Smethcott
Encyclopedia
Smethcott is a civil parish and dispersed hamlet
near the village of Picklescott
, in Shropshire
, England
.
The name Smethcott has an Old English origin, and means "cottage(s) of the smiths
". It was listed as a manor
in Domesday
, where (spelt "Smerecote") it is recorded as having been held by Eldred, the tenant of its former owner Edmund, who now himself held it from a member of the Anglo-Norman nobility. A 13th century motte-and-bailey
castle existed at Smethcott, of which now only the earthworks remain in a field near the church. The motte hill rises to an altitude of 247 metres (810.4 ft).
The church, which is dedicated to St Michael
and All Angels, was largely rebuilt in 1850 though retains some Norman features. The village school closed in 1964 and today the nearest services (pubs, shops, etc) are found in Picklescott and Leebotwood
.
The rural parish is situated in the northern foothills of the Long Mynd
and includes Picklescott and the hamlet of Betchcott
. The nearest town is Church Stretton
. To the south is the village and parish of Woolstaston
, with the Betchcott Brook forming the parish boundary.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
near the village of Picklescott
Picklescott
Picklescott is a village in Shropshire, England.It is located in the northern foothills of the Long Mynd, approximately 5 miles northwest of Church Stretton.Picklescott lies in the parish of Smethcott, now a hamlet to its east...
, in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, 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...
.
The name Smethcott has an Old English origin, and means "cottage(s) of the smiths
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
". It was listed as a manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
in Domesday
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...
, where (spelt "Smerecote") it is recorded as having been held by Eldred, the tenant of its former owner Edmund, who now himself held it from a member of the Anglo-Norman nobility. A 13th century motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle existed at Smethcott, of which now only the earthworks remain in a field near the church. The motte hill rises to an altitude of 247 metres (810.4 ft).
The church, which is dedicated to St Michael
St Michael
St Michael was a brand that was owned and used by Marks & Spencer from 1928 until 2000.-History:The brand was introduced by Simon Marks in 1928, after his father and co-founder of Marks & Spencer, Michael Marks. By 1950, virtually all goods were sold under the St Michael brand...
and All Angels, was largely rebuilt in 1850 though retains some Norman features. The village school closed in 1964 and today the nearest services (pubs, shops, etc) are found in Picklescott and Leebotwood
Leebotwood
Leebotwood is a village and parish in Shropshire, England.It is located on the A49 road, north of Church Stretton and south of Dorrington. The village of All Stretton is 2 miles away....
.
The rural parish is situated in the northern foothills of the Long Mynd
Long Mynd
The Long Mynd in Shropshire, England, is a part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is south of the county town Shrewsbury, and has an area of over 22 square kilometres , most of which takes the form of a heathland plateau. Most of the land on the Long Mynd is owned by...
and includes Picklescott and the hamlet of Betchcott
Betchcott
Betchcott is a hamlet near the villages of Picklescott and Woolstaston in Shropshire, England.It lies in the parish of Smethcott, in the northern foothills of the Long Mynd. The nearest town is Church Stretton....
. The nearest town is Church Stretton
Church Stretton
Church Stretton is a small town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The population of the town was recorded as 2,789 in 2001, whilst the population of the wider parish was recorded as 4,186...
. To the south is the village and parish of Woolstaston
Woolstaston
Woolstaston is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England.It is located in the northern foothills of the Long Mynd and is situated near Leebotwood, Smethcott and Picklescott. The parish is geographically very small, covering only the village, the lanes leading to it and a small part of...
, with the Betchcott Brook forming the parish boundary.