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In AD 775 the ancient Manor of
Clopton, comprising a large tract of land including the present Parish
of Rushwick, was granted by King Offa of Mercia to Bishop Mildred. By
the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, it was a "flourishing
community". In fact, because of the fertile land, and the proximity of
the river, it is likely to have been inhabited for many thousands of
years previously.
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In recent centuries, the land has
been characterised by hopfields, orchards and smallholdings. Apple, pear
and plum orchards use to cover much of the local farmland. There were
several cider mills in the area, and one still exists in working order
at Broadmore Green.
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The name Rushwick is said to come
from the Danish "Ryse Wic" meaning "the dairy farm in the rushes." The
flood-meadows beside the Teme were formerly marshlands. In Upper Wick,
Wick Episcopi was the Bishop of Worcester's country house, mentioned in
Domesday as being linked with Lower Wick. It is now a private house.
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Broadmore Green is an attractive
hamlet containing black-and-white timber-framed cottages. The layout of
the hamlet is virtually as it was centuries ago. Significant action in
the Battle of Worcester in 1651 took place in this vicinity. The
Royalists were billeted for several days in the houses and
small-holdings along the Hereford road while they awaited the arrival of
the Parliamentarians. The Parliamentarians' battle strategy depended
upon crossing the Teme and taking the Hereford road and Bransford
Bridge, thereby cutting off the Royalists' escape to the West and
allowing them to force the Royalists back along the Hereford road
through St John's and into Worcester City, where they would be
surrounded.
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After a considerable struggle the
Parliamentarians managed to cross the Teme, probably at the big loop in
the river close to the present Bransford Court, where there appears to
have been a ford. From there they made their way to the road, and took
Bransford Bridge, which allowed a large force of Parliamentarians to
cross the Teme. Following this, the Royalists were forced back along the
road into St John's, through the present Rushwick village. They were
also forced back across the fields and hams, including the Upper Wick
area, between the road and the river. The crossing of the Teme near
Broadmore Green, and the taking of the Hereford road, was crucial to the
outcome of the battle, and thereby to the history of the British
Monarchy.
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Crown East was formerly called Crow
Nest, and is the highest part of the parish. There was a chantry there
in 1256 but it became disused. The present church of St Thomas was
originally built as a private chapel by the Bramwell family beside Crown
East Court but it was moved and rebuilt on the main road to Bromyard. It
was licensed for public worship on 26th October 1876 by the Bishop of
Worcester |
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