Astley, Worcestershire

Astley

Pool House, Astley, a Grade II listed Gothic Revival country house
Astley
 Astley shown within Worcestershire
Population 888 
OS grid referenceSO786675
   – London  109 miles (175 km) 
Civil parishAstley and Dunley
DistrictMalvern Hills
Shire countyWorcestershire
RegionWest Midlands
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN
Postcode district DY13
Dialling code 01299
Police West Mercia
Fire Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance West Midlands
EU Parliament West Midlands
UK ParliamentWest Worcestershire
List of places
UK
England
Worcestershire

Coordinates: 52°18′21″N 2°18′50″W / 52.305897°N 2.313856°W

Astley is a village, and a civil parish (with Dunley) in Worcestershire, England, about seven miles south-west of Kidderminster.

A range of English white wines including sparkling wines have been produced in Astley since 1983. The wines have won over 100 awards, and are now Quality Wine status, three of which have received International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) awards. [1]

History

There is evidence in the village of Norman heritage. The house Astley Towne has a Norman cellar.

Astley was in the lower division of Doddingtree Hundred. [2]

Following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 Astley Parish ceased to be responsible for maintaining the poor in its parish. This responsibility was transferred to Martley Poor Law Union.[3]

St Peter's church is of possible c12 century origins[4] although its origins may have been based on an existing priory.[5]

There are several memorials within the church to the Winford family.[6]

Education

Astley Primary School is a small, rural CoE Voluntary Aided school with about eighty pupils between 4 and 11 years old. Although the school is isolated, it is popular with children travelling some distance each day. On leaving Astley school the 11 to 16s go on to The Chantry School at Martley.[7]

Facilities

Astley Burf contains an Outdoor Education centre, owned by Dudley Council, and used by Dudley schools during the Spring and Summer

Glasshampton

Glasshampton means the home of clear water.[8]

Glasshampton was a separate manor from Astley, but like Astley, was in the lower division of Doddingtree Hundred. [9]

The manor of Glasshampton and its associated estate was held by the Winford family.

The house was said to contain 365 windows but was burnt down in 1917. The stable block survived and was converted in 1918 to accommodate a monastery for the Anglican Franciscan order.[10]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Astley Vineyards
  2. ↑ Worcestershire Family History Guidebook, Vanessa Morgan, 2011, p20 The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
  3. ↑ Worcestershire Family History Guidebook, Vanessa Morgan, 2011, p68 The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
  4. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolas and Brookes, Alan Worcestershire 2007 Yale University Press p114-115 ISBN 9780300112986
  5. ↑ Bridges, Tim Churches of Worcestershire Logaston Press, Herefordshire 2000 rev ed. 2005 p28 ISBN 1 904396 39 9
  6. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolas and Brookes, Alan Worcestershire 2007 Yale University Press p114-115 ISBN 9780300112986
  7. ↑ The Chantry School Admissions Map Accessed 8 June 2014
  8. ↑ Ray Mace A potted History of Glasshampton Lodge, n.d., manuscript, Shrawley, Worcestershire.
  9. ↑ Worcestershire Family History Guidebook, Vanessa Morgan, 2011, p20 The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
  10. ↑ Ray Mace A potted History of Glasshampton Lodge, n.d., manuscript, Shrawley, Worcestershire.

External links

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