Alvechurch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alvechurch is a large village of Bromsgrove district, in the north-east of the county of Worcestershire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Arrow, the nearest city is Birmingham. At the time of the last UK Census in 2001 the population was 3333.
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[edit] History
Alvechurch means The church of the Lady Aelfgiva, possibly a relative of King Athelstan. King Offa gave the land forming the parish to the local church in the late 8th century. The parish is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the 13th century it had a weekly market and an annual fair. From the 19th century to the mid twentieth century there was a brick factory in the hamlet of Withybed on the edge of the village. Other local industries included nail and needlemaking.
[edit] Architecture
The village has a number of medieval half-timbered buildings, as well as a plethora of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian buildings.
The church of St Laurence dates back to 1239. It is situated on high ground, and was probably the site of an earlier Mercian church, although nothing remains of the earlier wooden building. Much of the church was rebuilt between 1858 and 1861 by William Butterfield. There is a 1,348-pipe organ. The tower has a peal of eight bells, rung regularly by the North Worcestershire Ringing Association. These bells are now (March 2005) in need of repair. The Ark, a £1m extension to the chuch was built in 2005 despite a village referendum in February 2004 voting against the erection of the building.
There is also an attractive arts and crafts style Baptist church in the centre of the village.
The Bishop's Palace was pulled down in the 17th century but a yew tree which formerly stood in the palace grounds remains.
Alvechurch railway station was built in 1859. There are also many newer residential buildings and a primary and secondary school with library.
[edit] Travel and transport
The M42 motorway runs across the north side the village; the nearest junction is north of the village at Hopwood.
Alvechurch station is on the Birmingham Cross-City Line. It serves local trains to Birmingham, Lichfield and Redditch. The station is un-manned.
The village is accessible by narrowboat along a rural canal. Alvechurch Marina is on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal (built 1789) is just across a hedgerow from the station.
The A441 road used to pass through the village, but now a relief road by-passes the village, helping to reduce traffic and pollution. Recently, specific traffic-calming measures have been added to the village's main thoroughfares. These 'pinch-points' reduce the road width to one raised central lane, preventing drivers from speeding and promoting considerate road use.
Alvechurch F.C. play their home games at Lye Meadow on Redditch Road.
[edit] Famous people
Alvechurch was the birthplace of the novelist Fay Weldon.
Mary Stewart, Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch
Alan Smith who scored the winning goal for Arsenal in the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup final played for Alvechurch F.C.
