OS grid reference SK084160 Shire county Staffordshire Country England | District Lichfield Region West Midlands | |
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Civil parish Armitage with Handsacre | ||
Armitage is a village in Staffordshire, England on the south side of the Trent and Mersey Canal between Lichfield and Rugeley. Together with the adjacent village of Handsacre, it forms the parish of Armitage with Handsacre.
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Village amenities
Armitage has a variety of village amenities including a Londis, a privately owned fishing shop, a corner newspaper shop, and the Croft Primary School. Armitage is also the home of Armitage Shanks. It has two churches, the larger being St. John the Baptist church located 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. 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.
Other
The name comes from the Middle English Ermitage, meaning 'Hermitage', from a tradition that a hermit lived between the church and the River Trent. It does not appear in the Domesday Book although Handsacre does.
The professional golfer Robert Rock was born in Armitage.
Armitage is close to the villages of Handsacre and Hill Ridware. It lies between the towns of Rugeley and Lichfield. It is located on the West Coast Main Line, the nearest stop being Rugeley or Lichfield.