Warwickshire returned two members to the parliament of 129o, and in 1295 Coventry and Warwick were each represented by two members. Tamworth returned two members in 1584. Un der the Reform Act of 1832 the county returned four members in two divisions; Birmingham was represented by two members, and Tamworth lost its members. Under the Act of 1868 the representation of Birmingham was increased to three members, and under the Act of 1918 the county returns four members in four divisions, Birmingham twelve members and Coventry one.
Architecture.—Of pre-Norman architecture some traces ap pear in the fine church of Wootton Wawen in the Arden (western) district. Saxon remains have been found in several places, as near Bensford Bridge on Watling street. For ecclesiastical architecture Coventry with its three spires is famous, and among village churches there are many fine examples. Of those retaining Nor man portions may be mentioned : Wolston, Berkswell, Poles worth, Curdworth, Burton Dassett, a very noteworthy building, and Warmington, where there is a remarkable specimen of an anchorite's chamber. There are also fine examples of Decorated work, such as Knowle, Solihull, Temple Balsall and Brailes. Among the numerous religious houses in the county several have left remains. Such are the Cistercian foundations of Coombe Abbey, Merevale and Stoneleigh. This abbey was a 12th-century foundation, but a majestic gatehouse of the 14th century also stands. Maxstoke Priory was a foundation for Augustinian canons of the 14th century. Wroxall Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery of the 12th century. Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle, the one still a splendid residence, the other a no less splendid ruin, are described under those towns. At Hartshill there is a f rag ment of a Norman castle. Among fortified mansions Maxstoke Castle is of the 14th century ; Baddesley Clinton Hall is of the 15th; Astley Castle is another good specimen of the period. Compton Wynyates, once fortified, is a beautiful Elizabethan house. Charlecote Park is a modernized Elizabethan hall in an exquisite situation on the Avon above Stratford.
Agriculture and Industries.—The climate is mild and healthy. The soil is on the whole good, and consists of various loams, marls, gravels and clays, well suited for most of the usual crops. It is rich in pasture-land, and dairy-farming is increasing.
It has excellent orchards and market-gardens, and possesses some of the finest woodlands in England.
The industrial part of the county is the northern. Warwick shire includes the greatest manufacturing centre of the Midlands —Birmingham, though the suburbs of that city extend into Staf fordshire and Worcestershire. Metal-working in all branches is prosecuted here, besides other industries. Coventry is noted for motor cars and cycle-making, and, with Bedworth and Nuneaton and the intervening villages, is a seat of the ribbon- and tape makers. A small rich coalfield occurs in the north-east, extending outside the county northward from Coventry. Clay, limestone and other stone are quarried at various points, and an appreci able amount of iron ore is raised.
Population and Administration.—The area of the ancient county is ac., with a population in 19o1 of 897,835 and in 1931 of 1,534,782, the chief centres of increase lying naturally in the parts about Birmingham and Coventry. The area of the administrative county is 605.275 acres. It has one court of quarter sessions, and is divided into 21 petty sessional divisions. The boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry and Royal Leamington Spa have separate commissions of the peace, and the boroughs of Birmingham and Warwick have separate courts of quarter sessions. The county is mainly in the Birmingham and Coventry dioceses, carved largely out of that of Worcester. Warwickshire has four parliamentary divisions—Tamworth, Nuneaton, Rugby and War wick and Leamington, each returning one member. The parliamen tary borough of Coventry returns one member and that of Bir mingham has twelve divisions, each returning one member.