Sunday, 19 February 2017

This walk is neither too long nor too short

 

From the 18th century grounds surrounding Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property in Worcestershire to Droitwich Spa the beautiful Worcestershire countryside
























 The Droitwich Barge Canal opened in 1771. Built by James Brindley, to serve Droitwich Spa town's salt trade, it linked the centre of Droitwich with the nearby River Severn. In 1854 the Droitwich Junction Canal was constructed to link the town with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Hanbury Wharf. This was amongst the last canals to be built in England. As the salt trade declined, the owners abandoned the canals. The Droitwich Canals Abandonment Act was passed of parliament in 1939 and the canals fell into disuse.





 Droitwich Spa High Street is home to many local shops ranging from fashion retailers to an old fashioned sweet shop.



 On the Corner of St Andrews Street you will see St Andrews Church. The outside looks squat, this is because subsidence made the tower dangerous and it had to be dismantled in 1928. The bells are stored neatly inside the church. The main part of the church dates from 1290 but there are some earlier fragments including the various carvings on the capitals of the arches, which support the tower. The chapel in the north-east corner is dedicated to St Richard and it is thought that pilgrims formerly viewed relics connected with him through a hole in the chapel

St Andrews Church 
in the centre of town originates from 1290 when the original church was destroyed in a great fire which enveloped the whole settlement. The small chapel is dedicated to St Richard de Wyche and the font is from 17th century origin. Subsidence caused the bell tower to be dismantled in 1928 and the bells remain stored inside the church to this day.

 Tower Hill brine well was constructed in the 1890s but does not appear to have been used until 1921. The brine pumping equipment on view is that which was originally installed. By 1970 it was decided to replace the reciprocating pumps and the gas and oil engines with an electric submersible pump. Eventually the early brine pumping equipment was taken out and removed to the High School for public display, where it remained for 16 years until reinstallation at Tower Hill in 2002.
 Priory House, an Elizabethan house with a Queen Anne Chimney which has been beautifully restored. The building is brown and buff rather than black and white; some experts believe that oak timbers are best preserved by natural weathering. Legend has it that Priory House is haunted by a revengeful ghost.


No comments:

Post a Comment