The Mythe

The Mythe is somewhat of a mystery, not mentioned in Doomsday the first documentary evidence is in the 13^th century. Nicholls states that the name originates from the OE mudog for station citing Burton's latin reference of Mutha but I feel that it must be derived from OE Mype for waters meet being situated at the confluence of the Anker and Sence. For location see here . It is mentioned but a few times in the Sheepy archives but in the 1664 hearth tax returns it is given an entry all to itself. Today all there is is a farm but we have records from 1279 to indicate that there was in fact a separate manor there and also a chapel served by the monks of Merevale. From 1327 it was in the hands of the Burdet family and later passed to that of Harcourt and it seems that, until Thomas Bailey acquired it in 1630, it was an integral part of the Sheepy manor, more than once used as a dowager estate..

The site of the antient Hall and chapel at the Mythe was upon an eminence, looking due South towards Atherstone and it's outwoods; Oldbury and Merevale hall on the high ground above. The Sense brook, flowing from the North-East, joins the Anker from the South-East in the meadow below, to which the ground slopes gradually from the house.

The land is good; and the situation more pleasant than almost any in this niegbourhood. It is called a liberty, containing about 200 acres; claims a separate constablewick, but pays poor-rates to Great Shepey ; and pays 2s. 3 1/2d for a single county rate. It has one farm-house upon it, of very antient structure now much dilapidated, and placed in the most obscure part of the estate.
(Nicholls ; History and Antiquities of Leicestershire - Volume IV part 2)

To the south of the present farm there is a old bathing place on the Sence called King Dick's Hole. Local legend has it that Richard III bathed here in 1485 but the lack of any mention until the late 18^th century makes this unlikely. In a field near the hole the prominent mounds suggest a lost village. Whites 1846 directory states; "The Mythe on the north of the Anker ......an extra-parochial liberty of 42 souls belonging to two heiresses of the late ? Platt Esq. of London mostly one farm of 170 acres occupied by Mrs. Hunt". This is odd as the 1851 census lists just 5 residents including Mary Hunt and her daughter, (John Hunt of the Mythe was buried at Sheepy in 1835).