Wichenford

Wichenford is a village and civil parish (with Kenswick) in the Malvern Hills District in the county of Worcestershire, England. It lies 6 miles to the north-west of the city of Worcester.

Wichenford

Wichenford Church
Wichenford
Location within Worcestershire
Population400 
OS grid referenceSO787606
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWORCESTER
Postcode districtWR6
PoliceWest Mercia
FireHereford and Worcester
AmbulanceWest Midlands
UK Parliament
  • West Worcestershire

History
See also: History of Worcestershire

A church or chapel has existed at Wichenford from early times with mention of a chapel which was attached to the church of St. Helen, Worcester around 1234. Parts of the present church of St. Lawrence date from about 1320.[1]

The manor of Wichenford belonged to the Washbourne or Washburn family, and there are two monuments with effigies and family heraldry in the church. It is said that the estate came into the Washbourne family from Margaret le Poher (d. 1454) who stabbed a French prisoner to death in Wichenford Court.[2]

Wichenford Court, a partly moated manor house, has a timber-framed 17th-century dovecote, now in the care of the National Trust.[3] 17th-century panelling from Wichenford Court was removed to decorate Kenswick Manor by the Britten family in 1895.[4]

Following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 Wichenford Parish ceased to be responsible for maintaining the poor in its parish. This responsibility was transferred to Martley Poor Law Union.[5]

No Shops

Until the mid-1990s Wichenford had both a village shop with Post Office and a village bakery, both now closed down. The two shops were situated at opposite sides of the village green, in the centre of the village. Wichenford also has a pub, the Mason's Arms, which is situated on the road to Martley and is not near the village centre.

Open Gardens and Village Fete

Every two years (the "odd" years) a number of the village's gardens are opened by their owners over a weekend in June. The 2017 event made in excess of £10,000. Proceeds go to local charities. In even numbered years, a Fete is held in mid-July at The Memorial Hall. This popular event raises very welcome funds which are distributed to local good causes.[6]

Millennium Green

In the year 2000 the Millennium Green was opened.

Village Hall

Wichenford Memorial Hall [7] stands opposite the church and is used by local societies and for a variety of functions. The hall has modern kitchen facilities and a "committee room" with a bar area.

There is a "War Memorial" plaque to those from the village that have lost their lives while serving their country.

Notable residents

References
  1. A History of the County of Worcester: Vol. 3 (1913) Retrieved 24 May 2009
  2. Edith Ophelia Browne & John Richard Burton, Short Biographies of Worthies of Worcestershire (Worcester, 1916), p. 134.
  3. 'Wichenford Dovecote', National Trust
  4. James Davenport, The Washbourne Family of Little Washbourne and Wichenford in the County of Worcester (London, 1907), p. 193.
  5. Vanessa Morgan, Worcestershire Family History Guidebook (History Press: Stroud, 2011), p. 68.
  6. Open Gardens Retrieved 8 August 2009
  7. Memorial Hall


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