WICHENFORD
Wychynford (xiv cent.); Wychenford (xvi cent.);
Winchenford, Whichingford, Witchenford (xvii
cent.); Wickingford, Wickenford (xviii cent.).
The parish of Wichenford lies 6 miles to the
north-west of the town of Worcester. Its area is
2,866 acres, (fn. 1) of which in 1905 656 acres were
arable land, 1,761 permanent grass and 119 woods. (fn. 2)
The soil is clay, with a subsoil of Keuper Marl,
growing crops of wheat, beans and fruit and a few
hops. The slope of the land is from north-west
to south-east, the highest point, 363 ft. above the
ordnance datum, being in the extreme north-west.
The road from Martley to Worcester runs through
the middle of the parish, and from it another road
branches off to the hamlet of Wants Green in the
south, and forms part of the western boundary of the
parish. From Wants Green it runs south-east, and
forms part of the southern boundary, being joined at
Tinkers' Cross by a branch road. From Castle Hill
on the Worcester road another road runs north-east
to the village of Wichenford.
Laughern Brook, flowing east to join the River
Teme near Powick, divides the parish into two parts,
and is crossed at Pig Bridge by the Worcester road.
To the south of the bridge there are fish ponds (fn. 3) and
a weir. Woodhall Farm (fn. 4) and Woodend Farm lie
still further south, and at both there are the remains
of moats. The village of Wichenford is situated on
the eastern boundary of the parish on the banks of
Laughern Brook.
A quarter of a mile south-east of the church is
Wichenford Court, formerly the residence of the
Washbournes, when it was one of the largest mansions
in the county and had a moat and drawbridge. (fn. 5) It
was evidently to a great extent rebuilt about 1712,
and at one time covered more space than it does
now. (fn. 6) By 1866 it was only a farm-house, (fn. 7) but the
remains of the moat are still in existence. The
present house is in the main a red brick building of
about 1700, with wood mullioned and transomed
windows and leaded lights with good wrought-iron
fasteners. The east room on the first floor contains
early 17th-century panelling and a plain but good
carved mantel. The middle room on this floor is
also panelled, and has a carved frieze, used as a
skirting board, all now painted. The stair has good
18th-century balusters. Among the farm buildings
is a fine timber and wattle barn put up in 1695.
There is also near the house a half-timber dovecote
on a red sandstone base, surmounted by a glazed
lantern.
When Wichenford Court was visited by the
Worcestershire Naturalists' Club on 7 June 1866,
around two sides of a panelled room under the
ceiling were a number of carved grinning heads with
teeth, said to be human. (fn. 8) The tradition is that
during the wars with the Welsh under Owen Glendower in the reign of Henry IV one of the Bourbon
princes was confined here for some time, and was
afterwards put to death by the then Lady Washbourne.
After her death her ghost, with a dagger in its hand,
is said to have been seen in the murdered prince's
chamber. (fn. 9) This tale was later connected with an
old portrait of one of the Washbournes. The ghost
of Lady Washbourne, wife of John the Royalist, is
said to frequent the moat with a golden harp, in a
silver boat drawn by four white swans. (fn. 10) To the
south of Wichenford Court is Abbinton's Farm, the
old manor-house of the Habington family. Most of
the house was taken down in the 18th century, and
the remaining portion was converted into a couple of
cottages about 1865. (fn. 11)
Two Roman coins of the time of Victorinus and
Constans have been found in Wichenford. (fn. 12)
There is no Inclosure Act for Wichenford. In
1884 Ossage Farm was transferred from the parish of
Cotheridge to that of Wichenford. (fn. 13)
Among the place-names that have been found are
the Lady Meadow, the Tineing, the Upper and
Lower Hassells Meadow and the Malenders (fn. 14) (xvii
cent.), and Coldbrook, Ockeridge Waste, Rugg's
Place and Bournescroft (xix cent.).
Wichenford Court
MANORS
The manor of WICHENFORD was
no doubt included at the time of the
Domesday Survey in that of Wick
Episcopi belonging to the see of Worcester. It continued to form part of the latter manor until the
16th century, for in a commission taken in 1594–5
it is stated that 'the manors of Wike Episcopi and
Wichingforde were the same manor of Wike Episcopi
and had the same court baron until the manor of
Wike Episcopi came to the hands of the king.' (fn. 15)
This probably refers to the confiscation of the manor
by Edward VI, (fn. 16) but Habington assigns the date of
the severance of the two manors to the beginning of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when Wick Episcopi
passed by exchange to the queen. (fn. 17) Walter Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester, claimed to be lord
paramount at Wichenford, (fn. 18) and in 1288 Bishop
Giffard granted land there to one Matthew Choke. (fn. 19)
In 1535 the manor of Wichenford belonging to the
bishop was valued apart from that of Wick Episcopi. (fn. 20)
In 1552 Bishop Nicholas Heath was deprived of
his see by Edward VI, (fn. 21) who seems to have confiscated
the manor of Wichenford, which he granted in 1553
to John Dudley Duke of Northumberland. (fn. 22) Habington says that the latter in 1551–2, when Earl of
Warwick, obtained licence to alienate the manor to
Walter Blount. The duke was executed in 1553, (fn. 23)
and this manor was restored to the see of Worcester
probably in 1554–5, when the temporalities of the
bishopric were restored to Bishop Heath. (fn. 24)
It was sold in 1651 by the Parliamentary trustees (fn. 25) to Richard Turner and Thomas Davies for
£574 12s. 7½d. (fn. 26) The manor was recovered by
the see of Worcester at the Restoration, and passed in
1860 to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, (fn. 27) who are
still lords of this manor. (fn. 28)
A manor at WICHENFORD held by the Poer
family of the bishop's manor of Wick Episcopi (fn. 29) seems
to have originated in a virgate of land there given by
Samson, Bishop of Worcester (1096–1112), to Illi de
Turre. (fn. 30) This land probably passed with Norton in
Bredon to Hamo de Turre, and towards the end of
the 12th century was like Norton in the possession of
William Poer. (fn. 31) Richard Poer, who may perhaps be
identified with the Richard who was holding half a
knight's fee of the bishop in 1196–7, (fn. 32) was holding
4 hides at Wichenford, Norton and Hill in Fladbury
early in the 13th century. (fn. 33) The date of Richard's
death is not known, but he was still alive in 1220, (fn. 34)
and a Richard Poer was holding land at Lemington,
co. Gloucester, in 1241. (fn. 35) Richard was succeeded,
according to the pedigree of the family given in the
visitation of 1569, by his son John, (fn. 36) who in 1244
agreed with the Bishop of Worcester as to an exchange
of land at Fladbury and Wichenford. (fn. 37) James Poer
was in possession of the manor in 1299. (fn. 38) Roger son
of John Poer (fn. 39) died about 1342, leaving John his son
and heir a minor. (fn. 40) Maud wife of Roger held the
manor until her death in 1362, (fn. 41) when livery was
made to her son John. (fn. 42) John Poer of Wichenford is
mentioned in 1404–5, (fn. 43) but the exact date of his death
is not known. (fn. 44) He left two daughters Margaret and
Agnes his co-heirs. (fn. 45) Wichenford evidently fell to the
share of the former, who became the second wife of
John Washbourne, for in 1428 her son Norman
Washbourne held the manor. (fn. 46) He died before
1480, (fn. 47) and his son and successor John (fn. 48) died in
1517, leaving as his heir his grandson John son of
Robert Washbourne. (fn. 49) John died in 1532, (fn. 50) leaving
this manor to his widow Margaret, who afterwards
married John Kettleby of Cotheridge. Anthony son
and heir of John Washbourne and Margaret died at
Wichenford in 1570 in the lifetime of his mother. (fn. 51)
The exact date of Margaret's death is not known, but
before 1598–9 the manor had passed to John eldest
son of Anthony. (fn. 52) He died in 1633–4, leaving as
his heir his great-grandson John, (fn. 53) who married Elizabeth Childe in 1639, while still a minor. (fn. 54) He was
an ardent Royalist, and compounded for his estates in
1649–50. (fn. 55) He probably took part in the battle of
Worcester in September 1650, as he was among
those present before the battle at the review at
Pitchcroft. He disappeared from that time, and his
fate is not known, but he was dead before 1653. (fn. 56)
His son William succeeded to the manor and died
in 1702. (fn. 57)
Poer. Gules a fesse or with two molets or in the chief.
Washbourne. Argent a fesse between six martlets gules with three cinqfoils argent on the fesse.
It would seem that the manor passed to his son
and heir William during his lifetime, for in September 1695 William Washbourne the younger made it
over to George Dowdeswell for five years at a peppercorn rent in return for the latter's services in helping
him meet debts amounting to £800. (fn. 58) Three months
later George Dowdeswell leased the manor and its
appurtenances to William Rider for three years at a
yearly rent of £108. (fn. 59) William Washbourne sold
the manor in 1712 to Edmund Skinner. (fn. 60) The latter
was Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1726. (fn. 61) He was
succeeded by a daughter, Anna wife of Plukenett
Woodroffe, on whose death in 1787 the manor passed
to her third but eldest surviving son Skynner Woodroffe. (fn. 62) He died in 1822, and was succeeded by his
brother George, who, dying in the same year, was
followed by his son Skynner George. (fn. 63) The latter
was succeeded on his death in 1848 by his son George
William Plukenett, (fn. 64) who sold Wichenford Court
about 1856 to Daniel Britten. (fn. 65) Rear-Admiral
Richard Frederick Britten, J.P., son and successor
of Daniel Britten, died in 1910, and the manor
now belongs to his widow, the Hon. Mrs. Britten.
An estate called WYARDS
(fn. 66) or WYARDS WOODHALL in Wichenford seems to have consisted of a
yardland held of the Bishop of Worcester in the
manor of Wichenford by the widow of John Wyard
in 1299. (fn. 67) By an undated deed Robert son of
Robert Wyard gave to Robert de Cowsden 3 acres
of land held by Walter son of Walter the Miller in
la Buriende in the vill of Wichenford, to be held of
Robert Wyard for the rent of a rose. (fn. 68) Stephen Wyard
acquired land in Wichenford from William Habington, but the date of this transaction is not known. (fn. 69)
In 1320–1 Thomas Habington owned for a messuage
called the Hawe Place suit of court and heriot to the
manor of Wyards Woodhall. (fn. 70) John Wyard forfeited
all his possessions in 1322 for his adherence to Roger
de Mortimer Earl of March, (fn. 71) and in 1323 Woodhall
was granted to Simon de Reding, king's serjeant-at-arms, for life. (fn. 72) Free warren at Woodhall was granted
to Simon in the following year. (fn. 73) John Wyard was
pardoned, and his lands were restored to him in
1331, (fn. 74) and in the same year he conveyed to John de
Stone and Joan his wife his manor of Woodhall. (fn. 75)
This conveyance must have been made for the purpose
of some settlement, for the estate passed from John
Wyard to his daughter Elizabeth, who married William
de la Lowe. (fn. 76) Richard de la Lowe, her son, (fn. 77) sold to
William Habington in 1417–18 all his lands called
Wyards Woodhall. (fn. 78) This is probably the William
Habington of the pedigree in the Worcester Visitation
of 1569 called 'of Wichenford.' (fn. 79) His descendant
of the same name was in possession of a house lately
belonging to John Wyard at Wichenford in 1519–20, (fn. 80)
and Richard son of William Habington held a house
or mill called Wyards in Wichenford. (fn. 81) The further descent of
this estate is identical with that of
the manor of Woodend (fn. 82) (q.v.)
until 1628. It was then called
the manor of Wyors. (fn. 83)
Dovecote at Wichenford Court
An estate subsequently known
as the manor of WOODEND or
HABINGTONS PLACE in
Wichenford, held of the see of
Worcester, (fn. 84) apparently consisted
of a quarter of a yardland in
Wichenford held by Nicholas Attwood or de Boys in 1299. (fn. 85) There
was a monument without date to
John de Boys, lord of Wichenford,
in the church of Hindlip, (fn. 86) and
John Gannon and Margery his
wife by an undated conveyance
sold certain lands in the manor of
Wichenford, of the fee of Nicholas
de Boys, to William Habington
and Margery his wife. (fn. 87) This
William Habington was of Bedwardine, co. Worcester, and, according to Habington, had obtained
an estate at Wichenford before
1286 by his marriage with Margery
daughter of William Beaufitz of
Eastleach, co. Gloucester, by Margery daughter and co-heir of
Richard Wood of Wichenford. (fn. 88)
William Habington held a yardland at Wichenford in 1299. (fn. 89)
The estate descended in the
Habington family, (fn. 90) of whom a
doubtful pedigree is given in the
Visitation of Worcester of 1569, (fn. 91)
until the death of Richard son
of Richard Habington in 1545. Richard left his
co-heirs three daughters, (fn. 92) Mary wife of Richard
Barneby of Acton in the parish
of Ombersley, co. Worcester,
Jane wife of Edward Stamford
of Rowley, co. Staff., and
Eleanor married first to John
Dancey, secondly to Sir
Thomas Baskerville of Brinsop, co. Hereford, (fn. 93) and thirdly
to John Gage. It appears that
the manor had been settled by
Richard Habington, grandfather of these co-heirs, upon
his son Richard in tail-male
with contingent remainders
to his other sons George,
Edward and John. On the death of Richard Habington the son, John his only surviving brother laid
claim to the manor, but it does not seem that he was
ever able to establish his right, (fn. 94) though he subsequently acquired the third of the manor held by
Edward Stamford in right of his wife Jane in 1565. (fn. 95)
John Habington died in 1581, (fn. 96) and his sons Thomas
and Richard conveyed this portion of the manor in
1596 to John Talbot. (fn. 97) Robert Barneby, son of
Richard Barneby and Mary Habington, (fn. 98) sold his
third of the manor to John Steyner of Worcester, (fn. 99)
and the history of this third has not been further
traced. Eleanor the third daughter of Richard
Habington had issue by Sir Thomas Baskerville, a
daughter Eleanor, who married the above-mentioned
John Talbot, (fn. 100) and in 1599 John and Eleanor
Talbot conveyed two thirds of the manor, one which
John had acquired by purchase from the Habingtons
and the other, of which it would seem they held only
the reversion, to Eleanor Talbot's mother Eleanor,
who was then the widow of John Gage. (fn. 101) These
two thirds of the manor passed from Eleanor to
Edward Gage her son by her third husband. (fn. 102) He
died in 1628 holding two thirds of the manor of
Wyors and two thirds of land in Wichenford, leaving
a son and heir William, (fn. 103) who conveyed a third of
the manor of Wichenford in 1653 to Augustine
Belston and William Nevill. (fn. 104) Nash states that the
Gages long enjoyed this estate and sold some of it to
Mr. Gyles, a clothier in Worcester, whose estate is
called 'the Wooden Farm.' (fn. 105)
Habington of Woodend. Argent a bend gules with three eagles or thereon.
Another estate in Wichenford is mentioned in
1530, when William Mucklowe died, owning the
so-called manor of Wichenford, which he had
previously settled on his wife Margery. (fn. 106) Richard was
his son and heir, and was then aged thirty. (fn. 107) Richard
died in 1556, (fn. 108) and the estate evidently passed to his
son and heir Simon, for a little later Lettice wife of
John Page, daughter of Richard Mucklowe, claimed
against Simon a share of the manor, which, she said,
under the will of her father, ought to have been
divided amongst his seven children. (fn. 109) Habington in
his survey gives the following account of it: 'Leyke's
armory maye showe howe Leyke deryvethe hys tytell
to thease landes which after they inioyed tyll Leyke
sould the same to Mr. Richard Mucklowe, whose
heyre in our age dispersed by sale thease possessyons
amounge others.' (fn. 110) Nash continues the history of
this estate: 'One parcel was purchased by Mr.
Andrews, who sold it to Mr. Nash, whose only
daughter Elizabeth married John Moulding, a very
ingenious antiquary.' (fn. 111)
The Prior and convent of Worcester held certain
lands at Wichenford, probably included at the
Dissolution in the manor of 'St. Jonys cum Wichenford.' (fn. 112) These lands were granted to the Dean and
Chapter of Worcester in 1542. (fn. 113)
In an undated deed, probably of the 13th century,
Walter son of Walter the Miller of la Buriende in
Wichenford is mentioned. (fn. 114) In 1545 a water-mill
belonged to Richard Habington's manor of Wichenford, (fn. 115) and in 1787 two mills were annexed to the
Woodroffes' manor there. (fn. 116) In 1636 it was presented
at the county court that George Sherwood of Wichenford ought to repair part of Blackmore Bridge over
the River 'Lawrne,' lying in Wichenford parish, by
reason of the tenure of his mill there. (fn. 117) The present Woodhall Mill on Laughern Brook, now in the
parish of North Hallow, is probably the successor of
Habington's mill. There are no mills in the parish
of Wichenford at the present day.
CHURCH
The church of ST. LAWRENCE
consists of a chancel measuring internally 27¾ ft. by 16½ ft., a north vestry,
a nave 49 ft. by 21½ ft., a west tower 10 ft. wide and
a south porch.
The nave is the oldest part of the present church
and dates from about 1320. The east part of the
contemporary chancel has been rebuilt in modern
times. The present tower was added at the end of
the 14th century, the original west wall of the nave
being removed. In 1791 the steeple was removed as
being unsafe, and in 1863 the upper part of the tower
was rebuilt and a new spire added. There is some
evidence of the existence of a 12th-century church in
the capitals of that date preserved at the rectory.
The modern east window is of three lights. The
side walls are each pierced by two lancets, all of 13th-century date, except that on the north-east, which is
modern. In the south wall are a 13th-century door
and a piscina. The chancel arch is modern. In
the north wall of the early 14th-century nave are
three modern two-light windows, one replacing the
north door. The tower arch has two massive orders
springing from chamfered abaci. In the north and
south walls of the ground stage are single ogee lights.
The west window is also a single light; the door
beneath it is modern. The south door of the nave
and the porch are modern. To the east of the south
door is a two-light window with a quatrefoil over
of the 14th century. The south-west window of
the nave is a single light of the same date with a
restored head. At the south-east is a contemporary
trefoiled piscina.
The roofs and fittings are modern. In the south-west corner of the nave is a tomb with two recumbent
effigies, to John Washbourne, who died in 1615, and
Alice his wife and their three children. The inscribed slab above has been replaced by a brass plate.
Mounted on a board close to the tower arch are the
old clappers of the bells, which have recently been
fitted with new ones.
On the north side of the chancel is an altar tomb
with two effigies in 17th-century armour, one on the
slab and one beneath it. Behind are two female
figures kneeling in recesses, with a classic cornice and
ornament above crudely coloured and gilt. An inscription records that John Washbourne at the age of
eighty-four built the monument for himself (the
upper figure), his two wives Mary Savage and
Eleanor Lygon, and his father Anthony (the lower
figure).
There are four shields, the centre and highest one
of the Washbourne arms. Below this is a shield
quarterly of Washbourne quartered with Poer and
Dabitot. To the west is a shield of these arms impaling the six lions of Savage. To the east is the
same impaling the two lions passant of Lygon.
On the north side of the chancel is an alabaster
slab used as a credence and fitted to the sill of a
window. It is stated to have been found in the
rectory garden and probably formed the top of an
altar tomb.
There are three bells, (fn. 118) the first and third by
John Martin of Worcester, dated respectively 1673
and 1664, but only the third has his foundry mark.
The second is a mediaeval bell inscribed '+ Sancte
Michael Ora Pro Nobis,' with fleur de lis and head
of Prince Edward (son of Henry VI) as stops; on
the shoulder is an inscription in smaller letters of a
similar character to those at Lindridge, 'Tempore
Dñi Thome Feld,' with similar stops. Thomas Feld
was vicar until 1489, and the bell was cast at
Worcester about 1480.
The plate consists of an early Elizabethan cup with
a leaf band under the rim and a thistle below and a
cover paten with a pricked band ornamentation, both
being without hall marks. There are also a large flat
paten, made in 1747, and presented by Plukenett
Woodroffe in 1748, and a modern plated flagon.
The registers (fn. 119) previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) mixed entries 1690 to 1788, marriages stopping at
1754 (an earlier book beginning 1539 is recorded by
Nash, but is known to have been missing since 1847):
(ii) baptisms and burials 1788 to 1812; (iii) a marriage
book 1754 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
A church or chapel (fn. 120) has existed
at Wichenford from early times. The
chapel of Wichenford, which was
attached to the church of St. Helen, Worcester,
was granted by the monks after the death of Bishop
Wulfstan to Fritheric, the priest of St. Helen's, who
was to make provision for them during his lifetime.
After his death all the possessions which he held in
trust for the monks were to return to the prior and
convent. (fn. 121) In 1234 a division was made of the
chapelries annexed to St. Helen's, between the Bishop
and the Prior and convent of Worcester. Wichenford,
as lying on the west bank of the Severn, fell to the
share of the prior and convent, (fn. 122) who presented to
the vicarage until the dissolution of their house. (fn. 123)
The advowson of Wichenford was evidently granted
to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, though no
record of this grant has been found, (fn. 124) for the presentations from 1573 until the present day have been
made by the dean and chapter. (fn. 125)
The surveys taken at the time of the dissolution of
the chantries in the reign of Edward VI mention a
piece of land in this parish worth 3s. 4d. a year which
had been given to maintain an obit light in the
parish church of Wichenford. (fn. 126) This land was leased
to William Dalby in 1560, (fn. 127) but after that date all
trace of it is lost.
An image of St. Michael the Archangel in the
chancel of Wichenford Church is mentioned in the
will of John Washbourne dated 1532, (fn. 128) and John
Washbourne, by will dated 1517, bequeathed his body
to be buried in the chancel of St. Michael in Wichenford and 40d. to the high altar of St. Michael at
Wichenford. (fn. 129)
CHARITIES
The gifts of William Evett and
other donors, including a legacy of
£20 by will of Mrs. Ann Groves,
proved at Worcester 12 February 1814, amounting
together to £86, as recorded on the church table,
were with other benefactions invested in the purchase
of £178 1s. 10d. consols. The annual dividends,
amounting to £4 9s., are distributed in money
doles.
The Rev. John Pritchett and Mrs. Pritchett, the
relict, by their respective wills (date not stated),
bequeathed legacies of £100 and £100, the interest
to be applied annually in clothing two poor old men
and two poor old women.
The two legacies, less duty, were in 1857 invested
in £196 14s. 5d. consols, producing yearly £4 18s. 4d.,
which is duly applied.