UPTON SNODSBURY (fn. 1)
Snoddesbyri (x cent.); Snodesbyrie (xi cent.);
Upton Stephani, Snodesbury and Upton, Snodbur,
Upton Snodsbury, Upton or Opton juxta Snodesbury
(xiii cent.).
The parish of Upton Snodsbury, 1,691 acres in
extent, lies between Piddle Brook on the east and
Bow Brook on the west. The country is flat, the
highest part of the parish being at Bow Wood, 200 ft.
above the ordnance datum. About 700 acres are
cultivated, and the grass land covers 897 acres,
more than half the total area. Bow Wood in the
extreme north is of considerable size, and the total
area of woodland is 81 acres. (fn. 2) In 1086 the woodland at Snodsbury was a league square, while that at
Cowsden was 3 furlongs in length and 2 furlongs
in width. (fn. 3) Woods called Broke Vallett, Bonney
Wood Vallett and Bryar Vallett belonged to the
manor in the 16th century. (fn. 4) The parish is on the
Lower Lias, the chief crops being wheat, barley and
beans. Apples, pears and plums are cultivated, and
glove-making occupied some of the inhabitants until
the middle of the 19th century. (fn. 5)
Old Cottage, Upton Snodsbury
In the 17th century the farmers and tenants of
Upton Snodsbury had the right of pasturing their
cattle on certain common land in Upton Snodsbury,
and Richard Payne of Cowsden was indicted for
inclosing a portion of this ground for his own use. (fn. 6)
The common was inclosed under an Act of 1774, (fn. 7)
the award being dated 13 January 1775. (fn. 8)
The village lies to the south of the high road from
Worcester to Alcester. It retains a number of 17 thcentury black and white cottages; one to the south
of the church appears from the parish records to
have been built in the time of Charles II. The
hamlet of Cowsden, about a mile to the south, also
contains some old cottages; Cowsden Hall was
rebuilt in the 18th century. About a quarter of a
mile north-west of the village is the Court Farm.
The care of Upton Snodsbury Bridge, by which
the Worcester road crosses the Bow Brook, was partly
the business of the inhabitants of the village, who
in the 17th century were held responsible for it, (fn. 9)
and partly that of the inhabitants of Broughton
Hackett, by whose fault the bridge was said to have
fallen into decay in 1599. (fn. 10) Near this bridge King
Charles is supposed in 1651 to have defeated a
party of Cromwell's army. (fn. 11) A new bridge was built
by the County Council in 1913. In 1725 an Act
was passed for the repairing of certain roads leading
to Worcester, and amongst them was the road from
the yew tree in Spetchley parish to Upton Snodsbury, a distance of about 2 miles. (fn. 12) Amongst the
charges that the villagers had to meet upon occasion
was a payment towards the keep of the prisoners at
Worcester Castle, and in 1600 the sheriff distrained
for this money. (fn. 13) A wake used to be held at Upton
Snodsbury in July; it is referred to in 1618. (fn. 14)
Amongst the place-names occur Goldmore, Kynesmore, Farnclyff, Dodeslough and le Neyte (fn. 15) (xv cent.);
Le Mylnenete, Whelers (fn. 16) (xvi cent.).
MANORS
Ten manses in SNODSBURY are
included in the charter said to have been
granted by King Edgar in 972 to the
church of Pershore, (fn. 17) restoring to that abbey property
which had formerly been given to it by King Coenwulf. Like so many of the other manors belonging
to the abbey of Pershore, Snodsbury was afterwards
taken from it by Edward the Confessor and given as
part of the manor of Pershore to the abbey of Westminster. In 1086 the abbey of Westminster held
11 hides at Snodsbury, of which 3 hides and 3
virgates representing Cowsden were held by Urse
the sheriff. (fn. 18) The part of the estate held by the
abbot in demesne probably continued to be so held
until the 12th century, when Abbot Lawrence
(c. 1160) granted it as the vill of Snodsbury to Peter
de Wick. (fn. 19) The overlordship of the manor was held
by the abbey (fn. 20) until its dissolution. After the sale
of the manor by Sir Hugh Burnell in 1417 some
confusion seems to have arisen as to its tenure. In
1463 it was said to be held of John Aldbury, lord
of Sheriff's Naunton, (fn. 21) but in 1467 the tenure was not
known. (fn. 22)
Peter de Wick had also acquired the manor of
Wick, afterwards known as Wick Burnell, and Upton
Snodsbury followed the descent of that manor (fn. 23) (q.v.)
until both were sold by Sir Hugh Burnell in 1417 to
Joan Lady Bergavenny. (fn. 24) It has been seen in the
case of Wick Burnell that this sale never seems to have
taken effect, but in Upton Snodsbury it seems to have
led to counterclaims in the manor. In 1431 James
Butler Earl of Ormond, who had married Elizabeth
daughter of Joan Lady Bergavenny, held Upton
Snodsbury, (fn. 25) though his mother-in-law was still alive,
and his son and successor James, created Earl of Wiltshire in 1449, held the manor at the time of his
attainder in 1461. (fn. 26) It was granted with many
other of his Worcestershire estates to Fulk Stafford in
1461, (fn. 27) and this grant seems to have been followed
by a claim on the manor by John Lovel, who
represented the heirs male of the Burnell family, and
to whom Wick Burnell had apparently passed without
contest by the Earls of Ormond. Lovel's estate in
Upton Snodsbury was ratified in 1461, (fn. 28) but it seems
doubtful whether he ever enjoyed it, for in 1463,
after Fulk Stafford's death, a third of the manor was
granted to Fulk's widow Margaret for life (fn. 29) and the
other two-thirds to John Scott. (fn. 30) The grant to
Scott was confirmed in 1464 (fn. 31) and again in 1476, (fn. 32)
but in 1467 Joan widow of Sir John Lovel died
seised of it. (fn. 33) Her son Francis Lord Lovel forfeited
this with his other estates in 1485, (fn. 34) and Upton
Snodsbury was granted with Wick Burnell to Sir
John Mortimer. (fn. 35) Upton then passed with Wick
Burnell until the death of Anthony Kingston. (fn. 36) It
was leased in 1556–7 for forty years to William
Babington, (fn. 37) and in 1576–7 to Thomas Burroughs
for twenty-two years. (fn. 38) This lease required him to
keep in repair all buildings, hedges, ditches, banks, &c.,
but he was given permission to levy from time to
time housebote, hedgebote, firebote, ploughbote and
cartbote to cover his expenditure. At his death
some seven years later his executors sold the lease to
Robert Burbage, who in 1583–4 obtained Letters
Patent granting him the manor for his life and the
lives of his three sons. (fn. 39) In 1590 (fn. 40) the lordship of
the manor was purchased by Sir William Walshe for
the sum of £839 11s. 3½d., (fn. 41) and in 1632–3 it was
sold by his nephew and heir William Walshe (fn. 42) to
Thomas Lord Coventry, lord keeper of the great
seal. (fn. 43) It has since followed the same descent as
Croome D'Abitôt, (fn. 44) George William Lord Coventry
being lord of the manor at the present day. (fn. 45)
A mill in the manor of Upton Snodsbury is mentioned in 1258 and in 1448, (fn. 46) and 'le Nete' called
'le Milnenete' was granted to William Walshe with
the manor in 1590, (fn. 47) but no mill is then mentioned,
nor is there a mill at Upton Snodsbury at the present
day.
COWSDEN (Coulesduna, Colleduma, xii cent.;
Koulesdon, Coulesdon, Colesdon, xiii cent.; Cowesdon,
xv cent.).
In 1086 Urse held in the manor of Snodsbury
3 hides and 3 virgates, which were returned in a later
survey as at Cowsden. (fn. 48) The estate had been held by
Ælfward, who was bound to mow for one day and
do the service he was bidden. (fn. 49) From Urse the land
passed to his grandson William Beauchamp. (fn. 50) The
overlordship followed the descent of Elmley Castle
until 1481, (fn. 51) but in 1507 and 1635 the manor was
said to be held of the Bishop of Worcester. (fn. 52)
A manor of Cowsden was given with Upton
Snodsbury by Christine de Wick to William Beauchamp and the descent of this manor is the same as
that of Upton Snodsbury, of which it seems to have
been a member (fn. 53) until 1417, when Hugh Burnell
conveyed it with Upton Snodsbury to Joan Lady
Bergavenny, (fn. 54) but it seems doubtful whether this was
the manor held under the Beauchamps. The first
mention of that estate occurs early in the 13th century,
when Walter Beauchamp confirmed to Gervase
Abbot of Pershore a hide of land in Cowsden and
Upton, which he held of Beauchamp's fee. (fn. 55)
Cowsden Hall
This estate had been given to the abbey of Pershore
by Warin son of William de Upton, who had married
Hawise Beauchamp, (fn. 56) and had perhaps obtained this
estate with her. She confirmed her husband's grant
and it was also confirmed by their son William. (fn. 57)
The estate seems, however, to have been restored to
Warin, who apparently gave it to his daughter Ascelina
and her husband Thomas Lyttelton, (fn. 58) for Thomas
granted 4 virgates in Upton and Cowsden to the
Abbot of Pershore, (fn. 59) the grant probably taking place
about the middle of the 13th century. (fn. 60) After Thomas's
death Ascelina granted rents there to the abbey, her
grant being confirmed by her brother William son of
Warin. (fn. 61) Edmund Lyttelton, son of Thomas and
Ascelina, resided at Cowsden, (fn. 62) and on his death
without issue it probably passed to his brother or
nephew, both called Thomas. (fn. 63) Thomas Westcote
alias Heuster, who married Elizabeth daughter and
heir of the younger Thomas Lyttelton, is called 'of
Collesdon' in 1437. (fn. 64) The manor followed the
descent of Frankley (fn. 65) until the death of John Lyttelton in 1532. (fn. 66) By his will he left it and Sheriff's
Naunton to provide portions for his younger sons. (fn. 67)
Cowsden then followed the descent of Sheriff's
Naunton until 1830, (fn. 68) when it is mentioned for the
last time. Lord Coventry now claims to be lord of
Cowsden, but the manorial rights have lapsed.
CHURCH
The church of ST. KENELM consists of a chancel 26 ft. 6 in. by 19 ft.,
nave 54 ft. by 19 ft. with south aisle
10 ft. wide, south porch and west tower 16 ft. square.
All measurements are internal.
The western half of the north wall of the nave
appears to be of early 13th-century date. The
chancel was entirely rebuilt in the 14th century and
the west tower added early in the following century.
The south aisle was built during the first half of the
16th century. Considerable alterations were made to
the church in the 18th century, when the existing
west door was inserted, a west gallery built and a
plaster ceiling added. The two latter disappeared
when the church was restored in 1873, when a
modern south porch took the place of one built in
1815. At the same time the clearstory and the upper
parts of the nave and chancel walls were rebuilt.
The chancel is structurally undivided from the nave
and has a 14th-century east window of three trefoiled
lights with clumsy tracery and a double-chamfered
string-course at the sill level. In the north wall is a
three-light pointed window of the same date, the
central light being carried up to the head. To the
east of it is a modern piscina. In the south wall is a
blocked priest's door with a moulded external label
and further west a three-light window uniform with
that on the north. The east wall has been refaced
externally and has modern diagonal buttresses at the
angles.
The nave has three restored lancet windows in the
north wall and between the second and third is a
blocked north door with a segmental pointed head.
Only the western part of this wall appears to be
ancient and two straight joints visible externally
indicate the extent of the 13th-century work. On
the south side an early 16th-century arcade of four
bays opens into the south aisle. The chamfered
arches are four-centred and low; they rest on piers
with moulded bases and capitals, the latter bearing
roughly carved ornaments. On the east respond is a
rose and shield, on the first pier a rose, tun, shield
inscribed T and two objects resembling dice boxes;
the other piers and respond have shields, some charged
with crosses and roses. Above this arcade is a clearstory of four square-headed windows, each having two
lights with four-centred heads. The south aisle has
an early 16th-century east window of two lights under
a four-centred head, and in the south wall are two
similar windows. Between them is a doorway with
a four-centred head with carved spandrels. It is
fitted with a more ancient door, cut down to fit its
present position. The south porch is a modern
timber erection on a stone base. The pent roof of
this aisle retains the original moulded principal rafters
and purlins, with curved struts against the walls and
carved head bosses at the main intersections.
The west tower is three stages high with an axis
deflected considerably to the north of that of the nave.
It is a large and handsome structure of coursed rubble
with ashlar buttresses and is now in a condition of
serious decay. The tower arch of two orders is lofty
and pointed, the inner order is semi-octagonal with
moulded capitals and bases. The pointed 15thcentury west window is of three trefoiled lights with
a transom and traceried head. Below it is an 18thcentury doorway. The tower is supported by diagonal
buttresses of six stages, stopping below the parapet
string, and in the south-west angle is a vice now entered
from an external door. The second stage has small
single-light openings and the bell-chamber is lighted
by a pointed window of two trefoiled lights in each
face. It is finished with a plain parapet with small
pinnacles at the angles and a low pyramidal tiled roof.
The communion table dates from the 17th century
and has good turned legs. Between the nave and
chancel is a modern oak screen, but the traceried
heads of the side compartments are all of the 15th
century. The font in the south aisle is also of the 15th
century with moulded base and octagonal bowl; four
faces bear the symbols of the Evangelists and the others
have quatrefoils, two with a rose in the centre and
two with a face. Under the tower is a parish chest
with conventional flowers chip-carved on the top and
front; it bears the inscription, ' Arrmel Greene
Gent, John Gale Chvrch 1681 Wardens.' In the
north window of the chancel are some remains of
14th-century glass in the heads of the side lights and
a few old quarries remain in the eastern window on
the north of the nave. The main roofs of the church
are modern and tiled. Covered by the existing
chancel pavement are several tomb slabs to John
Parkes, 1697, Anne wife of Richard Claridge, rector
of Peopleton (d. 1676), and others.
There are six bells: the treble inscribed, 'Armell
Greene, John Greene C. W., 1738 R.S.'; the second,
'God save Queen Anne 1703 R.S.'; the third,'Richard
Sanders, Bromsgrove made us all six 1703'; the fourth,
'John Rudhall, Glocester fect. 1793'; the fifth by
the same founder, 1805, and the tenor inscribed,
'Consider man when you hear me, that I ere long
may ring for thee 1719.'
The plate consists of a cup, paten and a silvermounted glass flagon, all modern, the old plate having
been stolen.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i)
baptisms and burials 1577 to 1772, marriages 1577
to 1754; (ii) baptisms and burials 1772 to 1812;
(iii) marriages 1754 to 1812.
In the churchyard, near the south porch, is the
base and part of the shaft of a stone cross probably of
the 15th century.
ADVOWSON
The church of Upton Snodsbury
was probably originally a chapelry of
the church of Holy Cross, Pershore,
for until 1426 the inhabitants had to take their dead
to Pershore for burial. (fn. 69) Its advowson may have
been acquired by the priory of Great Malvern with
that of St. Andrew's, the earliest recorded presentation to Upton Snodsbury being made by the prior
and convent in 1297. (fn. 70) In 1346, at the request
of Roger Mortimer, the prior and convent obtained
licence to appropriate the church, (fn. 71) but the appropriation did not take place until 1398. (fn. 72) The prior
and convent of Great Malvern remained in possession
of the advowson and rectory until the Dissolution. (fn. 73)
In 1541 the rectory was leased for twenty-one years
to Richard Berde (fn. 74) and in 1551 both rectory and
advowson were granted to Edward Lord Clinton. (fn. 75)
Seven years later the advowson was granted to Richard
Bishop of Worcester, (fn. 76) but this seems to have been
only a temporary grant, and on the death of Lord
Clinton the rectory and advowson apparently reverted
to the Crown, for they were granted in 1600 to
Arthur Arscott, Bestney Betts, Humphrey Speccott,
John Aberford, (fn. 77) George Shipside and Armel
Green. (fn. 78) By an agreement of the same date George
Shipside took the advowson and half the rectory,
while Armel Green took the parsonage-house and the
other half of the rectory. (fn. 79) George Shipside and
John Aberford conveyed the advowson and their
share of the rectory in 1612 to Jerome Freere, (fn. 80) who
joined with them in 1617 in selling them to Robert
Berkeley of Spetchley. (fn. 81) The advowson descended
with Spetchley until 1743 (fn. 82) or later, but in 1768
Armel Green presented. (fn. 83) A moiety of the rectory
had remained in his family since 1600, (fn. 84) and he
probably bought the other moiety, with the advowson,
of the Berkeleys, who are said by Prattinton to have
sold both before 1812. (fn. 85) The Greens retained the
advowson and perhaps the rectory until about 1864, (fn. 86)
when the advowson passed to the Rev. H. O'Donnell,
the incumbent. (fn. 87) The rectory was probably sold
about the same time to Lord Coventry, (fn. 88) the present
impropriator. The Rev. H. O'Donnell sold the
patronage about 1868 to the Rev. J. J. Merest, and
it passed about 1877 to the Rev. J. Wright. (fn. 89) It was
purchased in 1889 of Miss Wright and vested in the
Bishop of Worcester, to whom it now belongs.
In 1895 the vicarage of Upton Snodsbury was
united to the rectory of North Piddle. (fn. 90)
In 1424 a papal mandate was issued to the Prior of
Great Malvern, in consideration of the distance of Upton
Snodsbury from the church of Holy Cross, Pershore,
to allow the parishioners of Upton to have a cemetery
of their own. (fn. 91) A protest against this was apparently
raised by the Abbot of Pershore, and the matter was
not settled until April 1426, when the Bishop of
Worcester, as arbitrator between the parties, decreed
that the inhabitants of Upton Snodsbury should have
their own graveyard and right of sepulture, the sacrist
of Pershore to have a penny called 'massepeny' for
every body buried, with half the mortuary and half
the candles and lights, as well as an annual payment
of 3s. 4d (fn. 92) The cemetery was duly consecrated in
the following May. (fn. 93)
A chapel in the court of Snodsbury is mentioned
in 1258 in the conveyance of the manor by Christine
de Wick to William Beauchamp. (fn. 94)
Two acres of land at Upton Snodsbury given for the
maintenance of lights in the church were valued in
1545 at 22d. (fn. 95)
CHARITIES
The parish is in possession of a
blacksmith's house and shop, which
is understood to have been purchased
with the gifts of Richard Tolley and others mentioned
on the church table. The premises are let at
£10 10s. yearly, which is distributed in coal.
The church lands consist of about 20 a. in Sulladine Field in this parish, allotted to the vicar and
churchwardens under an Inclosure Award dated
13 January 1775. The land is let in allotments.
In 1908–9 £12 was received and applied towards
church expenses.