Tysoe Road via Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire

Start: Tysoe Village Hall, Main Street, Upper Tysoe, Warwickshire, CV35 0SE.

(S/E) With your back to Village Hall, follow Main Road to your left. Passing Oxhill Road to the right after 400 m and Tysoe Road to the left after a further 200 m, continue straight ahead into Epwell Road. Follow the road, climbing for about 3 km.

(1) At the crossroads near White House, turn right onto B4035. After about 2 km, descend past Compton Wynyates on your right. After another mile, pass the road on your left and go down the road 200 m further to the junction.

(2) The road bends right towards Tysoe. After 2 km, as the road bears to the right at Tysoe Walled Garden, follow it for 150 m and turn left into Poolgate and follow this road through the housing estate to another main road. Turn right, then immediately left into Sandpits Lane, which will take you back to Main Road and Village Hall in Tysoe (S/E).

Park on Main Road, CV35 0SE, or you can get to this point by bus from Banbury Stagecoach 76 or Stratford upon Avon 76. See https://www.stagecoachbus.com/ for times.

Tysoe, a village in Warwickshire, England, has a rich history dating back to prehistoric times, with significant developments during the Roman and medieval periods.

Early History

Situated in the Stratford-on-Avon District of Warwickshire, about 7 miles northwest of Banbury, Tysoe is a civil parish with deep historical roots. The earliest recorded mention of Tysoe is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Tiheshoche." The name originates from the Old English term Tīges hōh, meaning "spur of land belonging to the god Tiw," the Anglo-Saxon deity of war. This etymology highlights the area's ancient heritage and its ties to early Anglo-Saxon culture.

Medieval Significance

Throughout the medieval period, Tysoe grew into a prominent settlement. By 1334, records show it was a prosperous community, as indicated by subsidy valuations. The village was granted a royal charter in 1341, permitting it to hold a market, which cemented its role as a key trading hub. The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with sections dating back to the late 11th century, stands as a testament to the architectural and cultural history of the era.

The Red Horse of Tysoe

Among Tysoe's most remarkable historical landmarks is the Red Horse, a geoglyph carved into the landscape and documented as early as 1607. Believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins, this figure was linked to the worship of Tiw and remained visible from afar until it was concealed in 1914. The Red Horse remains a powerful symbol of the village's historical importance and its connection to local mythology.