A Town Called Atherstone is a local community website with something for everyone, find out what's on, visit local attractions and meet people from Atherstone either for fun or for business.

On the site you will find a local business directory, if you woul like to add your business to this directory please email us for more information - the local business directory for the local community.

Atherstone has a long history going back to Roman times. An important defended Roman settlement named Manduessedum existed at Mancetter near the site of modern day Atherstone, and the Roman road, the Watling Street (now known as the A5) ran through the town. It is believed by some historians that the rebel Queen of the Britons Boudica was defeated at the Battle of Watling Street by the Romans in her final battle near Manduessedum.

The ancient St Mary’s chapel in Atherstone dates from the early twelfth century when the monks of Bec made a donation of twelve acres to a house of friars hermits, later referred to as “Austin friars”. According to Nichols the chapel was granted to Henry Cartwright in 1542, then left abandoned and neglected until 1692 when Samuel Bracebridge gent. settled a yearly sum for the parson of Manceter to preach there every other Sunday in the Winter season

After this, St Mary’s chapel seems to have experienced something of a revival, its square tower being rebuilt in the fashionable “Gothic” style in 1782. This drastic alteration probably aroused some controversy. although the fine architectural drawing of the chapel made by Mr Schnebbelie in 1790 prompted Nichols to assert that “the new tower provides a good effect”.

It is said that the Battle of Bosworth actually took place in the fields of Merevale above Atherstone. Certainly reparation was made to Atherstone after the battle, and not to Market Bosworth.