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The recent national census of 1991 will not be made available to us in all its detail until 2091. The actual numbers, however, have been published.
In the parishes of our area, several things stand out. For example, while Studley parish is still the largest (6241), Bidford on Avon is catching up with both Studley and Alcester. The numbers below give the' 1991 populations, with increase or decrease since 1981.
Parish Population Since 1981 Parish Population Since 1981
| Parish | Pouplation | Since 1981 | Parish | Population | Since 1981 |
| Alcester | 5551 | +338 | Kinwarton | 1184 | +262 |
| Arrow | 216 | -7 | Morton Bagot | 63 | -22 |
| Aston Cantlow | 1526 | +47 | Salford Priors | 1358 | +25 |
| Bidford | 4106 | +948 | Sambourne | 638 | +36 |
| Coughton | 152 | -10 | Spernall | 27 | -18 |
| Exhall | 188 | +1 | Studley | 6241 | -384 |
| Great Alne | 496 | +3 | Weethley | 17 | +6 |
| Haselor | 214 | +2 | Wixford | 134 | +36 |
These figures show that Kinwarton has the largest percentage rise. Whereas up to the 20th century there were cottages and farmhouses near the church, these have all gone, leaving Kinwarton very much a depopulated village, if not exactly a deserted one. however recent housing near Alcester High School and the industrial park has raised the parish far beyond any numbers it previously had.
The tables given by the Census Office also supply numbers of households. In every parish the average per household has decreased since 1981, no doubt because of the rising age of the population and the incidence of one parent families. The average per household is 2.29 for Alcester, 2.42 for Bidford and 2.44 for Studley. Spernall is a mere 1.7. In the 19th century one could usually reckon between 4 and 5 per household. Today's figures are very low but may represent the country as a whole.
© G.E. Saville 1992