CRUTCH
Cruch (xiii cent.); la Crouche (xiv cent.);
Croyche, Crouch next le Wich (xvi cent.); Crutch
alias St. James (xvii cent.).
Crutch probably became extra-parochial in 1178,
when the tithes were assigned to the nuns of Westwood in exchange for their claim on the church of
Dodderhill, (fn. 1) and remained so until 1857, when it
was formed into a civil parish. (fn. 2) It is a small parish,
having an area of only 327 acres, with population of
4 in 1901. The soil and subsoil are strong clay
marl, and agriculture is the only industry. A road
from Droitwich passes through Crutch on its way to
Grafton Manor, Upton Warren and Elmbridge.
Crutch Hill is over 200 ft. above the ordnance datum,
and is said to have been a camp, but the traces, if
any, of intrenchment are now very faint. The parish
is watered by the Capel or Chapel Ditch and another
small tributary of the Salwarpe.
There is no church and only one farm-house, known
as Crutch Farm, which stands near the site of the
ancient manor-house. All trace of this manor-house
has now disappeared; it is said to have stood on the
top of some rising ground immediately to the southwest of the present building and adjoining the road
known as Crutch Lane. A considerable indentation
of the ground by the roadside may indicate a moat,
though no return line can now be distinguished, and
it may be the remains of a marl-pit. The farm-house
is apparently a building of the late 17th century, though
much modernized. The materials are red brick, with
a tiled roof.
MANOR
CRUTCH was no doubt included in
the manor of Dodderhill in 1086, and so
remained until the time of Henry II,
when Osbern Fitz Hugh and Eustacia de Say, his
mother, granted it to the nunnery at Westwood, (fn. 3)
their gift being confirmed by Edward I and other
later kings. (fn. 4) In 1535 the manor and chapel were
valued at £7 6s. 8d. (fn. 5) The manor having passed at
the Dissolution to the king, he sold it in 1538 (fn. 6) to
Robert Acton and his son Charles. It passed with
Elmley Lovett to the four daughters and co-heirs of
Sir John Acton, Elizabeth wife of Henry Townsend, Anne wife of Walter Colles, Helen wife of
Thomas Thornburgh, and Penelope wife of John
Lench. (fn. 7) As in the case of Elmley Lovett the descent
after this date becomes obscure. There is no further
record of its ownership until 1765, when it belonged
to Robert Cliffe. (fn. 8) About three years later he sold it
to Mr. Vaughan Jefferies, a surgeon of Worcester. (fn. 9)
By the beginning of the 19th century it seems to
have been divided into five parts, one of which was
conveyed by Thomas Philpott and Mary his wife to
Humphrey Philpott in 1803. (fn. 10)
In 1850 the Rev. H. Douglas settled part of the
manor (fn. 11) on the Rev. W. W. Douglas on his marriage.
The latter purchased another portion (fn. 12) from the
Rev. H. T. Philpott in 1879. (fn. 13) The rest of the
manor was held in 1872 by R. A. Douglas Gresley,
who still held it at his death in 1885. (fn. 14) The whole was
purchased of these owners in February and April 1885
by John Corbett, (fn. 15) on whose death in 1901 it passed
to his brother Thomas Corbett. He died in 1906, (fn. 16)
and the manor was sold by his trustees in March
1909 to Mr. Edward Partington of Westwood, (fn. 17) who
now owns it.
CHAPEL
The date at which the chapel of
Crutch was built is not known, but it
was certainly before 1335, when Richard
de Aston bequeathed 2d. to each of the altars of the
Blessed Virgin and St. Katherine in 'la Crouche.' (fn. 18)
The chapel was dedicated in honour of St. James,
and was numbered among the possessions of Westwood
Priory at the Dissolution. (fn. 19) It was granted with
the manor to Robert and Charles Acton in 1538. (fn. 20)
It descended with the manor until 1621, (fn. 21) but is not
mentioned, and was probably disused, after that date.
There are no endowed charities.