Wychbold | |
---|---|
![]() Church of St Mary de Wyche | |
Location within Worcestershire | |
Population | 1,366 (2011 census) |
OS grid reference | SO922660 |
Civil parish | |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | DROITWICH |
Postcode district | WR9 |
Police | West Mercia |
Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Wychbold is a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. The village is situated on the A38 between Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove, and by Junction 5 of the M5 motorway.
The first records of Wychbold suggest that it was of great importance to the Anglo-Saxons, particularly in regards to its proximity to Droitwich Spa. The village is known primarily for the garden centre Webbs of Wychbold.
The name Wychbold is derived from the Old English wīc–bold, meaning "Dwelling near the trading settlement". It has been recorded as Uuicbold (692) and Wicelbold (1086, Domesday Book). [1] The "wych" element ("near the trading settlement") is likely to refer to Droitwich. [2]
Evidence has been found of human settlement in Wychbold from the Iron Age and Roman times. [3]
Various pits, ditches and postholes have been found in sites throughout the village, indicating the presence of roundhouses and a permanent Iron Age settlement. [4] Archaeologists have also found various significant items from the Iron Age, such as broken vessels and a salt container from the Malvern Hills and Droitwich Spa. The presence of pottery from Malvern suggests that Wychbold had strong trade links outside of its immediate area, even in the Iron Age. [5]
Wychbold is located on an old Roman road and salt road, now the A38. Romans are believed to have settled in the Wychbold area between the 1st and 4th century, shown by the presence of Severn Valley and samian pottery. [6]
The earliest known record of Wychbold is in a charter of 692 (where it is known as Uuicbold), describing how Æthelred of Mercia "granted ten hides of land there to his thegn Oslaf". The charter is generally considered to be fabricated, but describes the village as being "distinguished", [7] suggesting that the village belonged to royalty at the time. The next known record of Wychbold is in a charter issued by Coenwulf of Mercia in 815. In this, and a later charter issued by Wiglaf of Mercia in 831, [8] Wychbold is referred to as a royal vill, suggesting its importance as a royal base or even residence. [9] Documents point to the existence of the Anglo–Saxon estate within Wychbold, but its location is currently unknown. [10]
During the 11th century, possession of Wychbold passed from Earl Godwine to Osbern fitzRichard, who held it at the time of the Domesday Book. There were 11 hides (4 of which were exempt from tax), 5 mills and 26 salt–pans in the village. The population was around 50 people. [11]
In 1204, William de Cantilupe, Sheriff of Worcestershire and steward to King John, came into possession of properties within the village. [12]
During the Middle Ages, a manor house was built in Wychbold, north of Church Lane. Now known as Wychbold Court, the current timber-frame house dates back to the 16th or 17th century. Minor alterations have been made to the house, during the 19th and 20th centuries. [13] Excavation near the Grade II listed house revealed pottery dating to the 13th or 14th century and evidence of farming in the area at the time. [14]
There also once stood a manor house called Wychbold Hall within the village, the residence of the Amphlett family, [15] described as being "modern" in 1911. [16] It was in "perfect preservation" when it stood. [17] The stone-flagged floor of the house was moved to Greyfriars, Worcester. [18]
During the Second World War, communal air raid shelters were built on either end of Wychbold, along with a concrete blast shelter near the main road. The village's Home Guard worked out of the Crown Inn. [19]
Wychbold is primarily governed by Dodderhill Parish Council, which performs maintenance on the village's public areas. [20] It is then governed by Wychavon District Council. It falls within the Mid Worcestershire constituency, being represented in Parliament by Nigel Huddleston. [21]
Wychbold falls under Ombersley division within Worcestershire County Council and is represented by Peter Tomlinson. [22]
Wychbold is located between the towns of Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove. The River Salwarpe runs around the outside of the village. [23]
Nearby villages include Upton Warren and Stoke Prior to the north-east, and Rashwood to the south-west.
The Droitwich transmitting station is located just outside the village, near Upton Warren.
At the 2011 UK census, Wychbold had a population of 1,366 in 586 dwellings. 16.9% of the population were under the age of 16 and 11.1% were aged 75 and over. The White British ethnic group made up 93.1% of the population. [24]
In recent years, Wychbold has seen the development of multiple housing estates, such as the Elmbridge Gardens site built in 2014. [25] The increase in population put pressure on the village's school, with rising demand for admissions places forcing the school to expand. [26] Plans for further housing developments have been criticised, citing pressures on local infrastructure. [27]
Wychbold has several restaurants and pubs, including a Harvester and a McDonald's. [28] [29] Holiday Inn runs a hotel within the village, next to the motorway junction. [30] There are also multiple petrol stations within the village, along the A38.
Webbs of Wychbold, a garden centre, is located just outside of Wychbold, and hires large numbers of staff from the local area. [31] It is known for the number of events it puts on throughout the year, such as their Christmas ice rink, which bring visitors to the village. [32] There is also a Hobbycraft and Cotswold Outdoor within the garden centre. [33] [34]
The A38 runs through Wychbold, connecting it to Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove. The village is by Junction 5 of the M5 motorway, allowing easy travel to Worcester and Birmingham.
Wychbold main bus service is the 144, run by FirstGroup and goes between Worcester and Birmingham. [35] [36] In addition Diamond Bus operate service 145/145A between Rubery and Droitwich via Bromsgrove.
Both Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove have train stations, providing services to Hereford and Birmingham. [37] [38]
Wychbold's parish church is the church of St Mary de Wyche, located within the Anglican Diocese of Worcester. The Grade II* listed church was built between 1888 and 1889, funded by the Amphlett family and John Corbett, an industrialist and the local Member of Parliament. The southeast tower contains an original late 13th century doorway. [39]
There also stood a Congregational church within the village, dating from 1836. [40]
Wychbold's surgery on De Wyche Road is run as a branch by St Johns Surgery as part of NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove. [41] The village's closest A&E is Worcestershire Royal Hospital, [42] although there are non-urgent hospitals within Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove.
Other emergency services are provided by West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, both having stations in Droitwich Spa. [43] [44]
Wychbold's only school is Wychbold First and Nursery School, which opened in September 1972. [45] It teaches children from the age of 3–10. [46]
In August 2018, a new play area opened opposite Wychbold Village Hall, containing new swings, climbing frames and slides. The play area will be improved further in the future, adding a small games area for table tennis and boules. [47] The village hall also maintains football pitches, with access to changing rooms and a car park.
Wychbold also has a rural walk site called Centurion Way Woods. [48]
After the sudden closure of the village's social club in April 2017, Wychbold's villagers raised over £20,000 to reopen the club. The Wychbold Sports and Social Club reopened in July 2017, with the aim to "bring the community together amidst several new housing developments" within the village. [49] [50] It offers a large lounge and function room, small bar and a snooker room. [51]
Wychbold is represented in Sunday league football by Wychbold FC, who have played on the pitches outside the village hall for over 50 years. [52]
Worcestershire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands county to the north, Warwickshire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south, and Herefordshire to the west. The city of Worcester is the largest settlement and the county town.
Droitwich Spa is an historic spa town in the Wychavon district in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe. It is located approximately 22 miles (35 km) south-west of Birmingham and 7 miles (11 km) north-east of Worcester.
Wychavon is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. The largest towns are Evesham and Droitwich Spa; the council is based in the town of Pershore. The district also includes numerous villages and surrounding rural areas, and includes part of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The district's name references the Saxon Kingdom of Hwicce and the River Avon. The population in 2022 was 134,536.
Bromsgrove is a local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England. It is named after its only town, Bromsgrove, where its council is based, but also includes several villages and surrounding rural areas. It borders the built-up area of Birmingham to the north. Other places in the district include Alvechurch, Aston Fields, Belbroughton, Catshill, Clent, Hagley, Rubery, Stoke Prior and Wythall. The population at the 2021 census was 99,475.
The area now known as Worcestershire has had human presence for over half a million years. Interrupted by two ice ages, Worcestershire has had continuous settlement since roughly 10,000 years ago. In the Iron Age, the area was dominated by a series of hill forts, and the beginnings of industrial activity including pottery and salt mining can be found. It seems to have been relatively unimportant during the Roman era, with the exception of the salt workings.
Cofton Hackett is a village and civil parish in the Bromsgrove District of north east Worcestershire, England. It is 10+1⁄4 miles southwest of the city centre of Birmingham and 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Worcester. In 2011, the village had a population of 1,893 but with housing development on the former Austin Rover site, this is expected to double over the five years to 2023. The village is served by two main bus services, these being the 20 and 145/145A operated by National Express and Diamond Bus respectively.
Catshill is a village in the civil parish of Catshill and North Marlbrook, in the Bromsgrove district, in Worcestershire, England, about 2.5 miles north of Bromsgrove and 10 miles south-west of Birmingham. The parish of Catshill was formed around the Turnpike Road (A38) in 1844.
Conderton is a small hamlet in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England.
Tibberton is a village in Worcestershire, England. It is located around 4 miles north-east of Worcester and less than a mile from junction 6 of the M5 motorway. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal passes just to the north of the village.
Dodderhill is a civil parish, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, located on the River Salwarpe. The parish is bisected by the M5 motorway, constructed in 1962. It is home to the Droitwich transmitting station in Wychbold.
Upton Warren is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district, in Worcestershire, England. The village is situated just off the A38 road between Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa, and on the River Salwarpe. In the 2001 census, the parish, which also contains the small hamlet of Cooksey Green, had a population of 291.
Worcestershire bus route 144 is a bus service connecting the Worcestershire areas of Catshill, Bromsgrove. Droitwich and Worcester, operated by First Worcestershire. The service dates back to 1914 and was one of the longest-running double-deck bus operated routes, though it is now more common for single decked buses to be used.
George Lashwood was a popular English singer and comedian of the Edwardian era, who performed in music halls throughout the country, especially in London's East End and at seaside locations such as Blackpool. He was known as "the Beau Brummell of the music halls".
RGS Dodderhill is a private school on the outskirts of Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, England. Girls and Boys are educated from 2 to 11 years of age; most boys continue their education at RGS Worcester, and the majority of girls continue their education at RGS Dodderhill Senior School which is specialized for girls only.
Salwarpe is a small village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England, less than two miles south west of Droitwich, but in open country. The name is also spelled Salwarp, and in the time of John Leland was recorded as Salop. Since 2003, Salwarpe has shared a parish council with Hindlip and Martin Hussingtree.
The West Midlands Green Belt is a statutory green belt environmental and planning policy that regulates the rural space within the West Midlands region of England. It is contained within the counties of the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Essentially, the function of the green belt is to more rigorously manage development around the cities, towns and villages in the large West Midlands conurbations centred around Birmingham and Coventry, discouraging convergence. It is managed by local planning authorities on guidance from central government.
The Old Town Hall is a municipal building in St Andrews Street, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, England. The structure, which was the headquarters of Droitwich Spa Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Droitwich and Evesham is a constituency in Worcestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested in the 2024 general election. The constituency name refers to the towns of Droitwich Spa and Evesham. From 1983 to 2024, the constituency Mid Worcestershire, with similar boundaries, existed.