PERSHORE, ST. ANDREW, with BRICKLEHAMPTON,
DEFFORD, PENSHAM, PINVIN and WICK
The parish of St. Andrew, Pershore, included the
chapelries of Bricklehampton and Pinvin and the now
separate ecclesiastical parishes of Defford and Wick.
The present parish of St. Andrew, exclusive of its
chapelries, contains 1,543 acres, of which 31 acres are
covered by water. It includes the southern part of
the town of Pershore, taking in Bridge Street and
part of High Street. The northern part of the parish
lies on the right bank of the Avon and the southern
part is in a bend of the river which divides it from
Birlingham on the south-west. The rest of the
southern boundary is formed by the Mary Brook, a
tributary of the Avon. The high road to Upton
upon Severn branches south-west from the High
Street and passes through St. Andrew's parish skirting
Tiddesley Wood. The parish with Pensham contains
437 acres of arable land, 684 acres of permanent
grass and 224 acres of woodland. (fn. 1) In 1086 the woodland in this manor was 2 leagues long and 3 furlongs
in width. (fn. 2) Later, Pershore became part of Horewell
Forest, which included the district to the south-east
of Worcester, being bounded on the west by the
Severn and extending as far south as Strensham. (fn. 3) It
was partly disafforested in 1229, (fn. 4) after an attempt
had been made by some of the owners of land in the
forest to disafforest it in 1218. (fn. 5) Horewell Wood,
which seems to have been a survival of the forest,
belonged to the Abbot of Westminster (fn. 6) and was
granted in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. (fn. 7) At this time Horewell included Strensham
Wood, Hill Wood, the three Croomes, Bucknell
Wood, Sapyes Wood, Besford and Defford Woods
and Severn Stoke. (fn. 8) After the Dissolution the inhabitants of these places sued Sir John Bourne, the lessee
under the dean and chapter, for common in the wood. (fn. 9)
During the Civil War the timber was cut down, and
in 1690 the wood is described as waste or common
ground called Harley Wood or Harwell Wood. (fn. 10) It
belonged to the dean and chapter until the end of the
18th century. (fn. 11) In 1774 they objected to the allotment of 6 acres on Defford Common to the Earl of
Coventry on the ground that it was part of Horewell
Wood. (fn. 12)
Tiddesley (Tiddelesca, Tedelee, Tidesle, xiii cent.)
Wood, on the Besford boundary, now the largest
wood in the parish of St. Andrew, belonged to the
Abbots of Westminster. (fn. 13) In 1223 a disagreement
arose between the Abbots of Westminister and Pershore as to common there, the Abbot of Pershore claiming it as the right of his church before
Pershore was given to the abbey of Westminster. (fn. 14)
Not long after the Abbot of Westminister induced
various landowners in the surrounding manors to give
up their claim to common in this wood in order that
he might impark it. (fn. 15) In 1271 William Earl of Warwick gave permission to the abbot to reinclose his
park at Tiddesley and promised to give thirty bucks
and does to restock it. (fn. 16) The wood or park of Tiddesley passed with the rest of the abbey estates to the
Dean and Chapter of Westminster. (fn. 17)
Pensham House
The southern part of the parish is formed by the
ancient manor of Pensham. The land here is very
low in the Avon Valley and is liable to floods.
From the valley of the Avon it rises to a height of
100 ft. above the ordnance datum in the north and
west of the parish. The soil is clay, the subsoil
Lower Lias, with alluvium near the river. To the
north of the hamlet near the river Avon is Pensham
House, a late 17th-century building of two stories,
consisting of a central block with projecting wings
at either end. Tobacco was grown at Pensham in
1643, but the crops were destroyed by order of the
council in 1662. Recently the cultivation of tobacco
has been revived locally, and a grant given for the
culture of the plant. (fn. 18) The hamlet of Pensham was
inclosed under an
Act of 1810, (fn. 19) the
award being dated
4 December 1812. (fn. 20)
The chapelry of
Pinvin is some distance to the north
of the town of Pershore and is cut off
from the mother
parish of St. Andrew
by part of Holy
Cross. It lies between the Piddle
and the Bow Brook
and is watered by
tributaries of those
streams. The village
lies on a branch
from the main road
from Worcester to
Evesham. To the
south of it is a moated
inclosure. Pershore
station, on the Oxford, Worcester and
Wolverhampton
branch of the Great
Western railway, (fn. 21) is in Pinvin. The land here is
about 100 ft. above the ordnance datum. The
chapelry contains 1,073 acres. In 1905 it comprised
503 acres of arable land, 328 of permanent grass and
20 acres of woodland. (fn. 22) It was inclosed in 1776. (fn. 23)
The chapelry of Bricklehampton is to the southeast of Pershore, parts of Little Comberton and
Wick lying between it and St. Andrew. It is
long and narrow, containing 914 acres, lying north
and south, the northern boundary being the River
Avon. The road from Pershore to Evesham passes
through the north of Bricklchampton, and the village
lies on a branch from this road. The land in the
south is 200 ft. above the ordnance datum; to the
north it falls to the Avon Valley. In 1905 Bricklehampton contained 517 acres of arable land, 349 of
permanent grass and 9 acres of wood. (fn. 24) An Inclosure
Act for it was passed in 1774. (fn. 25) Bricklehampton Hall
is built of stone in the Italian style and stands in a
small park. It is the residence of Mrs. Robert Hinshaw.
Defford, now forming with Besford a separate ecclesiastical parish, lies to the south-west of St. Andrew
on the right bank of the Avon. It contains 1,691 acres,
of which, in 1905, the arable land covered 313 acres,
permanent grass 659 acres, and woodland 14 acres.
The village is in the east of the parish on the road
from Pershore to Upton upon Severn. It is mostly
modern, but includes a few old black and white
cottages. To the south of it is a station on the Bristol
and Birmingham Branch of the Midland railway.
The village is at about 100 ft. above the ordnance
datum, but to the west the land falls slightly, being
only 50 ft. high at Defford Common, on the western
boundary. The brine springs on the common were
worked at one time, but have never been profitable
owing to the weak nature of the brine. (fn. 26) Woodmancote is a hamlet to the south-west of Defford. The
Plymouth Brethren have a small meeting-house here.
Defford was inclosed under an Act of 1774. (fn. 27)
Pinvin Village, Pershore St. Andrew
To the east of Pershore, connected with it by
Pershore Bridge, is the now separate parish of Wick,
formerly a chapelry of St. Andrew. Wick lies in a
bend of the Avon, its southern boundary being Mary
Brook. The land near the Avon bank is low, but
the village is at a height of about 100 ft. above the
ordnance datum. It is situated to the north of the
high road from Pershore to Evesham. From this
road a branch runs south to Little Comberton. At
Wick there is a circular dovecote of yellowish grey
stone, supported on one side by three buttresses. It
has one dormer window in the roof. Wick House
is the residence of Lt.-Col. A. H. Hudson, J.P. It
contains a handsomely carved mantelpiece. The
dining room is an elaborate specimen of 'Adam'
decoration. Near the churchyard is an ancient cross,
the head of which has been recently restored. In
the north of the parish there is a ferry over the Avon
connecting Wick with Wyre Piddle. Wick contains
1,682 acres, of which 617 acres are arable and
952 acres permanent grass. (fn. 28) The soil is sand and
loam, the subsoil Lower Lias, producing crops of wheat,
hops, barley, beans and fruit. An Inclosure Act for
Wick was passed in 1806, (fn. 29) the award being dated
29 August 1807. (fn. 30)
The house of William Collins in Pershore, St.
Andrew was licensed for Quaker worship in 1689, (fn. 31)
but the Quakers have no chapel at Pershore at the
present day.
Place-names occurring in Court Rolls and other
deeds relating to St. Andrew are Redwall, (fn. 32) le Heyetres,
Coppesteresacur (fn. 33) (xiv cent.); Fortheyselme, (fn. 34) Halowe
dene, (fn. 35) Netherpattelake, (fn. 36) Derkemedewe and Esyndole (fn. 37) (xv cent.); Chappell Close or Milcroft (fn. 38) (xvii
cent.).
MANORS
The manor of BINHOLME was the
head of the possessions of the Abbots of
Westminster in Worcestershire. To its
court tenants of all the outlying manors in the
hundred of Pershore owed
suit. (fn. 39) In 1418–19 the abbot
leased the site of the manor
with Calcroft for six years to
two tradesmen of Pershore, (fn. 40)
and during the 15th century
the site of the manor seems
usually to have been leased. (fn. 41)
In 1534 the Duke of Suffolk
wrote to Cromwell asking
that the lease might be given
to one of his servants, (fn. 42)
Thomas Nevill being then
the lessee. This manor passed
with the rest of the possessions
of the abbey to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, (fn. 43) and it remained in their possession with
the exception of a few years during the Commonwealth (fn. 44) from that time until 1869, when it was
taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, (fn. 45)
who are now lords of the manor. (fn. 46) The site or
farm-house of the manor is described in 1690 as
being on the west of the town of Pershore (fn. 47) . Near
it lay Great Calcroft or Calvecroft, a close containing
about 7 acres, where the leets for the hundred of
Pershore were held. (fn. 48)
Abbey of Westminster. Gules St. Peter's keys with St. Edward's ring in the chief.
After the Dissolution of the abbey of Westminster
the manor of PERSHORE PORTSMOUTH, which
had formerly been the Abbot of Westminster's part
of the borough, followed the same descent as the
manor of Binholme.
Ten manses in BRICKLEHAMPTON (Brihtulfingtune, x cent.; Bricstelmestune, xi cent.; Brichaluntun, Britlamton, Brithampton, xiii cent.) are said
to have been confirmed by King Edgar in 972 to
the abbey of Pershore. (fn. 49) This land was among the
estates taken from Pershore Abbey and given to the
church of Westminster by Edward the Confessor,
and in 1086 10 hides there belonged to the abbey's
great manor of Pershore. (fn. 50) The Abbots of Westminster probably held this manor in demesne until
Abbot Lawrence (c. 1160) granted it at a farm of
£4 yearly to Peter de Wick. (fn. 51) This grant was confirmed to Peter's son Robert, and from that time
the manor followed the descent of Wick Burnell (q.v.),
of which it became a member, (fn. 52) until about 1745–6,
when James Haselwood sold
both to the Rev. Bernard
Wilson. (fn. 53) Wilson apparently
sold Bricklehampton to
William Russell, who was
dealing with it in 1776, (fn. 54) and
with Mary Russell, spinster,
conveyed it in 1803–4 to
Samuel Oldnall and Benjamin
Johnson. (fn. 55) There is no trace
of this manor during the 19th
century, and it presumably no
longer exists. (fn. 56)
Haselwood. Argent a cheveron gules between three owls sable with three lozenges ermine on the cheveron and a chief azure with three hazel branches or therein.
The Abbot of Westminster
does not seem to have given
all his rights in Bricklehampton to Peter de Wick, for
annuities from this and other
manors were granted by the abbot in the 15th century, (fn. 57) and at the Dissolution the Abbot of Westminster held rents amounting to £17 6s. 0¾d. at
Bricklehampton, Elmley and Comberton. (fn. 58) This
rent was granted in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter
of Westminster, (fn. 59) and in 1556–7, as the manor of
Bricklehampton, to the refounded abbey. (fn. 60) On Queen
Elizabeth's accession, the abbey being once more
dissolved, the manor was again granted to the dean
and chapter. (fn. 61) The estate was sold in 1650 by the
Parliamentary trustees to Sir Cheney Culpeper, (fn. 62)
but was restored to the Dean and Chapter under
Charles II and has since remained in their possession. (fn. 63)
DEFFORD (Deopanforda, x cent.; Depeforde, xi
cent.) seems to have formed part of the earliest endowments of Pershore Abbey, 10 manses there being
confirmed to the abbey by the so-called charter of
King Edgar dated 972. (fn. 64) Before the Domesday
Survey this estate had passed to the abbey of Westminster, and was included in the great manor of
Pershore held by that abbey. (fn. 65) The estate then contained 10 hides, of which two Frenchmen held two;
Alcot, a monk, had held a hide in the time of King
Edward the Confessor, but this appears to have
reverted to the abbey before 1086. (fn. 66) A portion of
this manor was held under the Abbots of Westminster
from the 12th to the 14th century by members of
the D'Abitot family. Brightina D'Abitot held land
at Defford at the end of the 12th century, and it was
unsuccessfully claimed in 1274 by her great-grandchildren. (fn. 67) Geoffrey D'Abitot, who was sued by the
Abbot of Westminster in 1219–20 for suit which he
owed for a tenement in Defford, was probably then
in possession of the manor. (fn. 68)
Defford still seems to have
been held by the D'Abitot
family in 1330 as part of
their manor of Birlingham,
but a messuage and land there
were then held of them by
William Spencer. (fn. 69) The
D'Abitots' interest probably
passed with Birlingham to the
Abbots of Westminster, for in
1431 the abbot was holding
Defford. (fn. 70) This estate (fn. 71) was
granted in 1541 as parcel of
the manor of Birlingham to John Carleton, (fn. 72) and has
since followed the descent of Birlingham, (fn. 73) of which
it forms part, the Earl of Coventry being lord of
the manor at the present day.
D'Abitot. Ermine a chief bendy or and sable.
The estate held by William Spencer in 1330 seems
to have remained in his family until the beginning of
the 16th century. (fn. 74) At that time the property was
bought of John Spencer by Walter Rowdon. (fn. 75)
Walter died seised of a capital messuage in Defford
in 1513. (fn. 76) His brother and successor Richard was
succeeded in 1517 by a son Henry. (fn. 77) Both Henry
and his brother Richard died without issue, and the
property passed, on the death of Henry in 1518, to
his sister Frances, who married Maurice Berkeley,
second son of the ninth Lord Berkeley. (fn. 78) She married
as a second husband Richard Danvers, who was holding
the manor in 1555. (fn. 79) Her son Edward died without
issue (fn. 80) and his sisters and heirs, Frances wife of
George Matthewe and Eleanor wife of James Morris,
sold the manor in 1579 to Sir Richard Berkeley. (fn. 81)
It was bought of Sir Richard in 1581 by John Richardson, jun., (fn. 82) who sold it seven years later to Dorothy
Wilson, (fn. 83) widow of the Rev. Thomas Wilson, D.D.,
Dean of Worcester. It was probably she who, as the
wife of Thomas Stonehall, made conveyances of the
manor in 1596 and 1612. (fn. 84) She was succeeded
by a son Samuel, (fn. 85) and Samuel Wilson, perhaps his
son, was in possession of the manor in 1656 (fn. 86)
and conveyed it in 1664 to John Wilmot, clerk. (fn. 87)
Three years later it was in the possession of Sir
Edward Scbright, (fn. 88) to whom it was confirmed in
1674 by Humphrey Forster and Mary his wife,
Richard Pace and Judith his wife, and John Butler. (fn. 89)
His son Sir Edward was in possession in 1694, (fn. 90)
and his descendant, Sir John Saunders Sebright, held
land at Defford in 1774, when the commons were
inclosed. (fn. 91)
COPPIN'S COURT, (fn. 92) in Defford, may have been
a virgate and a half of land granted in 1365 by John
Coppin, rector of Evesbatch, co. Hereford, to William
Harley of Defford. (fn. 93) In 1562 Anthony Carleton
granted it with the manors of Birlingham and Defford
to Sir Thomas Russell. (fn. 94) From that time it followed
the descent of Birlingham (q.v.) until 1654, when it
is mentioned for the last time. Habington says of
this place that it 'bore anciently a show of greatness; but after ruinated is now reedifyed in a homely
manner.' (fn. 95) The place had disappeared before the
end of the 18th century, and its supposed site was
occupied by a farm-house. (fn. 96)
A grange and tithe barn in Defford belonged at
the Dissolution to the abbey of Pershore, being valued
at that time at £4. (fn. 97) In 1606–7 the grange and
tithes were granted to Henry Stanley and Robert
Morgan. (fn. 98) Before 1670 they had passed into the
possession of Thomas Turvey, (fn. 99) and subsequently
descended as the grange and rectory of Defford with
Turvey's manor of Wadborough. (fn. 100) This property is
not mentioned after 1710.
A rent of £4 reserved by the Crown on the grant
of 1606–7 was sold in 1675–6 to Sir Walter Wrottesley, Richard Congreve and John Gifford. (fn. 101)
Five manses in PENSHAM (Pedneshamme, x
cent.; Pendesham, xi-xiv cent.; Pensham, xvi cent.)
were confirmed to the abbey of Pershore by the socalled charter of King Edgar. (fn. 102) This land formed
part of the manor of Pershore which Edward the
Confessor took from Pershore Abbey and gave to the
abbey of Westminster, and in 1086 it contained 2
hides which the abbot held in demesne. (fn. 103) At the end
of the 12th century Pensham is called an appendage
of the Abbot of Westminster's court of Pershore. (fn. 104)
It seems to have been always held by the abbots in
demesne, being leased to farmers from time to time, (fn. 105)
until at the Dissolution it came to the Crown. (fn. 106) In
1542 it was granted to the Dean and Chapter of
Westminster, (fn. 107) and remained in their possession (fn. 108) until
1650, when it was sold with many other of their
manors to Sir Cheney Culpeper. (fn. 109) It was restored to
the dean and chapter at the Restoration, and in 1688
was leased for twenty-one years to Edmund Baugh. (fn. 110)
It now belongs to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
The manor of PINVIN (Pendefen, Pyndeven, xiv
cent.; Pynfyn, xvi cent.) apparently originally formed
part of the manor of Pershore held by the abbey of
Westminster. It is mentioned as a member of that
manor at the end of the 12th century. (fn. 111) It appears
as a separate estate about the middle of the 14th century, (fn. 112) and rents from it were valued in 1535 at
£12 3s. 4d., while pleas and perquisites of court
amounted to £2 3s. 6d. (fn. 113) After the dissolution of
Westminster Abbey this manor was granted with most
of the rest of the abbey estates to the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster, (fn. 114) in whose possession it remained (fn. 115) until their property was taken over in
1869 (fn. 116) by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are
the present owners of the manor.
A second estate at Pinvin, afterwards known as a
manor, was held in the 14th century by the Rivers
family. In 1372 Edmund Rivers gave to Sir Niel
Loryng a rent of 100s. yearly from his land at
Pinvin. (fn. 117) Catherine daughter of Edmund Rivers
married William Lokhull or Leekhull, (fn. 118) and her son
John, who had assumed the name of Rivers, died in
1439 holding a messuage and 2 carucates of land in
Pinvin and Peopleton. His cousin, William Bulkeley,
of Eaton in Davenham, co. Cheshire, was returned
as his heir (fn. 119) and sold the manor in the same year to
John Vampage and Thomas Horton. (fn. 120) Three years
later Thomas Leekhull alias Rivers, brother of John
Rivers, who claimed the manor as John's heir, confirmed it to John Vampage. (fn. 121) It then seems to have
passed with Wick near Pershore to Giles Greville, (fn. 122)
who conveyed it in 1515 to trustees. (fn. 123) They were,
perhaps, acting for Sir John Nevill Lord Latimer,
for he left this manor by his will, dated 1542, to his
son John. (fn. 124) The younger John died in 1577, leaving
co-heirs, (fn. 125) and Pinvin fell to the share of Lucy wife
of Sir William Cornwallis. They sold the manor
in 1580 to William Childe. (fn. 126) William Childe, or
another owner of the same name, sold it eleven years
later to John Waldegrave alias Fleet, (fn. 127) of whom it
was purchased in 1601 by Richard Eadon. (fn. 128) Richard
died in 1616 seised of tithes in Pinvin. His heir
was his brother Roger, (fn. 129) who must have died without
issue, for the tithes afterwards passed to his niece
Anne wife of Edward Hayward, (fn. 130) who had livery of
them in 1622. (fn. 131) The manor had probably been sold
by Richard Eadon before his death, though he died
at Pinvin, and in 1637 the capital messuage was
settled by Margaret widow of John Maltby on her
daughter Anne Roberts on her marriage with Richard
Rogers. Richard died without issue, and the right
to the reversion after Anne's death was disputed by
his two brothers William and Thomas, the latter
claiming it under Richard's will. In 1661 William
gave up his claim to Thomas, who sold the manor
in 1670 to William Acton of Wolverton. (fn. 132) The
further descent of this estate has not been traced.
In 1086 WICK formed part of the abbey of
Westminster's great manor of Pershore. At Wick
there were 6 hides, one of which Urse held as successor to Tor, and half a hide was held by Gilbert as
successor to Osward. (fn. 133) The rest of the estate was
apparently held by the abbot in demesne. In the
12th century 3 virgates from the manor were given
to Peter de Wick, but the rest seems to have been
held by successive abbots until the Dissolution, (fn. 134) when
it passed to the Crown. With the rest of the abbey's
estates it was granted in 1542 to the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster. (fn. 135) It was restored to the refounded abbey by Queen Mary, (fn. 136) but on the accession
of Elizabeth, the abbey being again dissolved, Wick
was granted once more to the dean and chapter. (fn. 137)
They remained in possession until 1650, when the
manor was sold by the Parliamentary trustees to Sir
Cheney Culpeper of Hollingbourne, co. Kent. (fn. 138) At
the Restoration the manor returned into the possession of the dean and chapter. (fn. 139) This estate has long
been merged in Binholme manor, and now belongs
to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. (fn. 140)
Lawrence Abbot of Westminster, c. 1160, gave to
Peter de Wick with the vills of Upton Snodsbury
and Bricklehampton 3 virgates of land in Wick, one
of the demesnes of the abbey, one which belonged
to Lefward and one which belonged to Gunter and
Swen. (fn. 141) This estate seems to have been the origin
of the manor afterwards known as WICK BURNELL.
The grant to Peter de Wick was confirmed to his son
Robert, (fn. 142) and the manor apparently remained in this
family until about the middle of the 13th century.
Peter de Wick, who seems to have been the last of the
Burnell. Argent a lion sable with a golden crown in a border azure.
name to own Wick, was a man of some consequence
in Worcestershire, acting as one of the collectors to
raise an aid in 1237 (fn. 143) and as a collector of a thirtieth
in 1240. (fn. 144) He died before 1258, when his widow
Christine granted her manors of Snodsbury and
Upton to William Beauchamp. (fn. 145) Wick seems to
have been acquired by William Beauchamp at the
same time, and it apparently passed from him to a
younger son Walter, (fn. 146) whose widow Alice still held
a life interest in the estate in 1281–2, when Peter
de Lench and his wife Margery sold the manor to
Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells. (fn. 147) The
manor was evidently held in right of Margery, who
may have been the heir of Walter Beauchamp. The
sale was possibly necessitated by Peter's financial difficulties, for in 1290 he was pardoned 200 of the 300
marks which he owed the king, a debt which he had
perhaps incurred while acting as justice of the forest. (fn. 148)
Though the manor is not mentioned in the inquisition taken on the death of Robert Burnell, possibly
because it was then still held by Alice Beauchamp, (fn. 149) it
evidently followed the same descent as Kidderminster
Burnell to Sir Hugh Burnell, (fn. 150) who in 1417 sold the
reversion after his death to Joan widow of William Lord
Bergavenny. (fn. 151) Though Lady Bergavenny was distrained
in 1429 for suit at Binholme due for this manor, (fn. 152)
the estate does not seem to have passed to her heirs,
but reverted with many other of Sir Hugh Burnell's
estates to the Lovels, descendants of Maud sister and
heir of Edward Burnell by her first husband John
Lovel. (fn. 153) John Lord Lovel in 1461 obtained a ratification of his estate in the manor. (fn. 154) He died in 1465, (fn. 155)
and on the death of his widow Joan in the following
year the estate passed to his son Francis Lord Lovel. (fn. 156)
Francis fought at Bosworth on behalf of Richard III,
and was attainted by Henry VII in 1485 and lost
all his estates. (fn. 157) The manor of Wick Burnell was
granted in 1486 to John Mortimer and his heirs
male. (fn. 158) In 1507 it was granted to Giles Greville for
thirty-one years, (fn. 159) the reversion being given in 1515
to Sir William Kingston, (fn. 160) and confirmed to him and
his son Anthony in 1528 apparently for their lives. (fn. 161)
In 1556–7 William Babington obtained a grant of
the manor for forty years, (fn. 162) and in 1575–6 it was
granted to John Fleming, as a late possession of John
Duke of Northumberland, for twenty-one years from
March 1596. (fn. 163) In the following year the site of
the manor was granted to Richard Williams for nineteen years. (fn. 164) This grant was cancelled in 1580 and
a lease for sixteen years made to Peter Lockey. (fn. 165)
In 1590–1 the manor was granted in fee to Fulk
Haselwood. (fn. 166) He died about 1597, (fn. 167) and his son
Thomas had livery of the manor in 1606. (fn. 168) Thomas,
his wife Elizabeth and his son Francis were brought
before the Council in 1622 as rebels, they having resisted apprehension by the serjeant-at-arms. (fn. 169) Thomas
was succeeded in 1624 by Francis, (fn. 170) who was fined
in 1630–2 for not taking knighthood. (fn. 171) He complained in 1651 that, though he had always adhered
to Parliament, he had been accused of going to
Worcester and sending there a horse and provisions
while it was the king's garrison and of going with
the king's forces to Evesham, and that his estate had
therefore been sequestered. (fn. 172) He was Sheriff of
Worcestershire in 1663, (fn. 173) and had been succeeded
before 1675 by his son Thomas Haselwood, (fn. 174) who
was knighted in 1681 (fn. 175) and acted as Sheriff of
Worcestershire in the following year. (fn. 176) The manor
passed with that of Bengeworth to the Rev. Bernard
Wilson, (fn. 177) who died in 1772. It was sold in 1776
by Wilson's nephew Robert Wilson Cracraft to
Richard Hudson of Wick House, (fn. 178) and passed on
his death in 1804 to his son Richard. The latter
was succeeded in 1850 by a son Richard who sold
the manor in that year to his father's nephew Alfred
Ricketts Hudson. Lieut.-Col. Alfred Henry Hudson,
son of the latter, is the present lord of the manor. (fn. 179)
Burnell. Argent a lion sable with a golden crown in a border azure.
Lovel. Barry wavy or and gules.
The hide of land held by Urse and the half-hide
held by Gilbert in the manor of Wick apparently
afterwards became the manors of WICK PIDDLE
and WICK WARREN. Urse's grandson William
Beauchamp was holding 3 hides at 'Wicha Inardi'
in the Abbot of Westminster's fee early in the 12th
century. (fn. 180) The Gilbert who held the half-hide at
Wick was probably Gilbert Fitz Turold, for an estate
at Wick afterwards belonged to the Fitz Warins, to
whom many of Gilbert's estates seem to have passed.
The Fitz Warins seem also to have acquired the
tenancy of the Beauchamps' estate at Wick, as there
is no mention of the Beauchamps holding an estate
here except as overlords until they acquired the Fitz
Warins' property in the 14th century. William Fitz
Warin held Wick in 1193–5, (fn. 181) and William son of
William Fitz Warin was holding the 'vill' of Piddle
early in the 13th century when he gave Piddle Mill
to the Abbot of Pershore, (fn. 182) Walter Beauchamp confirming the gift as overlord of the fee. (fn. 183) William son
of the grantee confirmed the gift to the succeeding
abbot (fn. 184) and in 1256–7 settled 5 carucates of land
in Wick, Comberton, Piddle and elsewhere on himself for life with reversion to his son William. (fn. 185) It
was probably the younger William who granted all
his land in Wick, Piddle and Comberton early in the
14th century to Guy Earl of Warwick. (fn. 186) He evidently
retained some interest in the manor, for on the death
of Guy in 1315 William's widow Joan 'lady of
Wick' was holding 'Wyrpidele and Wykmed' and
the advowson of a chantry at Wick. (fn. 187) Both manors
remained with the Earls of Warwick (fn. 188) until the forfeiture of Thomas Earl of Warwick in 1396.
The manor of WYKE PIDDLE had been given
by Thomas Earl of Warwick to John de Atherston
for life, (fn. 189) and the rent which John paid was granted
by the Crown in 1398 to John Asplion, a clerk of the
Chancery. (fn. 190) The manor must have been restored to
Thomas with the rest of his possessions in 1399,
for he died seised of it in 1401. (fn. 191) His son Richard
apparently granted the manor for life to Robert
Hugford, as he confirmed a grant whereby Robert
transferred his interest to John Shipston in 1403. (fn. 192)
This lease ended on the death of Robert Hugford in
1411. (fn. 193) The manor from that time followed the
descent of Elmley Castle, passing to the Crown in
1487, (fn. 194) and it is not mentioned after that date.
The manor of WICK NEAR PERSHORE, or
WICK WARREN, (fn. 195) was also given by Thomas Earl
of Warwick to John de Atherston and the rent from
it was granted in 1397 to John Russell. (fn. 196) The
Russells continued to make conveyances of the manor
until 1401–2, (fn. 197) but it had probably been restored to
Thomas Earl of Warwick with Wick Piddle, his son
Richard holding courts there in 1414 and 1420. (fn. 198)
This manor seems to have been held by John Shipston
for life, for about 1430 Richard Earl of Warwick
granted the reversion after his death to John Vampage
and his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 199) John was succeeded in
1452 by a son William, (fn. 200) who sold the manor and
household goods in 1475 to Thomas Brugge. (fn. 201) Vampage, however, recovered the manor before 1480 on
payment of a sum of money to Jane widow of
Thomas Brugge. (fn. 202) William Vampage was knighted
in 1487 (fn. 203) and sold the manor before 1492 to Giles
Greville. (fn. 204) Giles, who was afterwards knighted, was
succeeded in 1528 (fn. 205) by a daughter Elizabeth, who
married firstly Richard Wye, and secondly William Nevill, second son of Richard Lord Latimer. (fn. 206)
William Nevill, who was a poet of some note, (fn. 207) involved himself in considerable difficulties owing to
his dealings with one Richard Jones, an astrologer,
who induced him to believe that he would one day
become Earl of Warwick. On the strength of this
prophecy he built a new gallery at Wick 'that he
might keep there 100 or 200 men, with drawdoors and other privy doors to convey them at his
pleasure. (fn. 208) In 1530 Wick was settled on William
and Elizabeth and William's heirs. (fn. 209) Richard Nevill,
who was perhaps the son of William and Elizabeth,
sold the manor to Edward Haselwood in 1545, (fn. 210) and
in the following year Giles Wye, son of Elizabeth by
her first husband, (fn. 211) confirmed this sale. (fn. 212) Fulk Haselwood, who succeeded his father Edward in 1558,
bought Wick Burnell in 1590–1, (fn. 213) and the two manors
have since followed the same descent.
HOREWELL GRANGE, or Horwell Chippel, was
probably in the neighbourhood of Horewell Wood in
Defford, but its site is now lost. In 1291 the Prior
of Little Malvern had a carucate of land at Horewell, (fn. 214)
and in 1322 he obtained protection in his manor of
Horewell. (fn. 215) The estate remained in the possession of
the priory until the Dissolution, (fn. 216) and was granted in
1542 to Richard Andrews and Leonard Chamberlain. (fn. 217)
It must have passed shortly after to Robert Burgoyn,
for he sold it in 1543 to Nicholas Clifton. (fn. 218) It then
followed the descent of Clifton in the parish of
Severn Stoke (fn. 219) until 1636, when it is mentioned for
the last time.
In 1086 the Abbot of Westminster had three mills
in his manor of Pershore. (fn. 220) They followed the descent
of the manor, (fn. 221) but had been reduced in number to
two before the end of the 15th century. (fn. 222) They
passed with Binholme Manor to the Dean and Chapter
of Westminster. (fn. 223) Thomas Nevill, the last lessee
under the Abbots of Westminster, built a new mill
of freestone at a cost of 40 marks. (fn. 224) The three mills
were sold by the Parliamentary trustees in 1650 to
Sir Cheney Culpeper. (fn. 225) They were afterwards restored to the dean and chapter, and in 1690 there
were four mills under one roof. (fn. 226) These mills were
on the River Avon near Pershore Bridge, and a cornmill there belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners is still in existence.
The Abbots of Westminster also had a fulling-mill
at Pershore in the 14th and 15th centuries. (fn. 227)
In the 12th century there was a mill at Pinvin
which Simon Abbot of Pershore (1175–98) purchased of Adam son of Edric de Pershore and demolished for the improvement of his fish-pond of
Lugebruge. (fn. 228) Another mill had, however, been built
at Pinvin before 1242, but it is not mentioned after
that date. (fn. 229)
In 1086 the Abbot of Pershore held half a mill at
Piddle worth 10s. and 20 stiches of eels. (fn. 230) William
son of William Fitz Warin with the consent of his
wife Lucy gave to Gervase Abbot of Pershore (1204–
34) all his mill of Piddle (probably meaning half the
mill) with the meadow called La Mue (fn. 231) and the
fishery from the mill to the vill of Piddle. (fn. 232) This
was confirmed by his son William to Abbot Roger
(1234–50). (fn. 233) Walter de Beauchamp also confirmed
to Abbot Gervase half the mill of Piddle and the
meadow of La Mue, (fn. 234) evidently as overlord of the
manor of Wick Piddle. Piddle Mills remained with
the Abbots of Pershore until the Dissolution. (fn. 235)
'Pedill Mille Meadow' was granted with Allesborough Manor to Sir Ralph Sadleir in 1547, (fn. 236) but
there is no mention of any mill in the grant, and in
1577 John Richardson held Piddle Mills. (fn. 237) In 1622,
however, when Ralph Sadleir sold the manor to
Richard Shilton, three water-mills called Piddle Mills
were included, (fn. 238) and they afterwards followed the
descent of Allesborough Manor. A mill now called
Wyre Mill still exists on the river near Piddle Brook,
and some of the foundations are ancient.
The mill of Abblewell is first mentioned early in
the 13th century, when it evidently belonged to
William Fitz Warin. (fn. 239) In 1256 it was settled on
William for life with reversion to his son William. (fn. 240)
It was probably the younger William who granted to
the abbey of Pershore all the spring called Abblewell
to provide water for the monastery. He also gave
licence for the monks to mend the conduit leading
the water to the monastery where it lay on his lands
and gave free passage for carts with stone from Mulcombe to Pershore. (fn. 241) From the fact that it belonged
to the Fitz Warins it seems probable that Abblewell
Mill was in Wick. The mill evidently passed with
the manors of Wick Warren and Wick Piddle to the
Earls of Warwick, for in 1338–9 Thomas Earl of
Warwick granted the mill, pond and fishery for his
life and 100 years after his death to the Abbot of
Pershore. (fn. 242) The abbot was still holding this mill in
1397, (fn. 243) but it is not mentioned after that time.
CHURCHES
The church of ST. ANDREW
consists of a chancel 26 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft.
with north chapel and vestry, nave
51 ft. by 12 ft. with north aisle 7 ft. 9 in wide, and south
aisle 42 ft. by 21 ft., tower at the west end of the
south aisle 12 ft. square, and south porch. The
measurements are all internal.
The earliest portion of the existing building is the
north arcade, which dates from the close of the 12th
century. The west wall is also of this date, and the
nave at that period was evidently of the same size as
at present. In the 14th century the north aisle was
rebuilt and perhaps widened, and at the same time
the west window was inserted. Early in the following
century the south arcade was rebuilt and the outer
walls of the north chapel reconstructed. At the close
of the 15th century an extensive rebuilding was
undertaken. The east and south walls of the chancel
were rebuilt, making that limb some 4 ft. 6 in. wider
than its predecessor. The old south aisle was removed
and an unusually wide aisle substituted with a tower
at the west end. It was evidently intended to rebuild
the south arcade and make the nave equal in width to
the chancel, but this was never accomplished, and the
old arcade still stands, terminating towards the east in
a rough end connected to the south aisle end by a
temporary arch. The north vestry was also added at
this period. The south porch was built in the 18th
or early 19th century and a considerable amount of
restoration and renewal to the south arcade and windows has been done in recent years.
The east window has one modern pointed light,
but the jambs and elliptical rear arch are of the late
15th century. In the north wall is a rather earlier
door to the vestry with a four-centred arch under a
square head. The south wall contains three squareheaded windows, each of two trefoiled lights, with
flat pointed rear arches. They are of the late 15th
century, and all are blocked by a modern outbuilding
adjoining the chancel on the south. There is no
chancel arch, and the plain roof is of wagon form and
open to the ridge. The late 15th-century vestry is
conterminous with the chancel at the east end and
has a two-light square-headed east window with a
four-centred rear arch. In the north wall is a modern
door. The roof is original and the embattled parapet
has been much broken.
The nave has a late 12th-century north arcade of
five bays; the arches are of one chamfered order with
a chamfered label on the north face and rest on
cylindrical columns with scalloped capitals of bell
form and moulded bases on square plinths; the responds
have half columns attached. The eastern bay of this
arcade must have been included in the ritual quire.
The early 15th-century south arcade is of four bays,
and except for the western pier and bay has been
largely rebuilt; the arches are pointed and rest on
octagonal columns with moulded and embattled capitals.
In the original work the piers become square at the
base and rest on chamfered plinths. Beyond the
eastern bay is a narrow archway built up to just below
the level of the capitals and in this filling is the lower
part of a spiral rood stair. This feature is exceedingly
puzzling and its complete restoration makes a satisfactory explanation almost impossible. The arcade
wall is connected at the east end to the east wall of
the adjoining aisle by a rough pointed arch opening
into the chancel. In the west wall is a tall threelight window of the 14th century with restored
tracery. The roof is of the 15th century and of
wagon form.
The north aisle forms a chapel in the east bay,
gabled externally towards the north and having an
ogee-headed piscina with a shelf in the east respond
of the arcade. In the north wall is a pointed 15thcentury window of three lights with modern tracery.
In the east jamb is a canopied niche gabled and
crocketed, the bracket resting on an angel with
spread wings. The second window in this wall is of
the 15th century, and has three lights, a depressed
pointed head and restored tracery, the third a single
modern light with old jambs, and the fourth which
has two lights with modern tracery are probably of
the 14th century. The pointed north door, which
appears to be of the same date, is blocked. The aisle
roof has been raised and in the arcade wall are a series
of corbels in the form of bell capitals with square
abaci.
Plan of St. Andrew's Church, Pershore
The south aisle has a recess in the east wall with a
four-centred arch and a square embattled head; the
jambs and sill project and it was apparently a reredos.
It would have been central had the south arcade
reconstruction been completed. High in the wall is
a single trefoiled light. In the south wall the first
window is of two lights and similar to these on the
south of the chancel; below it is a small ogee-headed
piscina with a shelf. The second window is similar,
but of three lights, and west of it is a pointed south
door, probably of the 14th century and refixed in
its present position. Higher up in the wall are three
blocked windows at the clearstory level. The aisle
roof is original and has curved ribs and tie-beams
apparently cut for a shorter span.
The tower opens to this aisle by a moulded twocentred arch with moulded capitals and bases, and on
the east face to the north are remains of a moulded
respond to the proposed new south arcade. In the
south wall is a doorway with a four-centred head and
in the west a four-light pointed and traceried window,
all of late 15th-century date.
The tower is three stages high and faced with
ashlar; it has diagonal buttresses and an embattled
parapet with the panelled bases of pinnacles at the
angles, and below them are large grotesque gargoyles
much weathered. On the south face of the first stage
is a tall niche with the canopy destroyed and below
it are two large stone scrolls cut on the ashlar but
uninscribed. The second stage has a two-light opening in the south and a loop in the west wall. The
bell-chamber has a threelight opening with a
four-centred and slightly
ogee head in each face.
The font is modern,
and under the tower are
painted half-length figures
of Moses and Aaron of
early 18th-century date.
In the vestry is preserved
a portion of the base of
a 15th-century screen of
oak, the panels having
cusped heads and some
fragments of Jacobean
panelling. Here also is
a fragment of a carved
figure subject in alabaster,
evidently from a reredos;
it has traces of colouring
and is probably of the
14th or 15th century.
There are six bells inscribed as follows: (1)
'When we do ring, I
sweetly sing A.R. 1715';
(2) 'Peace and good neighbourhood A.R. 1715';
(3) 'John Wilkes C.W. A.R. 1715'; (4) 'Abe.
Rudhall of Gloucester cast us all 1715'; (5) 'God
preserve the church of England A.R. 1715'; (6)
'Simon Beverton vicar, Thos. Ashfeild Gt Ed. Dimmock Ch. wardens 1715.'
The plate includes a modern cup and a paten
(London, 1719) inscribed 'St. Andrews Pershore
Worcestershire Henry Chappell, John Wilks Church
wardens.'
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1641 to 1697; (ii) all entries 1695 to 1742;
(iii) all entries 1742 to 1812, marriages to 1754
only; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812.
The church of ST. JAMES at Defford consists of
a chancel measuring internally 19 ft. by 17 ft., nave
45 ft. by 17 ft. south porch and west tower 8 ft.
square.
The main walls of the church are perhaps as old
as the 13th century, but practically no original details
remain. The west tower is apparently a 14th-century
addition and the porch belongs to the succeeding
century. The south nave windows are probably
of late 17th-century date and the church has been
drastically restored in modern times, when the north
wall was largely refaced, several windows renewed,
and the top stage added to the tower.
The chancel has a modern three-light east window
and two modern lancets in each side wall; the chancel
arch is also modern, but the original moulded wallplates of the roof remain. The nave has two modern
windows in the north wall and three similar windows,
probably of the late 17th century, in the south wall,
each having two lights with segmental heads. The
south door has a segmental head, a re-used chamfered
label over, perhaps of the 12th century, with the key
voussoir carved with a crowned head. Traces of a
blocked north doorway are visible in the north wall.
The nave has a gallery at the west end and a wagon
roof plastered internally and having a massive cambered tie-beam moulded on the soffit. The tower
is of three stages, the two lower of stone and the
third of modern timber surmounted by a broached
pyramid; the angles have diagonal buttresses two
stages high. The 14th-century west window is of two
lights with a quatrefoil in the head. In the south
wall of the second stage is a square-headed light.
The south porch is of timber with a brick base; the
plates, archway, uprights and roof are original, but the
lide framing is modern. In the gallery is some 17thcentury panelling from the old pulpit.
There are four bells: the first and fourth cast in 1903,
the second by Henry Farmer dated 1604, and the
third inscribed 'William Baldwin Gent. and John Jones
C.W. 1689, M. B.' (for Matthew Bagley), now recast.
The plate includes a cup and cover paten, the
former chased and the latter dated 1571, a plated
flagon and paten and a pewter flagon.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: (i)
all entries 1540 to 1682; (ii) baptisms 1683 to
1812, marriages 1687 to 1753, and burials 1687 to
1812; (iii) marriages 1754 to 1812. Preserved in
the church are deeds relating to the parish property
and going back to the 15th century.
The church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW (fn. 244) at Wick
consists of chancel 26 ft. by 12 ft. 10 in. with north
organ chamber and vestry and a shallow recess 2 ft.
6 in. deep on the south side, nave 40 ft. 6 in. by
17 ft. 3 in., north aisle 12 ft. wide, and north porch.
There is also a modern oak bellcote over the west gable
containing one bell by Abraham Rudhall dated 1722.
The church is substantially of 12th-century date, but
has been much altered. There were restorations in
1861 and 1893. The 12th-century structure consisted of a chancel measuring 18 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft. 6 in.
and nave the same size as at present, but very little of
the actual walling remains in situ, and the only architectural features are a window on the north side of
the chancel, another on the south side of the nave,
and the south doorway. The north aisle was added
c. 1195 and the arcade of three pointed arches remains
unaltered. Windows of two lights were inserted in
the chancel and nave probably in the 14th century,
but the 19th-century restorations have had the effect
of almost entirely modernizing the exterior of the
building. In 1861 the aisle was rebuilt and the
porch added, and in 1893 the chancel was entirely
reconstructed and lengthened 7 ft. 6 in. and a new
organ chamber added on the north side with a vestry
on its east side. The south wall of the nave was
also rebuilt on its former lines, the 12th-century
window and doorway being then opened out and
reset in the new wall.
Externally the church is faced with yellow stone
dating from one or other of the restorations and the
roofs are covered with modern red tiles overhanging
at the eaves. The chancel roof is slightly lower than
that of the nave and the aisle is under a separate
gabled roof.
The chancel has a modern east window of three
lights with tracery of 14th-century character. The
small round-headed 12th-century window already
mentioned has been reset about 5 ft. from the east
end on the north side above the roof of the vestry
and has a deep sloping sill inside and widely splayed
jambs. Externally the head is in one stone, but
inside has a radiating splay in twelve stones. On the
south side are two windows, one a single trefoiled light
and the other a square-headed opening of two lights,
both restorations of original features, but the sills and
jambs alone are old. The altar rails are of 17thcentury date with turned balusters and carved rail
with knobs. They were lowered in the restoration
of 1893. The rest of the fittings, the roof, the
chancel arch and oak screen are modern. All the
walls of the church are plastered internally.
The nave arcade consists of three pointed arches
springing from circular piers and semicircular responds
with moulded bases and shallow capitals with square
abaci of two plain members. The arches consist of a
single square order with chamfered hood mould towards
the nave. The south doorway has a semicircular rear
arch, but the outer opening has a square head in five
stones built as an arch, the middle one shaped to a
segment on the extrados. This feature appears to be
original, all the headstones as well as those of the
jambs being ancient. The 12th-century window in
the south wall is taller than that in the chancel,
being 4 ft. 1 in. in height; the width of the opening,
which splays internally in the usual manner, is 5 in.
and the head is in one stone without hood mould.
The sill is new. In addition to this the nave is
lighted by three square-headed windows, each of three
trefoiled lights, the middle one of which is modern.
The others are partly restored and differ slightly in
detail. There is also a modern circular window at
the west end. The nave retains an ancient roof of
framed spars with a single plain tie-beam in the
middle. The aisle windows are all modern and the
porch is of timber on a stone base.
The font appears to be an ancient one, rechiselled
and has a modern inscription cut round the top. It
consists of a plain circular tub-shaped bowl on a
moulded base. The old square pews were replaced
in 1893 by open seats and the oak pulpit dates from
the same period. There is a small modern west
gallery approached by a stair from the end of the
aisle through the wall of the west respond.
The plate consists of a cup and cover paten of
1571 with the usual floral band, a paten of 1882,
another of 1889, and a plated paten and flagon, the
former given in 1868 and the latter in 1882.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i)
baptisms and marriages 1695 to 1783; burials 1695
to 1724; (ii) baptisms 1745 to 1812; (iii) marriages 1777 to 1811.
The churchyard at Wick is entered from the road
on the north side through a modern lych-gate. To the
north-west of the church is an ancient cross restored
in 1911. It consists of a tapering octagonal shaft
with shaped base on three steps. The head, with
canopied niches containing figures of our Lord
crucified and the Blessed Virgin and Child, dates from
the restoration.
The chapel of ST. MICHAEL, Bricklehampton,
consists of a chancel 28 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft., nave 37 ft.
by 18 ft. 9 in., west tower, north vestry and south
porch. The measurements are internal.
The church has been so extensively restored and
altered as to leave few traces of its history. It is
probably a 12th-century building largely reconstructed in the following century; there are also
traces of 14th-century work. The chancel is largely
rebuilt, and the vestry, west tower and timber south
porch are modern.
Bricklehampton Church: The Font
The chancel has a modern three-light east window,
three lancets in the south wall and one lancet and a
vestry on the north. On the south side is an old
piscina and west of it three stone arms of the old
sedilia. The nave is divided into three bays on the
north by later buttresses, two of which are modern.
The north wall has two modern windows and in the
third bay a 13th-century lancet, restored externally.
At the east end of the south wall is a 14th-century
window of one light with a trefoiled head, and
further west a modern window and a small blocked
lancet, probably of late 12th-century date. The
round-headed south door of the same date is recessed
in two orders, both ornamented with cheverons and
having a label over with billet ornament and head
stops; the side shafts have slightly foliated capitals.
Just east of this doorway is a holy-water stoup. The
west tower, set within the nave, is modern and has a
saddle-back roof. The nave roof is open and ancient;
it is of wagon form below the collars, with one moulded
tie-beam. The 12th-century font is a massive circular
stone bowl tapering towards the base; on two sides
are crosses in circles and on the other two are raised
stars. On the north wall of the nave is a tablet with
shield of arms to Francis Palmer, died 1715.
The three bells are all by T. Mears & Son, 1807.
The plate includes a cup and cover paten (London,
1571), the latter dated 1571, a paten (London,
1700) and a small paten and silver-mounted cruet,
both modern.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms
and burials 1785 to 1812; (ii) marriages 1756 to
1812.
The chapel of ST. NICHOLAS, Pinvin, consists of
a chancel 20 ft. by 14 ft., nave 44 ft. 9 in. by 16 ft.,
south porch and north vestry. The measurements
are internal.
Both the chancel and nave are probably of the
12th century, but there is no detail remaining in the
former of that date. Various windows were inserted
in the 15th century and the south porch was probably
added in the 17th century. The chancel was
refaced in brick and the buttresses added in the 18th
century. The church has undergone a complete
restoration, when the nave was slightly lengthened,
the west bellcote built and a vestry added north of
the nave.
The chancel has an early 15th-century east window
of two lights with a pointed and traceried head. In
the north and south walls are small 18th-century
rectangular windows, and near them are two rectangular recesses, one in each wall, with heads formed
of oak boards of doubtful date. The chancel arch is
modern and replaces an early 12th-century arch with
a round head 8½ ft. high and 4½ ft. wide. The roof
is plastered with wooden ribs; only the moulded
tie-beam and wall-plates appear to be ancient.
The nave has a modern or restored 15th-century
window in the north wall of three lights under a
square head, and to the west of it an early 12thcentury light, round-headed and deeply splayed.
The north door is of the same date, round-headed
and plain; it now opens into the modern vestry.
Further west is a modern window. At the east end
of the south wall is an original 15th-century window,
uniform with the restored one opposite. The 12thcentury south door is recessed in two rounded orders
and has a much damaged external label and traces of
red masonry lines; set in the wall above it are three
carved and mutilated human heads. Further west is
a modern window. The west wall and window are
entirely modern, as is the bellcote on the west gable.
The nave has been almost entirely refaced externally.
The south porch has an arched entrance made up of
old work, with a graceful foliated capital of the 13th
century built in above the crown; in the east wall
is a broken stoup. On the south wall of the nave,
on either side of the eastern window, are some
interesting paintings. They appear to be of the 13th
century, but have considerably decayed since they
were uncovered at the restoration of the church.
The first group apparently consisted of eight subjects,
including one quite obliterated: a Virgin and Child;
a saint with a palmer's staff and plague spot, probably
St. Roche, with an angel at the side and a border of
red dragons; the Annunciation; the Salutation;
the Adoration of the Magi; the Crucifixion and
Resurrection in one panel; and perhaps the Ascension. Of these only the lower part of the second
and most of the Adoration of the Magi and the next
subject are at all clear. Of the second group there
are only traces of a large seated figure much damaged, and over it has been painted the Apostles' Creed
in black letter, perhaps of the late 16th century. A
painting of the Trinity surrounded by angels formerly
existed on the south of the chancel arch.
The 12th-century font is octagonal with shallow
round-headed panels in each face, a circular stem and
a modern base. The pulpit apparently
incorporates the materials of an old
communion table, with turned legs and
rails, of c. 1630. On the south side of
the chancel are a few worn slip tiles of
mediaeval date.
The bell is inscribed 'Come away
make no delay. T.R. 1768.'
The plate includes a cup and cover
paten (London, 1571), the latter dated
1571.
The registers previous to 1812 are
as follows: (i) all entries 1559 to
1713; (ii) baptisms 1714 to 1799,
marriages 1749 to 1788, burials 1714
to 1779.
ADVOWSONS
The church of St.
Andrew is said, but
not on the best
authority, to have been built by Edward
the Confessor for the use of the tenants
of the abbey of Westminster when he
gave the manor to the abbey. (fn. 245) It was
in existence in 1086, (fn. 246) and the advowson must have been given by the Abbot
of Westminster to the priory of Great
Malvern, for it belonged to the monks
in 1147, when Simon Bishop of Worcester dedicated a new church of St.
Andrew, which had been built at the
joint cost of Athelhard, who held the
'personatum' of the church, and
Edwin the vicar. (fn. 247) It seems possible
that this new church may have been
erected on a different site from the old
one, for in 1086 the church was in
the manor of the Abbot of Westminster, but the new church was built
in the cemetery of the monastery, (fn. 248)
and at the present day St. Andrew's Church is in the
parish of Holy Cross. The patronage of St. Andrew's
was confirmed to the priory of Great Malvern by the
pope in 1217, (fn. 249) but shortly after (before 1218) they
gave it, with all the tithes belonging to it, to the
Abbot of Westminster. (fn. 250) About 1241 the Abbot of
Westminster gave the advowson to the Abbot and
convent of Pershore. (fn. 251) In 1306, and again in 1321,
the Abbot of Pershore obtained licence to appropriate
the church. (fn. 252) The appropriation was not, however,
made until August 1327, the abbot, William de
Harvington, having in that year granted the advowson
for life to Adam de Harvington. (fn. 253) The vicarage was
ordained in the same year, a portion of 12 marks
being assigned to the vicar. (fn. 254) In 1329 an inquiry
was made by the bishop's mandate as to the value of
the rectory, (fn. 255) and this resulted in another ordination
of the vicarage in 1331. (fn. 256) The Abbots of Pershore
remained in possession of the rectory and advowson
until the Dissolution. (fn. 257) In 1541 the rectory was
granted to Conan Richardson, (fn. 258) but in the following
year it was granted, with many other of the possessions
of the abbey, to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. (fn. 259)
The advowson is not mentioned in this grant, but it
was given with the rectory in 1556–7 by Queen
Mary to the refounded abbey of Westminster. (fn. 260) On
the accession of Queen Elizabeth the abbey of Westminster was again dissolved, and the advowson and
rectory of St. Andrew's were granted once more to
the dean and chapter, (fn. 261) with whom they have since
remained. (fn. 262)
Bricklehampton Church: The South Doorway
The dean and chapter leased the rectory from
time to time. A lease granted in 1554–5 to Sir
John Bourne was sold by his son Anthony to Thomas
Hanford and Thomas Cocks. John Hanford bought
the moiety belonging to the Cocks family and left the
whole to his widow, who sold it to Thomas Browne,
her son by a former husband. He sold it in 1635–6
to William Sandys. (fn. 263) The dean leased the parsonage
of St. Andrew's for twenty-one years ending in 1653
to William Steed. (fn. 264)
In the 12th century the chapels of Besford,
Defford, Wick and Bricklehampton were dependent
on the church of St. Andrew, Pershore. (fn. 265) The first
three are now parochial, but Bricklehampton is still a
chapel of St. Andrew's. Defford-cum-Besford became
a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1865, (fn. 266) and the
living was declared a vicarage in 1866. (fn. 267)
About 1218 Andrew, rector of St. Andrew's, was
accused of burying the dead at the chapel of Wick
instead of at the mother church of Pershore. (fn. 268) In
1362 the Bishop of Worcester gave licence to the
parishioners of St. Andrew's living at Wick to have
service celebrated in Wick Chapel by a fit priest. (fn. 269)
In 1868 Wick was declared a vicarage, (fn. 270) and the
living has since been in the gift of the vicar of
Pershore.
The chapel of Pinvin is not mentioned as a
chapelry of St. Andrew's in the 12th century, but
must then have existed. The earliest reference to it
is in 1331. (fn. 271) It is still a chapel to St. Andrew's.
There was a second chapel at Wick, sometimes
called a chantry, sometimes a free chapel, which may
have been in the manor-house of Wick Warren. The
advowson, which is mentioned for the first time
about 1315, (fn. 272) belonged to the lords of Wick Warren,
and followed the descent of that manor until 1546,
when it is mentioned for the last time.
An agreement was made in 1204 between the
Prior of Great Malvern and the vicar of St. Andrew's
on one part and the Abbot of Pershore on the other
by which the prior and vicar were to receive all the
tithes of Wick, Birlingham and St. Andrew, of which
the monks of Pershore formerly received half, while
the abbot was to have tithes of Bricklehampton,
Pensham, Pinvin, Besford and Defford. (fn. 273) In 1256 a
dispute arose between the rector of St. Andrew's and
the Abbot of Pershore as to tithes from newly tilled
land in Besford and Defford, and it was settled
according to the above agreement. (fn. 274)
In 1548 tenements given for the maintenance of
obits in the church of St. Andrew were valued at
11s. 2d., of which 5s. was given to the poor. (fn. 275) In
1615 this estate was granted to George Low, (fn. 276) and
in 1637 to Thomas Dalmahay. (fn. 277)
An acre of land given for lights in the chapel of
Bricklehampton was valued in 1548 at 8d. (fn. 278)
CHARITIES
Pershore, Holy Cross and St.
Andrew.—Eleemosynary Charities:
These parishes participate in the
charity of Henry Smith, founded by will 24 April
1627. In 1909 a sum of £52 10s. was received out
of the rents of the Longney Estate, co. Gloucester, and
applied in bonuses to members of the coal club and in
gifts of 2 cwt. of coal to about 220 recipients.
Unknown donor's charity mentioned in the Parliamentary Returns of 1786, consists of about 18 acres
of land situate at Baughton in Hill Croome, let at £30
a year. The net income is distributed to poor widows
in sums of 2s. 6d. each and in aid of the clothing and
other provident clubs subsisting in the parish.
In 1812 Charles Oldaker, by his will, gave £100,
the interest to be applied in bread for the poor;
trust fund, £116 13s. 3d. consols, producing
£2 18s. 4d. yearly.
In 1818 Susannah Tovey, by her will, gave £100,
the interest to be distributed amongst the poor;
trust fund, £97 19s. 2d. consols, the annual dividends,
amounting to £2 9s., being distributed in groceries.
In 1863 Ann Wilson, by her will proved at London,
bequeathed £50, now represented by £55 13s. 4d.
consols, the annual dividends, amounting to £1 7s. 8d.,
to be applied in aid of the provident clubs of the
parish of St. Andrew.
In 1869 Francis Davies, by his will proved at
Worcester, bequeathed £100 for the benefit of the
poor, subject to the repair, &c., of a tomb in the
churchyard; trust fund, £107 19s. 3d. consols, producing £2 14s. yearly, which is applied in aid of the
Dorcas Society and the provident clubs.
In 1880 Captain Jeffery Reid Amherst, by his will
proved at Worcester, bequeathed £1,000 consols, the
income, amounting to £25 yearly, to be distributed in
coal and bread.
In 1878 Sarah Sophia Bedford, by her will proved
at London, bequeathed £333 6s. 8d. stock, now a
like sum of consols in the names of the Rev. W.
Walters and two others, producing £8 6s. 8d. yearly,
one moiety of which is distributed in coal and the
other moiety in flannel or clothing.
In 1903 Alfred Ricketts Hudson by deed gave
£100 consols, the dividends to be applied in supplying
tea and tobacco for the old women and men in
Pershore Workhouse. The dividends amount to
£2 10s. yearly.
The several sums of stock, except as otherwise
stated, are held by the official trustees.
Pershore Cottage Hospital and Nursing Home.—
Charles Ganderton, by his will proved at Worcester
21 April 1893, gave £500 for the benefit of a
cottage hospital to be established within twelve
months after his decease. A suitable building was
erected on land comprised in deed 15 March 1894.
The institution is supported mainly by voluntary
donations. It has, however, an income from endowment of about £60 a year from stocks and shares
held by the trustees.
The above-mentioned Alfred Ricketts Hudson also
gave £100, the interest to be applied in supplying
special comforts to the patients at Christmastide. The
gift was invested in £108 Watney, Combe, Reid & Co.
3½ per cent. debenture stock, producing £3 15s. 6d.
yearly.
The Pershore Baptist Chapel, comprised in trust
deed, 6 June 1815, is possessed of the following trust
funds, namely: £210 5s. consols, the gift of Mary
Haigh for the minister, producing £5 5s. yearly;
£124. 8s. 2d. India 3½ per cent. stock and £85 3s. 8d.
Bank of England stock, producing together about
£12 8s. yearly, applicable for the minister and church
expenses. The sums of stock are held by the administering trustees, who also hold £200 stock of the San
Paulo Railway Co., the gift of Anne Mancell Bedford,
also for the minister and church expenses.
By indenture 10 June 1907 Alfred Ricketts
Hudson gave an annual rent-charge of £20 issuing
out of lands in the hamlet of Chivington to be
applied in the first place to defray the cost of lighting
the interior of the lantern tower of the abbey
church of Holy Cross and the residue to defray the
cost of any important and substantial repairs to the
fabric of the church.
Mrs. Bridget Grewcock, by declaration of trust
dated 24 August 1909, settled a sum of £286 India
3½ per cent. stock upon trust that the income should
be applied towards the cost of winding the clock and
carillons in the abbey church of Holy Cross. The
stock is held by the official trustees, producing £10
yearly.
Chapelry of Bricklehampton.—This chapelry has
been in possession from time immemorial of about
1½ acres of land which was formerly waste, but is now
let in allotments producing about £6 yearly, which
is applied towards general church expenses.
In 1856 Francis Woodward, by his will proved
with a codicil 13 December of this year, left a
legacy for bread for the poor. It was invested in
£50 4s. 2d. consols, and produces £1 5s. yearly.
In 1860 Mrs. Susannah Phipps by deed gave a
sum of £105 12s. 5d. stock for the benefit of the
Sunday school, and in 1861 Mrs. Elizabeth Woodward by deed gave £32 9s. 7d. stock for the
education of poor children in the principles of the
Christian religion according to the Established Church.
These gifts are represented by £138 2s. consols,
the annual dividends of which, amounting to £3 9s.,
are applied for the benefit of the Sunday school.
The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees.
Defford.—The church and poor's land consists of
27 a. 2 r. known as Cow Leasow, allotted under the
Inclosure Act, 1774, in lieu of property which had
been in the possession of the chapelry from time
immemorial, and £173 2s. 4d. consols, arising from
the sale of some cottages and timber, producing
£4 6s. 4d. annually. The land is let at £50 a year.
By a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of
22 May 1891 three-fifths of the net income was
made applicable in the maintenance of the fabric of
the church and the remaining two-fifths for the
benefit of the poor.
In 1810 George Packwood, by his will proved in
the P.C.C., bequeathed £188 4s. 8d. consols for the
distribution of bread and meat at Christmas, and in
1860 the Rev. Thomas Whitaker, by his will,
bequeathed £100 2s. 10d. consols for the same
purpose. The annual dividends, amounting together
to £7 4s., are distributed in beef to over 300
recipients.
In 1837 Martha Porter, by a codicil to her will,
proved in the P.C. of the Archbishop of Armagh,
among other charitable bequests, bequeathed £10
yearly for the poor of Defford. A sum of £333 6s. 8d.
consols was in 1838 set aside by an order of the
Court of Chancery in satisfaction of the legacy, now
producing £8 6s. 8d. yearly, which is distributed in
meat, bed-clothing and tea.
The same testatrix bequeathed £2 2s. yearly for
the Sunday school, which is represented by £70 0s. 4d.
consols, now producing £1 15s. yearly.
Miss Priscilla Arabella Attwood, by her will
proved at Worcester, 6 April 1875, likewise bequeathed £47 13s. 3d. consols, the annual dividends,
amounting to £1 3s. 8d., being also applicable
for the benefit of the Church of England Sunday
school.
In 1877 Miss Anne Porter, by her will proved at
London, bequeathed £51 9s. 8d. consols for the
benefit of the poor. The annual dividends, amounting to £1 5s. 8d., are expended in gifts of money
and flannel, and on books for the library.
The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees.