Ratcliffe Culey


Ratcliffe Culey is a village in Leicestershire, near the county boundary with Warwickshire. It is part of the civil parish of Witherley.
The village has the Church of England parish church of All Saints, a pub called The Gate public house, a post office and a greyhound kennels.

History

The toponym "Ratcliffe" is derived from Old English, referring to the local red clay and the fact that it is on high land. Culey is the name of a former lord of the manor.
In June 1646 the town of Ratcliffe Culey submitted claims to the Warwickshire county committee for losses and free quarter from the parliamentary garrisons in Warwickshire. Colonel Purefoy, Captain Potter and Major Pout of the Coventry garrison were charged for "free quarter" worth an estimated £12 6s 8d Captain Turton is said to have taken six horses worth £6. On another occasion the parish claimed for 6 saddles worth £1 10s taken by Lieutenant Hunt of the Astley garrison and a mare worth £3 taken from Thomas Richardson.