Editing Armitage

{{Short description|Village in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Armitage
| country = England
| region = West Midlands
|static_image_name =Church of John the Baptist, Armitage - geograph.org.uk - 1616795.jpg
|static_image_caption=St John the Baptist's
| os_grid_reference = SK084160
| coordinates = {{coord|52.74156|-1.87702|type:city_region:GB-STS|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = RUGELEY
| postcode_district = WS15
| postcode_area = WS
| dial_code= 01543
| constituency_westminster= [[Lichfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Lichfield]]<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/|title = United Kingdom Parliament|accessdate = 18 September 2009}}</ref>
| civil_parish = [[Armitage with Handsacre]]
| shire_district = [[Lichfield (district)|Lichfield]]
| shire_county = [[Staffordshire]]
}}

'''Armitage''' is a village in [[Staffordshire]], England, on the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]] south of [[Rugeley]] and north of [[Lichfield]]. With the village of [[Handsacre]] it forms the [[civil parish]] of [[Armitage with Handsacre]], which had a population of 5,335 at the 2011 Census.

Armitage is the home of [[Armitage Shanks]] sanitary porcelain factory. Its parish [[church (building)|church]], [[St. John the Baptist]] church, is at the north end of the village. The organ of St John the Baptist church is of particular interest due to its size, age and history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/NPORView.html?RI=A00285 |title=The National Pipe Organ Register |accessdate=2014-01-07 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107143907/http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/NPORView.html?RI=A00285 |archive-date=2014-01-07 }}</ref> The organ was built in 1789 for nearby [[Lichfield Cathedral]], but moved here in 1865, commissioned by the then organist Josiah Spode (IV) who resided at nearby Hawkesyard estate, also known as Spode House.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawkesyardestate.com/home/hawkesyard-heritage/ |title=History and Heritage of Hawkesyard EstateHawkesyard Estate |accessdate=2014-01-07 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107145034/http://www.hawkesyardestate.com/home/hawkesyard-heritage/ |archive-date=2014-01-07 }}</ref> Armitage is served by [[Chaserider]] bus services 826 and 828 connecting to Lichfield, [[Rugeley]] and Stafford.

==Etymology and location==
The name comes from the [[Middle English]] ''Ermitage'', meaning '[[Hermitage (religious retreat)|Hermitage]]',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/ins/kepn/results_search.php# |title = Key to English Place Names |publisher = Institute for Name-Studies |access-date = 29 September 2009}}</ref> in turn derived from the [[Old French]] ''ermitage'',<ref>{{Cite book |title=Place-names of Great Britain and Irelandv|last=Field |first=John |date=1980 |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0389201545 |location=Newton Abbot, Devon |oclc=6964610 |page=25}}</ref> from a tradition that a hermit lived between the church and the [[River Trent]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
It does not appear in the ''[[Domesday Book]]'', although [[Handsacre]] does.

Armitage is now part of [[Armitage with Handsacre]], although this is due to growth—historically they were once separate villages. It lies close to [[Hill Ridware]] along with the [[Hamstall Ridware]], [[Mavesyn Ridware]], [[Pipe Ridware]] and [[Longdon, Staffordshire|Longdon]]. It lies close to the town of [[Rugeley]] and a few miles north of [[Lichfield]]. It is located on the [[West Coast Main Line]], the nearest stop being Rugeley. With continuous growth in the area Armitage and [[Rugeley]] are growing closer together.

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Armitage with Handsacre]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Armitage}}

{{Civil Parishes of Lichfield}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lichfield District]]
[[Category:Villages in Staffordshire]]


{{Staffordshire-geo-stub}}