Polesworth

Tucked into a curve of the River Anker in the far north of Warwickshire, just a mile from the Staffordshire border, Polesworth is one of those places with a story far bigger than its size might suggest. The site of a Saxon Abbey on the turn of the River Anker, it inspired both the poets of the Polesworth Circle (including John Donne, Michael Drayton and possibly even Shakespeare) and the building of the Coventry Canal and all its industrial heritage. Walk from the Abbey along the High Street and down to the canal towpath and that layering of sacred, literary and industrial history feels very much present. Independent shops, cafés, pubs, and a famously good chip shop give the village its down-to-earth, welcoming character.

Plus, Polesworth has a proud and tight-knit community who bring festivals, events and a lively annual calendar to the village throughout the year.

Polesworth’s highlights

Polesworth Abbey and the Nunnery Gateway

The village was once the site of Polesworth Abbey, founded in 827 by King Egbert with his daughter Editha as Abbess. It prospered for 700 years before being disbanded as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. What survives is quietly remarkable: the Norman arcade, imposing Nunnery Gateway, recently restored cloister wall, picturesque Abbess' doorway and the stone effigy of Abbess Osanna - all remain as the lasting legacy of the Saxon and Norman eras. The church gatehouse with its attractive medieval stonework is one of the most photographed landmarks in North Warwickshire.

The Polesworth Circle and literary connections

Henry Goodere, son of the man who acquired the Abbey lands after the Dissolution, was a patron of the arts, and Polesworth Hall became a centre of culture during Elizabethan times. The poet Michael Drayton was in the service of the Goodere family around 1580, and his works contain allusions to Polesworth and the River Anker. Other notable figures including Ben Jonson, Inigo Jones and John Donne made up the core of an elite group who became known as the Polesworth Circle. In Elizabethan times, Polesworth Hall was the most important centre of literary activity outside London - a remarkable feat for a village of this size, and one it wears with justified pride.

Pooley Country Park and Alvecote Meadows

Just a short walk along the canal, Pooley Country Park is a beautiful space to enjoy the great outdoors. The 62.5 hectare site, contains a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, several pools caused by mining subsidence and woodland habitats. A visitor centre, tea room and mountain bike trails complete a destination that rewards an unhurried afternoon.

Beyond the park, the Alvecote Meadows and pools extend the natural landscape further, and Alvecote Priory, with its main entrance arch still standing at around 20 feet high, can be found close to the canal edge.

Abbey Green Park and the River Anker

Footpaths meander through Abbey Green Park along the river banks, offering visitors and locals a haven of peace from which to admire the ancient Polesworth Abbey. The park is also home to children's play areas, a bowling green and tennis courts, making it a natural gathering point for the village at weekends and throughout the summer.

The Polesworth Poetry Trail

You can follow the Polesworth Poetry Trail through the village and along the Coventry Canal, past Pooley Hall - which features some of the oldest brickwork in the country and up to Pooley Country Park. Poetry Trail leaflets can be collected for free from Polesworth Library

Saxon, industrial and literary roots

When the Coventry Canal was built through Polesworth in the 1770s, the village developed a coal-mining and clay industry. The Pooley Hall Colliery became the North Warwickshire Colliery in 1951, when the mine workings from Alvecote, Amington and Pooley met underground, and it was the first mine in the country to generate its own electricity, from excess steam, in the early 1920s. Today those workings have been transformed into Pooley Country Park, a green space that gives the industrial past a quietly dignified second life.

Insider tips

Look out for events taking place at Pooley Country Park, or enjoy coffee and cake at the cafe.
Climb the mound at Pooley Country Park to find the golden leaf sculpture up close, and on a clear day, take in the view of four counties.
Pick up a Poetry Trail leaflet from Polesworth Library and follow the trail to enjoy old and contemporary poems.
Visit the Abbey on a Wednesday or Sunday when it is open to visitors to see the Norman stonework and the effigy of Abbess Osanna.
The walk from the village over the River Anker onto the Coventry Canal towpath, through fields and lanes to the village of Dordon, and back along Common Lane into Polesworth is a satisfying short circular route.

Getting here

By rail

Polesworth does have a railway station but with a very sparse service, northbound only. For most visitors, the better option is to travel to Atherstone or Tamworth which are both well served by regular rail services and from there, continue to Polesworth by bus or taxi.

By bus

Regular bus services link Polesworth with Tamworth, Atherstone and Nuneaton making it straightforward to reach without a car from the surrounding towns. Several routes stop in the village centre throughout the day.

By car

Polesworth is conveniently situated just off the M42 motorway, with easy access from Birmingham, Tamworth and the wider Midlands. Free car parking is available in the village.

Walking and cycling

Polesworth's landscape retains its history while offering plenty of green spaces. Whether strolling along the Coventry Canal towpath, the River Anker footpaths or the trails through Pooley Country Park all provide easy, rewarding walking straight from the village centre. The following routes pass through or start from Polesworth:

Polesworth Poetry Trail

The Poetry Trail leads walkers through the Abbey via the Gatehouse of the Benedictine Nunnery, then along the Coventry Canal past Pooley Hall and up to Pooley Country Park Enjoy poetry installed on sculptures as you follow in the footsteps of poets. Leaflets are available free from Polesworth Library.

Pooley Country Park Circular

A popular circular walk from Pooley Country Park passes the ancient Alvecote Priory, threads through the historic village of Polesworth and returns along the towpath of the Coventry Canal.

Warwickshire Centenary Way

The Warwickshire Centenary Way passes near Polesworth shortly after starting at Kingsbury Water Park, travelling through Pooley Country Park and near Alvecote Priory before following the Coventry Canal towpath towards Atherstone.

North Warwickshire cycle routes

The North Warwickshire Cycle route is entirely on road covering 31 miles of beautiful countryside. Starting at Kingsbury Park, it takes you through Blythe Valley, parts of the Forest of Arden, and George Eliot Country. The route offers plenty of scenic vistas at Shustoke Reservoir and Hartshill Hayes Country Park, as well as pretty Warwickshire villages including Maxstoke and Fillongley, Astley, and Baxterley.

Discover more

To discover more things to do and explore in and around Polesworth, take a look at Visit Polesworth.