Sambourne, formerly spelled Sambourn, is a village and civil parish 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Coughton, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Redditch, 12 miles (19 km) north-west of Stratford-upon-Avon and 20 miles (32 km) west of Warwick in the county of Warwickshire, England. It is situated on sloping ground rising westwards to about 500 feet near the ancient Ridge Way, and forms part of the county boundary with Worcestershire. The village itself is centred round a small triangular green at the junction of four roads and contains several timber-framed buildings of 17th century date.[1] By a designation of 22 July 1991 much of the central area became a conservation area.[2]
History
The earliest reference to Sambourne is of 714 when it is recorded as being given by EgwinBishop of Worcester to the monastery at Evesham Abbey upon its foundation. William Dugdale quotes the conventional date for the Abbey's foundation.[3] This holding is confirmed by the Domesday Book which records, Land of Evesham Church, "The church itself holds in Sambourne 3 hides. Land for 4 ploughs. In lordship 1;2 slaves; 2 villagers and 4 smallholders with 3 ploughs. Woodland 1 league long and ½ league wide. The value was 20s now 30s."[4] The medieval history of the village is bound up with that of the Royal Forest of Feckenham, where the abbots of Evesham at one time enclosed a considerable amount of the King's hunting forest without permission.
Whilst the Domesday Book makes no mention of a mill a century later it is recorded that the mill of Sambourne was let out. In 1433 the Abbot of Evesham demised to John Throckmorton land in Sambourne, which was later confirmed upon John's son, Robert Throckmorton. It included the river and fishing from Spernall to Coughton and mills and fisheries are later enumerated in the demise of the manor to Robert Throckmorton in 1538.[1] In the seventeenth century Sambourn was one of the earliest centres of the local needle-making industry. Edward Cooke (1798–1873), a needle manufacturer who lived and died at Sambourn, had for a wife, Hannah née Turberville (1799–1873).[5] The area is now largely agricultural with many residents commuting to nearby cities for employment.
