Elmley Castle
Encyclopedia
Elmley Castle is a village and civil parish
in Worcestershire
, in England
, United Kingdom
. It is located on the north side of Bredon Hill
4 kilometres south east of Pershore
in the local government district of Wychavon
.
, post office
, primary school, local shop selling local produce, and church.
The largest public house is called "The Queens Head", after Queen Elizabeth I
who is supposed to have stopped there. According to local legend Elizabeth I was presented with a hat on her arrival in the village on the road from Pershore
, (a nearby town). The slope upwards out of the village at that point is still known as 'Besscaps'.
The remains of a stone cross are still present in the centre of the village. Its age is unknown and a significant portion remains underground.
The church of St. Mary dates from the end of the 11th century, the chancel
shows herringbone pattern
stonework in the external walls, the font
has a 15th-century octagonal bowl on a 13th-century square base decorated with stonecarved serpents and dragons and the church was much added to in succeeding centuries. It contains grand monuments
to Thomas, 1st Earl of Coventry
and 17th century effigies of members of the Savage family. The decline in local Christian
worshippers has led to a reduced service schedule at the church.
and medieval castle
, from which the village derives its name, are located in the deer park
, one kilometre to the south on Bredon Hill
. The castle is supposed to have been built for Robert Despenser in the years following the Norman Conquest. After his death (post 1098) it descended to his heirs, the powerful Beauchamp family
. It remained their chief seat until William de Beauchamp
inherited the earldom and castle of Warwick from his maternal uncle, William Maudit, 8th Earl of Warwick
, in 1268. Thereafter, Elmley Castle remained a secondary property of the Earls of Warwick until it was surrendered to the Crown in 1487. In 1528 the castle seems to have been still habitable, for Walter Walshe was then appointed constable and keeper. In 1544, however, prior to its grant by the Crown to Sir William Herbert and Christopher Savage, a survey was made of the manor and castle of Elmley, and it was found that the castle was completely uncovered and in decay.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in 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...
, in 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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located on the north side of Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill is a hill in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Evesham in the Vale of Evesham. The summit of the hill is in the parish of Kemerton and it extends over parts of eight other parishes...
4 kilometres south east of Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
in the local government district of Wychavon
Wychavon
Wychavon is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. Its council is based in Pershore. Other towns in the district include Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Broadway. The district extends from the south-east corner of Worcestershire north and west...
.
Amenities and history
It had a population of 497 in 2001 and retains public amenities such as a bus route, public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, 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...
, primary school, local shop selling local produce, and church.
The largest public house is called "The Queens Head", after Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
who is supposed to have stopped there. According to local legend Elizabeth I was presented with a hat on her arrival in the village on the road from Pershore
Pershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
, (a nearby town). The slope upwards out of the village at that point is still known as 'Besscaps'.
The remains of a stone cross are still present in the centre of the village. Its age is unknown and a significant portion remains underground.
The church of St. Mary dates from the end of the 11th century, 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...
shows herringbone pattern
Opus spicatum
Opus spicatum, literally "spiked work," is a type of masonry construction used in Roman and medieval times. It consists of bricks, tiles or cut stone laid in a herringbone pattern.-Uses:...
stonework in the external walls, the font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
has a 15th-century octagonal bowl on a 13th-century square base decorated with stonecarved serpents and dragons and the church was much added to in succeeding centuries. It contains grand monuments
Church monument
A church monument is an architectural or sculptural memorial to a dead person or persons, located within a Christian church. It can take various forms, from a simple wall tablet to a large and elaborate structure which may include an effigy of the deceased person and other figures of familial or...
to Thomas, 1st Earl of Coventry
Thomas Coventry, 1st Earl of Coventry
Thomas Coventry, 1st Earl of Coventry , known as the Hon. Thomas Coventry from 1640 to 1687 and as the Lord Coventry from 1687 to 1697, was an English politician....
and 17th century effigies of members of the Savage family. The decline in local Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
worshippers has led to a reduced service schedule at the church.
Castle
The ruins of an important NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
and medieval castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, from which the village derives its name, are located in the deer park
Medieval deer park
A medieval deer park was an enclosed area containing deer. It was bounded by a ditch and bank with a wooden park pale on top of the bank. The ditch was typically on the inside, thus allowing deer to enter the park but preventing them from leaving.-History:...
, one kilometre to the south on Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill is a hill in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Evesham in the Vale of Evesham. The summit of the hill is in the parish of Kemerton and it extends over parts of eight other parishes...
. The castle is supposed to have been built for Robert Despenser in the years following the Norman Conquest. After his death (post 1098) it descended to his heirs, the powerful Beauchamp family
Baron Beauchamp
The titles Baron Beauchamp and Viscount Beauchamp have been created several times throughout English and British history. There is still an extant Viscountcy of Beauchamp, held by the Marquesses of Hertford.-Beauchamp family:...
. It remained their chief seat until William de Beauchamp
William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick
William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick was an English nobleman and soldier, described as a “vigorous and innovative military commander”...
inherited the earldom and castle of Warwick from his maternal uncle, William Maudit, 8th Earl of Warwick
William Maudit, 8th Earl of Warwick
William Maudit , 8th Earl of Warwick was an English nobleman and participant in the Barons' War....
, in 1268. Thereafter, Elmley Castle remained a secondary property of the Earls of Warwick until it was surrendered to the Crown in 1487. In 1528 the castle seems to have been still habitable, for Walter Walshe was then appointed constable and keeper. In 1544, however, prior to its grant by the Crown to Sir William Herbert and Christopher Savage, a survey was made of the manor and castle of Elmley, and it was found that the castle was completely uncovered and in decay.
External links
- Parish Website
- Village Hall Website
- Elmley Castle CofE First School Website
- Victoria County History text online
- 2001 census results
- Castle ruins (accessed July 2006)
- St Mary the Virgin church
- British History Online on Elmley Castle
- Old photos circa 1955
- Village Community Website
- photos of Elmley Castle and surrounding area on geograph