Middleton on the Hill | |
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![]() The tower of St Mary the Virgin | |
Location within Herefordshire | |
OS grid reference | SO545645 |
Civil parish |
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Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | LEOMINSTER |
Postcode district | HR6 |
Post town | LUDLOW |
Postcode district | SY8 |
Dialling code | 01568 |
Police | West Mercia |
Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Middleton on the Hill is a village in north east Herefordshire, England, near the border with Worcestershire. Middleton-on-the-Hill lies a few miles to the east of the A49 between Ludlow and Leominster. Middleton on the Hill is one of the 53 Thankful Villages in England and Wales that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914 to 1918; as it did not suffer any losses in World War II either, it is one of 13 villages considered "doubly thankful".
Middleton on the Hill does not mean "middle town or village" (from Old English middel "middle" and tūn "farm, village, estate, enclosure, manor (which gives us the modern English "town") as with most places of the name (e.g. Middleton, Greater Manchester: instead the etymology derives from Old English micel "large (related to modern English much" and tūn "farm, village, estate, enclosure, manor", here in the sense "estate" meaning "large village" (i.e. one that is broad in size). [1] The name was recorded in 1086 in the Domesday Book as Miceltune when it was reported as part of the lands belonging to Leominster [2] "TRE". [3] After 1086 it belonged to Durand, the Sheriff, and was worth ten shillings.
Saint Mary's church is in the Norman and Early English styles and has a large tower which contained three bells. This older church had outlived the chapel which was demolished in 1800. In the churchyard is a war memorial that unusually is shaped like a lantern. The inscription reads:
A thank offering to Almighty God
"At evening time it shall be light "
for the safe return of all the men from this parish
who fought in the Great War 1914 - 1918
and 1939 - 1945 [4]
In 1874 a school was erected at a cost of £210 that could cater for 42 children. A building stood here was called Moor Abbey and was the remains of a much older building. This building would have had a moat. [5]
A short distance away, about 3 miles (5 km) south east of Middleton and near Tenbury Wells [6] is the church of Saint Michael, which was founded by the Reverend Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Bart, M.A. at an outlay of nearly £30,000. [5] Frederick Ouseley was the musical prodigy son of Sir Gore Ouseley, the diplomat who served in Persia, Russia and India. [7] The church is a magnificent structure of stone, in the Middle Pointed style of architecture, and was consecrated on the 29 September 1856. There is beautiful stained glass in the east and west windows in particular, which represents figures of angels and the Crucifixion. The font is placed in a complete baptistery well of water, and there were only two of its kind when it was installed. The organ, a remarkable instrument that has 64 stops and four manuals, with many other novel and effective features, was installed under the direction of the Rev. Sir Frederick A. Gore Ouseley, Bart., M.A., Mus. Doc., professor of Music in the University of Oxford, and precentor of Hereford cathedral. [5]
The village is now primarily home to commuters. Its population in 1861 was 445 and in 1871, 382. [5] In the United Kingdom Census 2001 the Middleton on the Hill ward headcount was recorded as 244. [8]
The village is covered by Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire on 96.7 FM and Free Radio Birmingham, and Sunshine 855, as well as BBC Hereford and Worcester.
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is 12 miles north of Hereford and 7 miles south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of 11,700, Leominster is the largest of the five towns in the county; the others being Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington.
Bromyard is a town in the parish of Bromyard and Winslow, in Herefordshire, England, in the valley of the River Frome. It is near the county border with Worcestershire on the A44 between Leominster and Worcester. Bromyard has a number of traditional half-timbered buildings, including some of the pubs; the parish church is Norman. For centuries, there was a livestock market in the town.
Herefordshire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Gloucestershire to the south-east, Worcestershire to the east, Shropshire to the north and the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire and Powys to the west. The city of Hereford is the largest settlement and the county town.
Malvern Hills is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. Its council is based in the town of Malvern, and its area covers most of the western half of the county, including the outlying towns of Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn. It was originally formed in 1974 and was subject to a significant boundary reform in 1998. In the 2011 census the population of the Malvern Hills district was 74,631.
Tenbury Wells is a market town and civil parish in the northwestern extremity of the Malvern Hills District of Worcestershire, England. Its northern border adjoins Shropshire, and at the 2021 census joint with Burford it had a population of 5,224.
Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, 2nd Baronet was an English composer, organist, musicologist and priest.
Leominster was a non-metropolitan district in Hereford and Worcester, England from 1974 to 1998. The council was based in the town of Leominster.
Mamble is a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills District in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is located on the A456 between Bewdley and Tenbury Wells. Notable buildings include the 13th century sandstone church and the nearby 17th century Sun & Slipper Inn.
Bockleton is a small village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire, England, five miles (8 km) south of Tenbury Wells. According to the 2021 census it had a population of 198. It is close to the Herefordshire border and is about nine miles (14 km) east of Leominster in Herefordshire.
Hatfield is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Hatfield and Newhampton, in the county of Herefordshire, England. In 1961 the parish had a population of 141. On 1 April 1987 the parish was abolished and merged with New Hampton to form "Hatfield & Newhampton".
Ford and Stoke Prior is a civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 10 miles (16 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is the market town of Leominster, adjacent at the north-west. The parish includes the hamlet of Ford, the village of Stoke Prior, and the medieval parish churches of St Luke and St John of Jerusalem. At the west of the parish is the site of a Romano-British settlement.
Newton is a linear settlement hamlet and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 10 miles (16 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is the market town of Leominster, 3 miles (5 km) to the north. A Cadbury's confectionery factory is within the parish.
Croft and Yarpole is a civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 17 miles (27 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is the market town of Leominster, 4.5 miles (7 km) to the south. Within the parish is the National Trust property of Croft Castle and Parkland.
Eye, Moreton and Ashton is a civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England. The parish is 15 miles (24 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is the market town of Leominster, 3 miles (5 km) to the south. Within the parish is the National Trust property of Berrington Hall, and the villages of Eye, Moreton, and Ashton.
Felton is a small village and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 7 miles (11 km) north-east from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest town is the market town of Bromyard, 6 miles (10 km) to the north-east.
Docklow and Hampton Wafer, is a civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 11 miles (18 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is Leominster 4 miles (6 km) to the west. The parish contains the remains of Uphampton Camp, a probable Iron Age hillfort, and the Church of St Bartholomew, in part dating to the 12th and 13th century.
Hatfield and Newhampton is a civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, and is 11 miles (18 km) north from the city and county town of Hereford. The closest large town is Leominster 4 miles (6 km) to the west. The parish includes the small village of Hatfield, the former extra-parochial liberty of New Hampton, the site of former abbey lands of Fencote, the preserved Fencote railway station, and the Grade II* listed 11th-century Church of St Leonard.
Staunton on Arrow is a village and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England. The village is 17 miles (27 km) north-west of Hereford and 8 miles (13 km) to the west of Leominster. Within the parish is the site of the Iron Age hill fort of Wapley Hill.
Laysters is a civil parish in north-east Herefordshire, England, and approximately 15 miles (20 km) north-northeast from the city and county town of Hereford. The nearest towns are the market towns of Leominster 4.5 miles (7 km) to the south-west, and Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, 3.5 miles (6 km) miles to the north-east. Within Letton is the Grade 1 listed Church of St Andrew. The parish was alternatively spelt 'Leysters', the ecclesiastic spelling.