berg...
17th century
The Rugby area has associations with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605: On the eve of the plot, the plotters stayed at the 'Lion Inn' (now a private residence called 'Guy Fawkes House') in nearby Dunchurch, convened by Sir Everard Digby, awaiting news of Guy Fawkes's attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. If he had been successful they planned to kidnap the King's daughter Princess Elizabeth from Coombe Abbeyin the countryside between Rugby and Coventry. During the English Civil War, one of th...
The modern town of Rugby is an amalgamation of the original town with the former settlements of Bilton, Hillmorton, Brownsover and Newbold-on-Avon which were incorporated into Rugby in 1932 when the town became a borough, all except Brownsover still have their former village centres. Rugby also includes the areas of New Bilton, Overslade, Hillside ...
Most of Rugby sits around 400 feet (120 m) above sea level on an irregular shaped plateau which is situated between the valleys of the River Avon and Swift to the north, and the Rains Brook and River Leamto the south. During its modern growth, Rugby spread north across the Avon valley and enveloped the villages of Brownsover and Newbold, which are ...
Rugby has an oceanic climatetypical of the English interior. Temperatures are mild for the latitude and winter nights average above freezing. Summers are highly variable depending on wind patterns, with an all-time record of 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in spite of the mild averages. Annual rainfall is moderate, but frequent drizzle results in about 125 prec...
At the 2021 census, there were 78,125 residents in Rugby, up from 70,628 on the 2011 census, and 62,580 at the 2001 census. In terms of ethnicity in 2021: 1. 84.3% of Rugby residents were White 2. 8.3% were Asian 3. 3.1% were Black 4. 3.0% were Mixed. 5. 1.1% were from another ethnic group. In terms of religion, 52.9% of Rugby residents identified ...
The largest general purpose venue in Rugby is the Benn Hall which opened in 1961 as part of the town hall complex, Rugby has two theatres, a professional theatre, the Macready Theatre, and the amateur Rugby Theatre, both in the town centre. A nine-screen cinema run by Cineworld is located at a retail park north of the town centre. The Rugby Art Gal...
For most of the 20th Century manufacturing was the largest employer in Rugby. Manufacturing employment peaked in the 1950s, and has gone into steady decline since, and service industries are now the largest source of employment. In 2017 the average annual workplace wage in the Rugby borough was £29,059; above the Warwickshire (£28,513) and UK (£28,...
One of the most notable landmarks around Rugby was, until August 2007, the Rugby Radio Station, a large radio transmitting station just to the east of the town. The station was opened in 1926, at its height in the 1950s it was the largest radio transmitting station in the world, with a total of 57 radio transmitters, covering an area of 1600 acres....
Railways
Rugby railway station is a principal stop on the West Coast Main Line, with frequent regular services to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Stafford, Crewe and Northampton. There are also some infrequent services to Glasgow Central, the North West of England, Shrewsbury, Chester and Holyhead. Routes are operated by West Midlands Trains and Avanti West Coast. Rugby has had a railway station since 1838, when the London and Birmingham Railway was opened, though the present station dates from...
Roads
Rugby is situated near to several major trunk routes including the M1, M6 and M45 motorways, and the A5, A14 and A45 roads. Other main roads in the town include the A426 road, the A428 road and the Rugby Western Relief Road, which links the A45 with the Leicester Road, that connects with junction 1 of the M6. In 2010, a short local bypasswas opened; it was the first part of the Rugby Western Relief Road. It runs from the A428 (Lawford Road), along the edge of the built-up area to the A4071 (r...
Buses
Stagecoach in Warwickshire is the town's primary operator, with routes to Coventry, Southam, Leamington Spa, Daventry, Leicester and Northampton; it also serves the major estates of the town.
Born in Rugby
1. Neil Adams, Judoka, multiple Olympic medal winner 2. Rupert Brooke, poet 3. Norman Lockyer, scientist, discovered helium 4. Richard Lindon, leatherworker, inventor of rugby ball 5. Jason Pierce, musician, (Spacemen 3, Spiritualized) 6. Barbara Stocking, former head of Oxfam GB
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. It is known for being the birthplace of rugby football, which was invented by William Webb Ellis in 1823. The town has a rich history and is home to many historic buildings, including the Rugby School, where Webb Ellis attended.
- Rugby School and Museum. On Saturdays throughout the year you’ll have a rare chance to tour one of England’s seven original Public Schools. Established in 1567, Rugby is among the country’s oldest independent schools, and its chapel, new quadrangle, gymnasium, temple reading room and the Macready Theatre were designed by the eminent Gothic Revival architect William Butterfield.
- Rugby Art Gallery and Museum. In a purpose-built complex that also houses the town library and World Rugby Hall of Fame, Rugby’s museum opened in 2000.
- Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum. An enthralling piece of rugby history can be found just opposite Rugby School. James Gilbert, the boot and shoemaker, moved to this shop in 1842 as he expanded into the rugby ball-making business.
- Caldecott Park. A lovable urban green space, Caldecott Park is on land bought from the last Lord of the Manor, Thomas Caldecott in 1903. It lies just behind the council building and Benn Hall on the north side of the city centre and has been awarded a Green Flag every year since it was regenerated a decade ago.
Along with a world-famous sport and the rugby ball, Rugby is also the birthplace of the jet engine, invented in 1937 by Sir Frank Whittle, and the hologram, invented by Dennis Gabor in 1947 while working in Rugby. Where to eat. Budget: Prezzo. Moderate: Café Vin Cinq. Luxury: Fergusons of Rugby. Getting there and around
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