Shelsley Walsh memories
Here are memories of Shelsley Walsh and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Shelsley Walsh or a Shelsley Walsh photo.
Stanford Court.
When I used to come down to Shelsley I used to stay with my Nan at New Mill Bridge until she sold the shop and moved to Birmingham where she stayed with her eldest daughter May Bennet and her family. Later, she came to stay with my mom and dad, After she left Shelsley I used to cycle down and stay with my cousin Marjorie Anderson [She was Auntie May Bennet's eldest child}. Whilst the City school holidays never matched up with those of the country schools, as the harvest season was more important to the country, they had their school holidays at that time of year. Nevertheless, somehow Des Wall and I always found ourselves together. We would cycle around the valley or throw a line in off the bridge near Nan's old house and try to catch a few fish. For some reason we never did manage to do so. There were a couple of places that were our favourite spots. One was Southstons Rock. There was a... Read more
Nan's Shop at New Mill Bridge.
The shop that was operated by my grandmother at New Mill Bridge was home to me and my family during the Second World War. It was a haven where the madness of the war seemed to be so very remote and in a way, inconsequential, particularly to us children. The warm glow of Birmingham burning could be seen in the night sky from time to time when they were being bombed, but that was 30 miles away and so remote it was almost another country. For us, deep in the country, the war was something happening somewhere else. The only time it intruded upon country life was when we woke up one morning to find the house and a large area around the valley covered with strips of silver paper. We wondered where it all came from as we gleefully wandered around picking up armfuls of it. It was only much later we learned that it was called "Window" and was dropped from aircraft in order to confuse Radar.... Read more
Wm Lionel Moore, The Church House, Shelsley Beauchamp
My father worked at this farm 1940 -1941. I have found a letter of reference written and signed by a Wm Lionel Moore, The Church House, Shelsley Beauchamp which was given to him when he left. My father spoke fondly of his time there - it was one of his first jobs after arriving as a migrant in England, prior to his joining the forces.
The War Years And A Life of Bliss.
During the Second World War my parents, my sister and I moved from Birmingham to stay with my paternal grandparents at New Mill Bridge wher my grandmother Harriet Cook owned and ran the local store "Cooks Stores". This was written on the end wall of the house facing the road. The "T" junction there was also a "Midland Red" bus stop for the twice a day buses to Worcester. Just after war broke out the service was stopped and we had to walk a mile to Homme Bridge to catch the bus from Clifton on Teme to Worcester. To me, a young lad of 6 or so, Shelsley was, and still is, my idea of heaven. We were far away from the bombing in Birmingham and living in paradise. The woods behind the house were a playground for my sister and I. the stream that ran from the "Witchery Hole" into the river Teme figured often in our play. Dams across the stream made a reservoir where I could sail... Read more
Shelsley Beauchamp School 1942-1945
When my parents, my sister Maureen and I moved from Edgbaston, Birmingham to live with my paternal grandparents Harriet and Samual Cook at the General Store, New Mill Bridge, I had to attend school. My sister was not old enough to start school at the time but did so later. The nearest school was the one at Shelsley Beauchamp some 3/4 of a mile from the house we were living in. It was a decent walk each day and because most students lived as far away from the school as I did, too far to walk home and back again in the short lunch break allowed, we were obliged to have "School Dinners" at the cost of about 1 shilling per week. It may have been a little more than this but if so I cannot remember the amount. It was as the result of one of these dinners making me feel ill [the meat was off] that I became a vegetarian and have remained so for the... Read more
Church House Farm
Church House Farm was a large white building nestled neath the shadows of the great Yew trees that bordered the graveyard of All Saints Church, Shelsley Beauchamp, the other side of the River Teme from Shelsley Walsh. The gates to the farm opened onto the unofficially titled 'Bridge Road' that led from 'Church Corner' to the New Mill Bridge and the 400 year old building that was in my day known as "Cooks Store". My grandparents were Samual and Harriet Cook and it was my grandmother who ran the shop. The Moore family were the owners of Church House farm and the oldest Moore in my day was Lionel. A man who had bushy white hair and whiskers growing from his ears and nostrils. I was scared to death of him, but then I was only 6 at the time. His son John took over the farm and a very successful farm it was too. Every year the Reverend Chamberlain would bring a group of boys from his parish... Read more
Church House Farm
Has anyone any memory of this place? I would like to know where it was in Shelsey Walsh. Any info would be gratefully appreciated.
Memories of Worcestershire
All Saits Church. Shelsley Beauchamp.
At one time I was a choir boy at All Saints Church. I cannot remember who was in the choir with me at the time but I do remember the vicar was the Reverend Bache. When I visited the church in 1997 while on holiday in Britain I found that there was a book in which all the past ministers at the church were listed. To my surprise, the Rev Bache was not among them. I think that the matter should be investigated and the list corrected. I know that I have the name right as I had a book of common prayer given to me by the said reverend in which he had signed his name. During the time Rev Bache was minister I had a great interest in Theology, an interest encouraged by the reverend to such an extent he suggested to my parents that I be allowed to attend a recognised Church School where I could peruse Theology in more depth with a view to taking up... Read more
Wonderful Days
I moved to a small new house in Saxon Close in Clifton in 1962 - and have regretted moving away (for work) in 1974 ever since! To me, with Clifton set in the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain, it then, and for that matter still, epitomises all that is truly English that seems to be long gone elsewhere. With a population of 364 back then, village life revolved mainly around the church and the Red Lion pub (wonderful nights, where the village policeman would tell the clientel which way to drive home when the pub closed), and on a lot of occasions such as weddings, both would work together. It was far enough away from Worcester to still be very much a self-help and neighbourly community, and as such had an incredible and remarkably active and enjoyable social life. Of course, everyone knew everyone else, and their business, with some residents' families having lived there for centuries being more "local" than others!
I returned... Read more
Tedney Bank
My Great Great Grandfather was James Bradley of Clifton-on-Teme (1853-1931). He died rather dramatically at Tedney Bank in 1931, following the Clifton-on-Teme Hunt. According to family lore, he saw the fox, cried out "There's the fox!" then dropped dead! He had to be carried back to Clifton on a door which needed to be dismantled for the 'occasion'. His grave in Clifton Churchyard records that he "died in the hunting field". Not a bad way to go, I suppose!
Winter of 1963
I moved to Great Witley in 1954 with my family,we lived at the Engine House,which used to pump the water for Witley Court. I attended Witley school from 1954 to 1960, the headmaster was Mr Wyton,a memorable time for me, living on the farm enjoying the freedom that modern society cannot provide.
The winter of 1963 was a long one,and now at the age of 14 I enjoyed sledging and snowball fights with my two brothers Philip and Michael.
One of the greatest memories of that winter was the frozen pool above Witley Court,called the Washing Pool,a popular fishing haunt for midlanders. My father owned an ex army Willy's Jeep and decided that the ice on the pool would support its weight easily,which it did,and almost on a daily basis we all drove the jeep on the pool spinning and sliding around,Philip and I also took our old motorcycles on the ice, spending more time off the bike than on,but fantastic fun,looking back I realise how dangerous it was,but we... Read more
My School Days Begin
Great Witley school is where it all began,we lived at Ockeridge some 5 miles from Great Witley,but soon after my parents moved to the Engine House,situated down witley court drive, and opposite the Hundred pool.
So i left for school that day from Ockeridge and walked to my new home after school,it was a lovely summers day and i was filled with excitement at the new and adventurous time ahead.
I was not disappointed, what a great place to grow up in,a super school,and a whole 360 acres of playground when i got home each day.
It was part of the witley court estate,and it was covered in huge tree's,oaks,beech,horse chestnut,and sweet chestnut, most of these would have to be felled to make way for the farm land to be cropped.
We had sheep,pigs and cows,chickens,turkeys,not to mention the pet cats and scottie dog, father had a working sheepdog, life did not get much better than this.
I left the school at the age of 11,to attend Stourport high school,but... Read more
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