Abberley
Encyclopedia
Abberley is a picturesque village in north west Worcestershire
, England
. It is situated on the northern slopes of Abberley Hill (height 283 metres (928.5 ft)), between the River Severn
and River Teme
. The village had a population of 830 in 2001.
and Tenbury, at the junction with the road from Worcester to Cleobury Mortimer
. At the latest census, it had the youngest population of any Worcestershire village.
of St. Michael's and The Manor Arms. To the west, and divided from the village by farmland and the Cleobury road, is The Common, where the largest part of the population lives, new housing is being added, and there is a village shop cum post office
. Between the village and the common, on the Cleobury road, are the Parochial VC primary school and the Village Hall.
A little to the north, across the Green (developed as a Millennium project) from the village, is the large Victorian
St. Mary's church, built in 1852 to replace St. Michael's church when the latter fell into disrepair, though the chancel
of St. Michael's was later restored and is still used for some services.
Overlooking the Village is the third part of Abberley, The Hill, with scattered farms, houses and cottages across the steep slopes of Abberley Hill.
On the opposite side of Abberley Hill to the village, to the south of the Worcester-Tenbury road, lies Abberley Hall
. Abberley Hill forms part of the Abberley and Malvern Hills
Geopark
. The Hill lies on the path of the Worcestershire Way
, a well-used long-distance hiking trail.
Abberley has two churches, a primary school, a modern village hall
, a traditional village pub at its centre, The Manor Arms, and nearby a country hotel and restaurant, The Elms.
Abberley is home to Abberley Hall School
, a preparatory school set in the grounds of Abberley Hall, which also contain the Abberley Clock Tower
, the setting for the children's book by Gene Kemp
, The Clock Tower Ghost.
chief Eobald, by way of Eobaldelega, then Eobaldsleigh. Abberley is recorded in the Domesday Book
of 1086-7 as Edboldelege, when it was held by Ralph de Tosny.
In 1405 Abberley Hill was the scene of a protracted stand-off between two major medieval armies, those of Henry IV
and a combined army of Welsh and French under Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower)
. Eventually, cut off from their supply line, the Welsh withdrew, never again to penetrate so far into England.
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the northern slopes of Abberley Hill (height 283 metres (928.5 ft)), between the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
and River Teme
River Teme
The River Teme rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Knighton where it crosses the border into England down to Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
. The village had a population of 830 in 2001.
Location
Abberley lies halfway between WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
and Tenbury, at the junction with the road from Worcester to Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer is a small rural market town in Shropshire, England. The town's parish has a population of 1,962 according to the 2001 census. Although sometimes regarded as a village, it is in fact the second smallest town in Shropshire , having been granted a town charter in 1253.Several...
. At the latest census, it had the youngest population of any Worcestershire village.
The village
Abberley is a village of three distinct parts. The oldest part, known as The Village, clusters round the 12th century and 13th century parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St. Michael's and The Manor Arms. To the west, and divided from the village by farmland and the Cleobury road, is The Common, where the largest part of the population lives, new housing is being added, and there is a village shop cum post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. Between the village and the common, on the Cleobury road, are the Parochial VC primary school and the Village Hall.
A little to the north, across the Green (developed as a Millennium project) from the village, is the large Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
St. Mary's church, built in 1852 to replace St. Michael's church when the latter fell into disrepair, though the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
of St. Michael's was later restored and is still used for some services.
Overlooking the Village is the third part of Abberley, The Hill, with scattered farms, houses and cottages across the steep slopes of Abberley Hill.
On the opposite side of Abberley Hill to the village, to the south of the Worcester-Tenbury road, lies Abberley Hall
Abberley Hall
Abberley Hall is a country house in the north-west of the county of Worcestershire, England. The present Italianate house is the work of Samuel Daukes and dates from 1846-49. Since 1916 it has been occupied by Abberley Hall School. It is a Grade II* listed building...
. Abberley Hill forms part of the Abberley and Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills
The Malvern Hills are a range of hills in the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a small area of northern Gloucestershire, dominating the surrounding countryside and the towns and villages of the district of Malvern...
Geopark
Geopark
A Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...
. The Hill lies on the path of the Worcestershire Way
Worcestershire Way
The Worcestershire Way is a waymarked long-distance trail located within the county of Worcestershire, England. It runs from Bewdley to Great Malvern.-History:When launched back in 1989 the Worcestershire Way was long and ran partly into Herefordshire...
, a well-used long-distance hiking trail.
Abberley has two churches, a primary school, a modern village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
, a traditional village pub at its centre, The Manor Arms, and nearby a country hotel and restaurant, The Elms.
Abberley Hall School
Abberley Hall School is a mixed private boarding school for around 300 pupils aged 2 to 13 with 38 full time and 25 part time teaching staff. About 100 of the pupils are full boarders. It is located in the village of Abberley about halfway between Worcester and Tenbury Wells in the...
, a preparatory school set in the grounds of Abberley Hall, which also contain the Abberley Clock Tower
James Piers St Aubyn
James Piers St Aubyn , often referred to as J. P. St Aubyn, was an English architect of the Victorian era, known for his church architecture and confident restorations.-Early life:...
, the setting for the children's book by Gene Kemp
Gene Kemp
Gene Kemp Nee Rushton is a British author best known for her children's books. Her first novel, The Pride of Tamworth Pig was published in 1972. She won The Other Award in 1977 and the UK Carnegie Medal in 1978 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler ...
, The Clock Tower Ghost.
History
The name Abberley probably relates to the 6th century SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
chief Eobald, by way of Eobaldelega, then Eobaldsleigh. Abberley is recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086-7 as Edboldelege, when it was held by Ralph de Tosny.
In 1405 Abberley Hill was the scene of a protracted stand-off between two major medieval armies, those of Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
and a combined army of Welsh and French under Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower)
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
. Eventually, cut off from their supply line, the Welsh withdrew, never again to penetrate so far into England.