On Bredon Hill

By Worcestershire Life on August 10th 2011

Bredon Hill straddles nine parishes whose villages circle its base. Rachel Crow set out to discover what lies in the shadow of the hill...

Nature and nurture
Sitting in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the south-west of the Vale of Evesham, Bredon Hill is an important wildlife site, part of which has been designated a Special Area of Conservation and a National Nature Reserve. The Kemerton Conservation Trust is among the organisations which, through monitoring and analysis, helps to manage wildlife and develop conservation practices on the hill, which contains a range of habitats including limestone grassland, scrub and ancient woodland.

There are also signs of humans having made the hill their habitat. The remains of earthworks from an Iron Age hill fort, known as Kemerton Camp, can be seen as well as Roman earthworks and a number of ancient standing stones, the Bambury (or Banbury) and the Queen and King. Local legend tells that those passing between the King and Queen stones will be cured of illness.

All is folly
At the summit of Bredon Hill stands a small stone tower known as Parsons Folly, or Kemerton Tower. Built in the mid-18th century for MP John Parsons (1732-1805), who was the squire of Kemerton Court, the folly was intended as a summer house. From its lofty vantage point, it would afforded extensive views and became a county landmark, believed to have inspired the building of Broadway Tower.

Medieval memories
At Elmley Castle, the remains of the considerable medieval castle from which the village derives its name, can be found. Once the chief stronghold of the powerful Beauchamp family, who became Earls of Warwick, the castle fell into disrepair during the 16th century and stone from it was used in the construction of the bridge at Pershore. Today, all that remains of this ancient castle is a section of the keep, and the outer and inner ditch and the site of the barbican can be traced.

Artistic licence
Bredon Hill features in the works of a multitude of composers, poets, writers and artists, including the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and poet A. E. Housman. The hill is immortalised in poem 21 of Housman’s A Shropshire Lad, which starts with the lines:

Arts and crafts
The area is an inspiration for artists and craftspeople. The beautiful views feature in the work of artist Samantha Dadd (01386 725679; www.Samantha Dadd.com) who works from her home studio in Conderton, at the foot of Bredon Hill. Samantha’s studio is open to viewing by appointment and she also holds regular exhibitions and open weekends, with details on the website.

Potter Toff Milway creates dishes, pots, bowls and other items using a distinctive salt glaze process, at his Conderton Pottery set in an old forge amidst an ancient orchard (01386 725387; www.toffmilway.co.uk).

Beckford Silk workshop is another jewel in the area’s creative crown. From the premises on the edge of the village, a small team at this family-run business continues to hand-print and dye silk and other fine textiles using traditional methods. Visitors can wander at leisure through the print shop and dye room and past the sewing area, with information boards explaining each process. (01386 881507; www.beckfordsilk.co.uk)

Food for thought
Aspiring cooks or those who are looking to fine-tune their culinary skills can picks up tips at Eckington Manor Cookery School. Forming part of a working farm, the school was established in 2004 by Judy Gardner, who spent many years working in the food industry. Often using ingredients sourced direct from the farm, including award-winning Aberdeen Angus beef and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, courses include bread making and restaurant-style dishes, to knife skills. (0800 680 097; www.eckingtonmanorcookeryschool.co.uk)

Points of interest
There are a number of interesting churches dotted about the villages surrounding Bredon Hill. The church of St Mary in Elmley Castle dates from the end of the 11th century and contains grand monuments to Thomas, 1st Earl of Coventry and 17th century effigies of members of the Savage family. While at Little Comberton, on the northern side of Bredon Hill, Roman coins and artefacts have been found and the 12th century church is thought to stand on the site of a Roman temple.

From Bredon Hill by Steve Glason

Across the Vale of Evesham – there stands fair Bredon Hill,
Immortalised by Housman – delighting people still
Her winding lanes as narrow to Parson’s Folly top
Here visitors can pause awhile at their picnic stop.
What view to misty Malverns – looming steeply now
British Camp and Beacons – mini mountain brow
Dreaming of Gerontius and Elgar’s stirring sounds Echoing and echoing over rising grounds.
Tewkesbury – a distant glimpse – its Abbey Church divine
Used to pass through Ripple – on the railway line
Cotswolds – brooding background – with such lovely names
No longer local stations –like Cheltenham St James.
Back to busy London – make an early start
Bredon Hill – dramatic – time alas to part
Remembering those rambles – on gently strolling feet
By the Severn meadows – where Choral Counties meet.

On Bredon Hill

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