Such was the considerable trade in looking after travellers who stopped over in Dunchurch during the great coaching days (up to 40 coaches a day stopped here), it is said that every property in the centre of the village was at some time an inn or ale house.
For centuries, Dunchurch has been a popular stopover point for travellers on the main London to Ireland road. A coaching stop to take on fresh horses during the 18th Century, Dunchurch was also the staging post for pupils, parents, masters and visitors travelling to Rugby school.
As a busy coaching village, many famous and important people have stayed in the village hotels over the centuries. Known visitors include Princess Victoria (later to be Queen), the poet Longfellow, who is said to have written his Smithy poem whilst staying at the Dun Cow, the famous highwayman Dick Turpin who was based in Dunchurch for many years, Winston Churchill, the Duke of Wellington and William Webb Ellis of Rugby football fame, are all known to have visited the village.
On 5th November 1605, the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met at the Old Red Lion Inn, The Square, Dunchurch, to await the news of Guy Fawkes' success in blowing up the English Houses of Parliament. The Old Red Lion Inn still exists. It is now a private residence knows as Guy Fawkes House.
Today, Dunchurch is in a quiet 'bypassed' village and is designated a conservation area with a lovely village green complete with village stocks and maypole, charming 16th, 17th and 18th Century buildings, many of which retain the traditional Warwickshire thatched roofs. The village has won the prestigious Best Kept Village award for the last four years.
