-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TDrjzo7sKCNEBIKqyX+aSMmSaWRQAOsaKMKmPPM6WFHll4fK6cXs0/bSLEM8phPs
 Icsx4MBniU/wJMCTzaoBhg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916641-01-000187.txt : 20010223
<SEC-HEADER>0000916641-01-000187.hdr.sgml : 20010223
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916641-01-000187
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20010214

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INVESTORS TITLE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000720858
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TITLE INSURANCE [6361]
		IRS NUMBER:				561110199
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-44857
		FILM NUMBER:		1542462

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 N COLUMBIA ST
		STREET 2:		P O DRAWER 2687
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199682200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 NORTH COLUMBIA STREET
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKEL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096343
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				541959284
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4521 HIGHWOODS PARKWAY
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060-3382
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047470136

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 COX RD
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARKEL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991005
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>0001.txt
<DESCRIPTION>STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
<TEXT>

<PAGE>

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G



                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                             Investors Title Company
               ---------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
               --------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    461804106
                -------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                               December 31, 2000
                ------------------------------------------------
                         (Date of Event Which Requires
                           Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)



The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).

CUSIP NO. 461804106

1)   Name of Reporting Person
     S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

     Markel Corporation
     54-1959284

2)   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

       (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3)   SEC Use Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<PAGE>

4)   Citizenship or Place of Organization          Virginia Corporation

Number of Shares             (5)  Sole Voting Power                      213,300
Beneficially Owned
by Each Reporting            (6)  Shared Voting Power                        -0-
Person With
                             (7)  Sole Dispositive Power                 213,300

                             (8)  Shared Dispositive Power                27,450

9)   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person        240,750

10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
       Instructions)..................................

11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)               9.3%

12) Type of Reporting Person  (See Instructions)                 HC,  CO


Item 1 (a).       Name of Issuer:

                  Investors Title Company

Item 1 (b).       Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

                  121 N. Columbia Street
                  Chapel Hill, North Carolina   27514

Item 2 (a).       Name of Person Filing:

                  Markel Corporation

Item 2 (b).       Address or Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

                  4521 Highwoods Parkway
                  Glen Allen, Virginia   23060

Item 2 (c).       Citizenship:

                  Virginia Corporation

Item 2 (d).       Title of Class of Securities:

                  Common Stock

Item 2 (e).       CUSIP Number:

                  461804106

Item 3.           This  statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b)
                  and the person filing, Markel Corporation, is a parent holding
                  company in accordance with Rule 13-1(b)(1)(ii) (G). (Note: See
                  Item 7).

Item 4.           Ownership

                  (a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:                        240,750

                  (b)  Percent of Class:                                    9.3%


                  (c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
<PAGE>

                     (i)   sole power to vote or to direct the vote:     213,300

                    (ii)   shared power to vote or to direct the vote:         0

                   (iii)   sole power to dispose or to direct the
                           disposition of:                               213,300

                    (iv)   shared power to dispose or to direct the
                           disposition of:                                27,450

Item 5.           Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

                  Not applicable.

Item 6.           Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
                  Person.


                  Essex Insurance Company, Markel American Insurance Company and
                  Evanston Insurance Company (each subsidiaries of Markel North
                  America, Inc., itself a subsidiary of Markel Corporation) and
                  certain other investors advised by Markel Gayner Asset
                  Management Corporation, have the right to receive or the power
                  to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from
                  the sale of, the Common Stock of Investors Title Company. The
                  interest of each of such persons relates to less than five
                  percent of the Common Stock of Investors Title Company, except
                  for Essex Insurance Company, a Delaware corporation and
                  insurance company located at 4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen
                  Allen, Virginia 23060 which beneficially owns 152,600 shares
                  or 5.9% of the Common Stock of Investors Title Company.

Item 7.           Identification  and  Classification  of the  Subsidiary  Which
                  Acquired the Security  Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
                  Company.

                  See Item 6 and attached Exhibit(s) A and B.

Item 8.           Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

                  Not applicable, see attached Exhibit A.

Item 9.           Notice of Dissolution of Group.

                  Not applicable.

Item 10.          Certification.

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                  and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
                  are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                  acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                  effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
                  the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                  connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                  that purpose or effect.

                  SIGNATURE

                  After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
                  belief,  I  certify  that the  information  set  forth in this
                  statement is true, complete and correct.



                                Date:            February 14, 2001


                                Signature:       /s/ Alan I. Kirshner

                                Title:           Chairman


<PAGE>


                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                                  SCHEDULE 13G



Pursuant to the instructions in Item 7 of Schedule 13G, Markel Gayner Asset
Management Corporation ("Markel Gayner"), 4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen,
Virginia 23060, a Virginia corporation and an investment adviser registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of 240,750
shares or 9.3% of the outstanding Common Stock of Investors Title Company (the
"Company") as a result of acting as investment adviser to Essex Insurance
Company, Markel American Insurance Company, Evanston Insurance Company and
certain other investors.

Markel Gayner, Essex Insurance Company, Markel American Insurance Company
and Evanston Insurance Company are subsidiaries of a holding company named
Markel North America, Inc. ("MNA"), a Virginia corporation located at 4521
Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. MNA, through its control of
Markel Gayner, Essex Insurance Company, Markel American Insurance Company and
Evanston Insurance Company, is the beneficial owner of 240,750 shares or 9.3% of
the outstanding common stock of the Company.

Markel Corporation, through its control of MNA and, in turn, Markel Gayner,
Essex Insurance Company, Markel American Insurance Company and Evanston
Insurance Company, has sole power to direct the voting and disposition of shares
of Common Stock of the Company held by those entities. Markel Corporation,
through its control of MNA and, in turn, Markel Gayner, has shared power to
direct the disposition, but not the voting, of shares of Common Stock of the
Company held by certain other investors advised by Markel Gayner.




                                                                      EXHIBIT B


                             RULE 13d-1(k) AGREEMENT

The undersigned persons on this 14th day of February, 2001, agree and consent to
the joint filing on their behalf of this Schedule 13G in connection with their
beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of Investors Title Company.


                                    MARKEL CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/  Alan I. Kirshner
                                        ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  Chairman

                                    MARKEL NORTH AMERICA, INC.

                                    By: /s/  Alan I. Kirshner
                                        ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  Chairman

                                    ESSEX INSURANCE COMPANY

                                    By: /s/ Alan I. Kirshner
                                        ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  Chairman

                                    MARKEL GAYNER ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

                                    By:  /s/ Thomas S. Gayner
                                         -------------------------------------
                                    Title:   President


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
