North Hill, Malvern
Encyclopedia
North Hill is the second highest point of the range of Malvern Hills
that runs approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north-south along the Herefordshire
-Worcestershire
border, although North Hill lies entirely within Worcestershire. It has an elevation of 397 m (1,303 ft ), making it the highest point of the Worcestershire Way
.
The eastern flank of the hill lies directly behind Worcester road in Great Malvern
from where its summit is a brisk 15 – 20 minutes steep walk from the town centre via St Ann's road and Happy Valley. A path from the car park in North Malvern
follows the lower contour of North Hill to Happy Valley and St. Ann's Well
.
to Wessex
lay to the north of Malvern, there is some evidence to suggest that traders passed over the Malvern Hills. Parts of an arrowhead
, scraper
and flint flakes
have been discovered between the North Hill and Table Hill. An 19th Century guide book describes both a collapsed burial mound on North Hill named the Giant's Grave and a tump on Table Hill. These tumuli may have been connected to the Dobunni
settlement in Mathon
.
A track that runs along North Hill was known as the “Pyx
Path” and was used by the priest from Worcestershire
when bringing Sacrament
to the hermits that lived in Malvern in the 11th Century. It was also referred to as the "Pixie Path", as it was believed to be used by faeires
. The Lodge spring can be found at the foot of North Hill, off Worcester road. The ornamental fountain has a small spout and basin that is similar in design to those at St Ann's Well.
stated that he believed North Hill to be the beginning of a ley line
to Pen-y-Beacon via Mathon Church, Moat at Birchend, Stretton Grandison Church, Shucknell Hill, White Stone Chapel, Burcot Pool, Ten Houses Pond and Sugwas Park.
was 48 miles (77.2 km) long and ran partly into Herefordshire
. The route and its length were modified in 2004 and it now runs wholly within Worcestershire. The last few miles of the Way now ascend to the northern part of the Malvern Hills and skirt around the contours of End Hill, Table Hill
and along Lady Howard de Walden’s Drive on North Hill, before descending to Great Malvern via St Ann's Well.
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...
that runs approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north-south along the Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county 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 Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
-Worcestershire
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...
border, although North Hill lies entirely within Worcestershire. It has an elevation of 397 m (1,303 ft ), making it the highest point 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...
.
The eastern flank of the hill lies directly behind Worcester road in Great Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
from where its summit is a brisk 15 – 20 minutes steep walk from the town centre via St Ann's road and Happy Valley. A path from the car park in North Malvern
North Malvern
North Malvern is a suburb of Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It nestles on the northern slopes of the Malvern Hills. It is a contiguous urban extension of Link Top, and other neighbouring centres of population are Great Malvern, Malvern Link, West Malvern and the former village of Cowleigh...
follows the lower contour of North Hill to Happy Valley and St. Ann's Well
St. Ann's Well, Malvern
St. Ann's Well is set on the slopes of the Malvern Hills above Great Malvern. It is a popular site on a path leading up to the Worcestershire Beacon and lies on the final descent of the Worcestershire Way....
.
History
Although the flint route from North WalesNorth Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
to Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
lay to the north of Malvern, there is some evidence to suggest that traders passed over the Malvern Hills. Parts of an arrowhead
Projectile point
In archaeological terms, a projectile point is an object that was hafted to a projectile, such as a spear, dart, or arrow, or perhaps used as a knife....
, scraper
Scraper (archaeology)
In archaeology, scrapers are unifacial tools that were used either for hideworking or woodworking purposes. Whereas this term is often used for any unifacially flaked stone tool that defies classification, most lithic analysts maintain that the only true scrapers are defined on the base of...
and flint flakes
Lithic flake
In archaeology, a lithic flake is a "portion of rock removed from an objective piece by percussion or pressure," and may also be referred to as a chip or spall, or collectively as debitage. The objective piece, or the rock being reduced by the removal of flakes, is known as a core. Once the proper...
have been discovered between the North Hill and Table Hill. An 19th Century guide book describes both a collapsed burial mound on North Hill named the Giant's Grave and a tump on Table Hill. These tumuli may have been connected to the Dobunni
Dobunni
The Dobunni were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Isles prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. There are seven known references to the tribe in Roman histories and inscriptions. The latter part of the name possibly derives from Bune, a cup or vessel...
settlement in Mathon
Mathon, Herefordshire
Mathon is a village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire, lying just to the west of the Malvern Hills between Malvern and Ledbury. Nearby villages include Cradley and Colwall.-External links:* *...
.
A track that runs along North Hill was known as the “Pyx
Pyx
A pyx or pix is a small round container used in the Catholic, Old Catholic and Anglican Churches to carry the consecrated host , to the sick or invalid or those otherwise unable to come to a church in order to receive Holy Communion...
Path” and was used by the priest from Worcestershire
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...
when bringing Sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
to the hermits that lived in Malvern in the 11th Century. It was also referred to as the "Pixie Path", as it was believed to be used by faeires
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
. The Lodge spring can be found at the foot of North Hill, off Worcester road. The ornamental fountain has a small spout and basin that is similar in design to those at St Ann's Well.
Folklore
In Early British Trackways, Moats, Mounds, Camps, and Sites Alfred WatkinsAlfred Watkins
Alfred Watkins was a businessman, self-taught amateur archaeologist and antiquarian who, while standing on a hillside in Herefordshire, England, in 1921 experienced a revelation and noticed on the British landscape the apparent arrangement of straight lines positioned along ancient features, and...
stated that he believed North Hill to be the beginning of a ley line
Ley line
Ley lines are alleged alignments of a number of places of geographical and historical interest, such as ancient monuments and megaliths, natural ridge-tops and water-fords...
to Pen-y-Beacon via Mathon Church, Moat at Birchend, Stretton Grandison Church, Shucknell Hill, White Stone Chapel, Burcot Pool, Ten Houses Pond and Sugwas Park.
The Worcestershire Way
When launched back in 1989 the Worcestershire WayWorcestershire 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...
was 48 miles (77.2 km) long and ran partly into Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county 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 Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. The route and its length were modified in 2004 and it now runs wholly within Worcestershire. The last few miles of the Way now ascend to the northern part of the Malvern Hills and skirt around the contours of End Hill, Table Hill
Table Hill
Table Hill is situated in the range of Malvern Hills that runs approximately north-south along the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border. It lies between North Hill and Sugarloaf Hill and has an elevation of .- History :...
and along Lady Howard de Walden’s Drive on North Hill, before descending to Great Malvern via St Ann's Well.