Wigginton, Staffordshire

The name Wigginton is believed to come from Old English, and to mean ''Wicga's farm''. On 1 September 1993, the new parish was renamed to "Wigginton & Hopwas". In 1931 the parish of Wigginton (prior to the merge) had a population of 2291. In 1861 the population of Wigginton township was 670, on . This figure included inmates of the Tamworth workhouse, which at that time lay within the township. The population of the chapelry alone was 466. ==Landmarks==

Grade II listed buildings in Wigginton village include two or three houses and the former Anglican chapel, now a church. Dedicated to St Leonard, it was rebuilt in 1777, extended in 1830, Situated within the modern village is a shrunken medieval village, visible as a series of pronounced earthworks to the northern end of the village, and medieval ridge and furrow still to be seen in surrounding fields. To the south-west of the village is the former site, now ploughed out, of a likely Bronze Age barrow formerly known as "Robin Hood's Butt". Several finds of archaeological interest have been made in the area around the village. To the north-west is a flat area formerly called the "Money Lands", where human bones and ancient coins, thought to be Roman, were recovered in a find made in the 18th century. ==Amenities==

The village contains a pub, the Old Crown, and a Church of England primary school, St Leonards. The pub called The Wigginton is over the border in Tamworth, as is Wigginton Park, the home of Tamworth RUFC. ==Notable people==

• John Burnet Biddulph (1796–1837), a Cape Colony explorer and trader who arrived with the 1820 Settlers. • Samuel Parkes (c. 1815–1864), a Wigginton-born private in the 4th Light Dragoons won the Victoria Cross in the Charge of the Light Brigade for saving the life of Trumpeter Hugh Crawford. • Gene Kemp (1926–2015), children's author, was born in Wigginton. ==See also==