Ardens Grafton

Grafton Minor occurs in a grant to Evesham Abbey by Ufa, Sheriff of Warwickshire, dated 973. As it is included among Ethelwig, Abbot of Evesham's acquisitions ('Alia Graftun') it may in the meantime have been lost by the monastery, and with Temple Grafton seized by the Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, quasi lupus rapax, (like a ravaging wolf) after Ethelwig's death. It is most probably to be identified with the 3 hides and 1 virgate in 'Graston'[1] which the Domesday Book records among the possessions of William Fitz-Corbucion; Leuric and Eileua held it of him and before the Norman Conquest they had held it freely. "Leofric and Aelfeva hold 3 hides and 1 virgate in Graston (Ardens Grafton). Land for 2 ploughs. In lordship 1; 2 slaves; 1 villager and 3 smallholders with 1 plough. Meadow 4 acres. The value was 40s; now 30s. They also held it themselves freely."[3]

Arden and Temple Grafton are above the escarpment

Ardens Grafton is part of the Bardon ward of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and represented by Councillor Robert Vaudry, Conservative Party. Nationally it is part of Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency), whose current MP is Nadhim Zahawi of the Conservative Party. Prior to Brexit in 2020, it was part of the West Midlands electoral region of the European Parliament.

The land rises to an altitude of over 300 ft. in the northern part of the parish and slopes down to about 180 ft. by the river-bank at Hillborough, 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south. The hamlet stands on the edge of the hill, commanding views across the valley to Bredon Hill and the Cotswolds.[1]

The nearest Primary School is Temple Grafton Church of England Primary School having 102 pupils on its roll. The nearest secondary schools are located in Alcester 4 miles (6.4 km) or Stratford-upon-Avon 6 miles (9.7 km).