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O PASTORAL heart of England! like a psalm Of green days telling with a quiet beat - O wave into the sunset flowing calm! O tirèd lark descending on the wheat! Lies it all peace beyond that western fold Where now the lingering shepherd sees his star Rise upon Malvern? ... first half of verse from Upon Eckington Bridge, River Avon by A T Quiller-Crouch |
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BRIEF HISTORY OF ECKINGTON VILLAGE It seems appropriate to begin a tour of the village at Holy Trinity Church, not only because it lies in the centre but it is also the oldest surviving building. Parts of the church date back to the Norman period and additions and alterations have continually taken place over the centuries. The tower holds eight bells, which are regularly rung by an enthusiastic band of village ringers. Other points of interest are the stained glass windows, carvings on the wooden ceiling of the nave, the ancient parish chest and the Hanford memorial in the chancel. Close by the church is the village cross, the base of which originates from Saxon times. Next to it stands the memorial to those who lost their lives in the two world wars. Approximately half a mile to the north, on the Pershore Road, stands Eckington Bridge. Built from sandstone in 1729 on the piers of a former bridge, it has withstood the ravages of time and continues to bear the weight and volume of traffic its architects could never have imagined. On returning to the village, which is deceptive in size to those merely passing through, it is pleasant to stroll through the side streets and admire its houses and gardens. There are many grade two listed buildings, several of which are timber framed cottages dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, 19 of which still retain their thatched roofs. Of the two remaining hostelries (there were once four) the Bell Inn is the older, having been mentioned in documents as far back as 1777. However the building you see today is barely 50 years old, as it replaced the timber framed original which was burnt to the ground in 1945. The Anchor Inn began life as a cider house in the 19th century and has undergone much recent change, although some of the original parts still remain. The cider press that once stood in the orchard adjoining the Anchor can now be seen around the corner in Jarvis Street, outside Betty Panters Cottage. Further along the same street is Hope Chapel. Built in 1840, for the first 100 years of its existence it served the purpose for which it was intended, but following its closure it was used as a Chapel of Rest. Only recently has it been converted to a private residence. Nearby stands the thriving village primary school, an important focal point of the parish for over 130 years. The Village Hall is opposite, built as a memorial to those who did not return from action in the first world war. About a mile out of the village, on the lower slopes of Bredon Hill, can be found the 400 year old Woollas Hall, family seat of the Hanford family until 1938. Built from stone quarried from higher up the hill, the Hall is now sub-divided into flats. For those who like walking, there is a very pleasant four mile circular walk that for the most part leads ramblers along the banks of the River Avon. At Strensham Lock, particularly on a fine sunny day, one can pause and watch boaters passing through (You may even wish to lend a hand by opening and closing the lock gates). In complete contrast, however, there is the more challenging climb from Woollas Hall to the tower on top of Bredon Hill. Well worth the effort for the panoramic views and there is a toposcope nearby to assist with the identification of the distant hills in all directions. Nils Wilkes If anyone is interested in buying the book "A HISTORY OF ECKINGTON", a new version has been published by Nils Wilkes, our own local historian and is available in local bookshops for £8.99 (ISBN 0 9528051 0 3) |
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One fine day during June 2010, Nils Wilkes led a group of walkers (including your webmasters) up Bredon Hill. Even though some of us have walked up Bredon Hill many times, we all learned something new. It was an excellent morning walk. Amongst other things, we saw the site of a deserted medieval village, the site of St Catherine's Chapel, the Well Gate, Tower and Banbury Stone. The photos show (from top left clockwise):
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