Alvechurch

Alvechurch is a large village of Bromsgrove district, in the northeast of the county of Worcestershire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Arrow, the nearest city is Birmingham, 17 km / 11 miles to the north, with the closest towns being Redditch, 8 km / 5 miles to the south and Bromsgrove, 9.5 km / 6 miles to the west. At the time of the last UK Census in 2001 the population was 3,333.

History

Alvechurch means The church of the Lady Aelfgiva, possibly a relative of King Athelstan. King Offa gave the land forming the parish to the local church in the late 8th century. The parish is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the 13th Century the Bishop of Worcester built a palace in the village, and a weekly market and an annual fair were established.The Bishop's Palace was pulled down in the 17th century, the only remnants being part of the moat and a yew tree which formerly stood in the palace grounds.

From the 19th century to the mid twentieth century there was a brick factory in the hamlet of Withybed on the edge of the village. Other local industries included nail and needlemaking.

Architecture

The village has a number of medieval half-timbered buildings, as well as a plethora of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian buildings.

The church of St Laurence dates back to 1239. It is situated on high ground, and was probably the site of an earlier Mercian church, although nothing remains of the earlier wooden building. Much of the church was rebuilt between 1858 and 1861 by William Butterfield. There is a 1,348-pipe organ. The tower has a peal of eight bells, rung regularly by the North Worcestershire Ringing Association. These bells are now (March 2005) in need of repair. The Ark, a £1m extension to the church was built in 2005 despite a village referendum in February 2004 voting against the erection of the building.

There is also an attractive arts and crafts style Baptist church in the centre of the village.

Alvechurch railway station was built in 1859. There are also many newer residential buildings and a primary and secondary school with library. In 2008 a new primary and secondary school were built north-east of the village, the old school has since been demolished.

Travel and transport

The M42 motorway runs across the north side the village; the nearest junction is north of the village at Hopwood junction 2.

Alvechurch station is on the Cross-City Line. It serves local trains to Birmingham, Lichfield and Redditch. The station is un-manned.

The village is accessible by narrowboat along a rural canal. Alvechurch Marina is on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal (built 1789) is just across a hedgerow from the station.

The A441 road used to pass through the village, but now a relief road by-passes the village, helping to reduce traffic and pollution. Recently, specific traffic-calming measures have been added to the village's main thoroughfares. These 'pinch-points' reduce the road width to one raised central lane, preventing drivers from speeding and promoting considerate road use.

Alvechurch F.C. play their home games at Lye Meadow on Redditch Road.

Famous people

Alvechurch was the birthplace of Fay Weldon the novelist and Godfrey Baseley, creator of "The Archers".

Mary Stewart, Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch

Alan Smith who scored the winning goal for Arsenal in the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup final played for Alvechurch F.C.

External links

* [http://www.weatheroakales.co.uk/ Weatheroak Brewery - Weatheroak Ales]
* [http://www.the-weighbridge.co.uk/ The Weighbridge Public House]
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* [http://www.alvechurchbaptist.org.uk/ Alvechurch Baptist Church]
* [http://www.villageonline.co.uk/ The Village magazine]
* [http://www.alvechurch-stlaurence.org/ St. Laurence Church]
* [http://www.alvechurch.gov.uk Alvechurch Parish Council] .
* [http://www.alvechurch.com/ Alvechurch Boat Centre] .
* [http://www.alvechurchbells.org.uk St. Laurence Bell Fund]
* [http://www.alvechurchdata.co.uk/company/alvechurch.html A description of the village] .
* [http://www.ewgreen.org.uk/ Seven fine pen & ink studies of Alvechurch buildings] .
* [http://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/o/cen2001_settlements.pdf 2001 Census Statistics] .
* [http://www.alvechurchfc.com/ Alvechurch FC] .
* [http://www.alvechurch-village-society.org.uk/ Alvechurch Village Society] .