Hanley Castle
Encyclopedia
Hanley Castle is a village in Worcestershire
, England, between the towns of Malvern
and Upton upon Severn and a short distance from the River Severn
. It lies in the administrative area of Malvern Hills District
, and is part of the informal region known as The Malverns. The village population together with that of the nearby village of Hanley Swan
is around 1500.
The village has also been known as Hanlie (11 th century.); Hanlega, Hanlegam, and Hanlea (12th century.); and Hanlegh (13th century).
In the 12th century the heavily forested area became the seat of administration of the Malvern Chase
, a royal hunting area.
There was once a Norman
castle built as a hunting lodge for King John in 1207 near the present day village. By the end of the 15th century it had been mostly demolished, and the tower was finally removed in 1795. However, a few traces still remain including a dry moat and a mound.
The central feature of the village is the cul-de-sac of Church End with its village green dominated by a huge Cedar of Lebanon tree that is reputed to be approximately 900 years old, the unspoiled 15th-century red-brick and timbered pub and other listed buildings, and the High School.
P.G. Wodehouse based several stories in the area. Severn End, the stately home
of the Lechmere family, was the inspiration for Brinkley Court, the country seat for Bertie Wooster
's Aunt Dahlia. In addition, the then Hanley Castle Grammar School was the model for Market Snodsbury Grammar School, with at least one of the stories mentioning the School Hall, now the School Library, in detail.
exam. Although government owned, it was run very much on the traditional lines of a typical English 'Public School
'. In 1969 following changes in government education policy, the school developed more in the style of a comprehensive school
with a focus on both academic and vocational education. The school serves not only Hanley Castle village itself, but also the nearby town of Upton upon Severn, and other local villages including Hanley Swan
, Welland
and Castlemorton
and is one of three state secondary schools for Malvern
children. In 2009 the school received an exceptionally good OFSTED
report.
in Hanley Castle since the 11th century. The Grade II listed building is situated on the banks of the River Severn
, and is reached from a large gatehouse by a long private road through the estate.
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, between the towns of 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...
and Upton upon Severn and a short distance from 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...
. It lies in the administrative area of Malvern Hills District
Malvern Hills (district)
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 that borders Herefordshire. It was originally formed in 1974 and was subject to a significant boundary reform in 1998...
, and is part of the informal region known as The Malverns. The village population together with that of the nearby village of Hanley Swan
Hanley Swan
Hanley Swan is a small village in the English county of Worcestershire. It lies in the Malvern Hills district, between the towns of Malvern 2 miles away, and Upton-upon-Severn. Together with the neaby village of Hanley Castle, its population is about 1500. The very traditional English village...
is around 1500.
The village has also been known as Hanlie (11 th century.); Hanlega, Hanlegam, and Hanlea (12th century.); and Hanlegh (13th century).
In the 12th century the heavily forested area became the seat of administration of the Malvern Chase
Malvern Chase
Malvern Chase occupied the land between the Malvern Hills and the River Severn in Worcestershire and extended to Herefordshire from the River Teme to Cors Forest....
, a royal hunting area.
There was once a Norman
Norman 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...
castle built as a hunting lodge for King John in 1207 near the present day village. By the end of the 15th century it had been mostly demolished, and the tower was finally removed in 1795. However, a few traces still remain including a dry moat and a mound.
The central feature of the village is the cul-de-sac of Church End with its village green dominated by a huge Cedar of Lebanon tree that is reputed to be approximately 900 years old, the unspoiled 15th-century red-brick and timbered pub and other listed buildings, and the High School.
Hanley Castle in Fiction & History
W.S. Symonds (1883)William Samuel Symonds
William Samuel Symonds , English geologist, was born in Hereford.He was educated at Cheltenham College and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1842. Having taken holy orders he was appointed curate of Offenham, near Evesham in 1843, and two years later he was presented to the...
P.G. Wodehouse based several stories in the area. Severn End, the stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
of the Lechmere family, was the inspiration for Brinkley Court, the country seat for Bertie Wooster
Bertie Wooster
Bertram Wilberforce "Bertie" Wooster is a recurring fictional character in the Jeeves novels of British author P. G. Wodehouse. An English gentleman, one of the "idle rich" and a member of the Drones Club, he appears alongside his valet, Jeeves, whose genius manages to extricate Bertie or one of...
's Aunt Dahlia. In addition, the then Hanley Castle Grammar School was the model for Market Snodsbury Grammar School, with at least one of the stories mentioning the School Hall, now the School Library, in detail.
Hanley Castle High School
Founded in 1326, and formerly called Hanley Castle Grammar School, the comprehensive school, Hanley Castle High School, with a population of about 900 pupils is located in the centre of Hanley Castle next to the village green. For much of the 20th century the grammar school was a day and boarding school with a staff of about 15 and around 200 boys aged 11 to 18 who were admitted by selection only after passing the Eleven PlusEleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
exam. Although government owned, it was run very much on the traditional lines of a typical English 'Public School
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
'. In 1969 following changes in government education policy, the school developed more in the style of a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
with a focus on both academic and vocational education. The school serves not only Hanley Castle village itself, but also the nearby town of Upton upon Severn, and other local villages including Hanley Swan
Hanley Swan
Hanley Swan is a small village in the English county of Worcestershire. It lies in the Malvern Hills district, between the towns of Malvern 2 miles away, and Upton-upon-Severn. Together with the neaby village of Hanley Castle, its population is about 1500. The very traditional English village...
, Welland
Welland, Worcestershire
Welland is a village and a civil parish in the administrative District of Malvern Hills in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is about from the town of Malvern and 15 miles from the city of Worcester...
and Castlemorton
Castlemorton
Castlemorton is a village and civil parish close to Malvern in the Malvern Hills District in the county of Worcestershire, England.It consists of a village centre, a large common and many farms and houses within the area...
and is one of three state secondary schools for 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...
children. In 2009 the school received an exceptionally good OFSTED
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report.
Severn End
Severn End is a large Elizabethan and Jacobean mansion at the seat of the Lechmere BaronetsLechmere Baronets
The Lechmere Baronetcy, of The Rhydd in the County of Worcester, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 10 December 1818 for Anthony Lechmere. The second Baronet served as High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1852...
in Hanley Castle since the 11th century. The Grade II listed building is situated on the banks of 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 is reached from a large gatehouse by a long private road through the estate.