20/07/26 - Wychbury Hill

Temples and Yew Trees

There was simply too much inspiration in section 2 of Jonathan Meades Travels with Pevsner. The main topic was Georgian Pershore but how could I ignore "the most momentous building in Worcestershire".

This is the Temple of Theseus. Built in 1758 by Lord Lyttleton, so he could look out over the Malvern Hills. It is the first example of neo-classical architecture in Europe.

There's a lot going on at Wychbury Hill. I have already told the tale of "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?". No need to repeat it here, but of course, there will be a photo of the obelisk. I also remembered that the Mysteries of Mercia Facebook page had discussed the yew trees at the iron-age hillfort. These were to be investigated. 

A walk was easily fashioned, a variation of the "Rail Trail" between Hagley and Stourbridge.

The temple is not strictly on a footpath, but on the ground, there is a well trodden path - either caused by graffiti artists, drinkers who like a view or possibly even the new inhabitants, usurping Lord Lyttelton but getting the same views. 

How we look after the county's most important architecture 

Perfectly Proportioned by James Stuart - following a pilgrimage to measure the original

Cows had already trampled the fencing

Folly Views

Back to the proper footpaths, via the obelisk.

Obelisk

Bella - an unsolved 1940s murder victim

Next stop, the yew trees of Wychbury Hillfort and have spawned a number of legends. Was it the site of an ancient battle between the Romans and the natives? Is Wychbury Hill the final resting place of King Arthur? Are the yew trees a manifestation of fallen warriors? Probably not. Is the site use by local pagans during key calendar events? Yes. But why?

In pre-Christian pagan traditions across Britain and north-west Europe, the yew tree was revered as a symbol of death, rebirth and eternal life. Remarkably long-lived and capable of regenerating from ancient wood, it seemed to embody the endless cycle of nature, making it a powerful emblem of immortality and the passage between this world and the Otherworld. Yews were often associated with sacred sites, burial places and places of ritual, where they represented wisdom, protection and ancestral memory.

My favourite on-line resource is from the Ancient Yew Tree  website. Someone went to the trouble of mapping the 23 trees, providing a summary and a description of each individual tree. You've got to love the Internet. Next, middle aged men will be writing about their walks and pints and hoping someone out there finds it of interest.

x marks SO9205581800 - a perfect place for lunch. 

It's incredibly accurate and easy to follow. A circuit of the hillfort and most of the trees were identified.

One of the 23.  We'll leave it there. No need for the other 22

30 minutes spent lunching in a Pagan worship spot, the GPS left on, explaining the random mess on the track recording.

Finally, a drop down to Stourbridge for one of the CAMRA's Heritage pubs. The Seven Stars.

Handy for the Station

Built for Mitchells & Butlers Brewery and opened in January 1905, the Seven Stars has an outstanding collection of M&B etched and painted windows plus much Maw & Co wall tiling.

The entrance hall has lots of light blue and cream dado tiling, which extends up the stairs and into the public bar. That room has its original counter and a superb four-bay, mirrored bar-back with a clock-adorned pediment. Below the pediment is a recently-reopened hatch to the smoke room behind. This is modernised but bell pushes remain above the benches, as do fine etched windows. The restaurant left of the hallway has nothing of historic interest bar a couple of windows.

Recently, it was closed down for a number of years, until resurrected by the Black Country Ales chain. Incredible really, they have changed nothing (apart from the drinks available) and it has gone from an unviable business to one that you are lucky to get a seat. As with all BCA Pubs, the drinks available are many, usually unheard of, a dedication to real cider and always well kept.

Interior Intact - Hobson's Town Crier chosen

Walk Details

Distance - 4 miles

Geocaches - 2

Future Inspiration

Ancient Yew Group

White Dragon

Tales from the Halfshire Hundred

30/05/26 - The Oddingley Murders Walk

Murderer, Murdered

Today's walk - courtesy of the Ramblers - is a themed walk to find the locations of an 1806 double murder. Here is the story - and the characters involved.

The Oddingley Murders were a notorious Worcestershire crime that began in 1806 when Rev. George Parker, the unpopular rector of Oddingley, was shot and beaten to death while crossing a field near the village. Parker had become deeply unpopular with local farmers because of disputes over church tithes.

Suspicion quickly fell on Richard Heming, a local labourer and wheelwright, who disappeared immediately after the murder. For 24 years it was assumed he had escaped justice.

In 1830, workmen discovered Heming's skeleton buried beside a barn wall at Netherwood Farm. The discovery revealed that the suspected murderer had himself been murdered shortly after killing Parker. Evidence suggested that a group of local farmers had hired Heming to kill Parker and then silenced him to prevent him revealing the conspiracy. Several men were tried, but all were acquitted, leaving the case officially unsolved.

Key People

Rev. George Parker – Rector of Oddingley and victim of the first murder.

Richard Heming – Labourer and wheelwright; believed to have murdered Parker before becoming the second victim.

Thomas Clewes – Farmer of Netherwood Farm, where Heming's remains were discovered.

Captain Samuel Evans – Retired army officer, magistrate and owner of Church Farm; alleged mastermind of the conspiracy.

A fine walk in the Worcestershire Countryside - maybe a touch too long on a busy golf course. Of course, a pub would have improved things. The nearest pub, Speed The Plough,  is just out of reach of the walk. A shame, as the pub has a part to play in the story.

After the 1830 trial for the Oddingley Murders ended with all defendants acquitted, the village of Oddingley erupted in boisterous celebrations. What should have been a moment of legal closure instead became a night of disorder and excess.

A large crowd gathered in the village and the festivities quickly got out of hand. Revellers forced their way into the church, where they rang the church bells in celebration, much to the outrage of the new parish priest. The behaviour escalated further, including drunken antics in the churchyard and even a man urinating on Rev. George Parker’s grave, which deeply scandalised onlookers.

The celebrations eventually spilled into violence, ending in a drunken brawl at the church gates.

The new rector, horrified by what he saw as sacrilegious behaviour linked to a place tainted by murder and moral disorder, insisted that the nearby pub—then called “The God Speed the Plough”—remove the word “God” from its name. It has remained simply “Speed the Plough” ever since.

Water Tower near Droitwich

Agricultural fields

Church Farm - home of Captain Evans - The Mastermind behind the first murder

Oddingley Church

Weathered Gravestone believed to be Rev Parker - piddled on during acquittal celebrations

Netherwood Farm - where Hemmings body was discovered 24 years after the first murder

The finest walking along the edge of Trench Woods - Views to Malvern

Home along the Birmingham to Worcester Canal

Walk Details

Distance - 8.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration

05/04/26 - The Tipsey Toad, Bromyard

Avenbury Hauntings

The approach into Bromyard brings on PTSD. Over five years since my last visit. You can guess what was going on then. Lockdown #3. I got to look at the handsome black and white timbered pubs but none were open to investigate. 

Nice to look back at the blog. I made do with a delicatessen ram raid and a Baggies victory at the Molineux. Maybe lockdowns weren't so bad. Trump probably ensuring they are coming back in one form or another.

Today's visit was inspired by the Mysteries of Mercia. A book that I need to order at some point, but Hugh, the author, teases with frequent FaceBook posts. Last week, he discussed the ruined church at the abandoned village of Avenbury.

A mooch around the town centre, solving Adventure Lab Caches and looking for post-walk refreshment options and then we are out into the Herefordshire Countryside.

I took an identical picture 5 years ago

There's a couple of walkers ahead of us. When they stop for coffee we learn that they are working the Herefordshire Trail as a series of day walks. Their wives helping with the logistics by dropping them off/picking them up as required. Mrs M gives me the look to say "don't get any ideas". 

When I get a spare five minutes, I will look into public transport availability.

I demand more of the Herefordshire Trail

Through agricultural land, including hop growing trellises before we find the River Frome. Following the banks until we reach Avenbury and its sinister ruins.

Ruins

It's not the ghosts that you need to worry about. The comments on the FaceBook post talked of people living in the churchyard in a makeshift camp. Battling my way through the undergrowth, I found evidence of the camp - loads of rubbish, tarpaulin and a huge water tank. A darting squirrel is the only sign of life, but enough to get the heartbeat raised.

Onwards to Bromyard Downs - always a fine place to walk - before the land attached to Buckenhill Manor.

Views from the Bromyard Downs

Perfect paths through Buckenhill Manor

Lockdown had me jealous for the pubs I could have visited last time. But how many of them remain actually open? A terraced boozer called the Railway (tied house to Johnson's?) looks in perfect condition, but is doors firmly shut. Bizarrely, it closed in the 1970s but has been perfectly preserved.

Residential Use now - wonder how many thirsty people look through the windows.

Other disasters? The Hop Pole looks in danger or matched the Avenbury Church in the ruins stakes. The King's Arms in the high street crying out to be rescued. I'll stop there before I get too maudlin.

The Falcon was a strong contender for the Mappiman dollar but in the end, we chose the newest of micros - the Tipsey Toad. A shop conversion next-door to the dead King's Arms - an actual pub. Maybe it costs less to heat.

A fine example of the micropub blueprint, with friendly locals/staff and a comfortably snug experience split over two floors. The slightly underwhelming and obvious choice of HPA or Butty forgiven, as they shared out the mini Easter eggs.

Mrs M already celebrating the "Bischoff with Coffee" win

Walk Details

Distance - 8.75 Miles 

Geocaches - 13

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, April 2016, Walk 8

12/08/25 - Clutters Cave, Malvern

Toilet Cave in Broken Britain

The Southern, Herefordshire side of the Malvern Hill. If you want to visit soon, you've got to be quick. It looks like the A449 to the British Camp car park will be closing for 4 months. Of course, the ice cream kiosk have got a petition to stop the closure. How else will they sell two ice-creams for £10 to exhausted ramblers? A man on minimum wage has to work for two hours to provide a family of four with a 5 minute treat. 

This country is broken.

Malvern has myriad paths, so the dodgy hand-drawn map in the Saturday Times was never going to be that useful. Christopher Sommerville wants you to go south on the Three Choirs Way (must be walked!) over Hangman's, Swineyard and Midsummer Hills. Then have a look at the Eastnor Obelisk before coming back on the Worcestershire Way to clamber over the top of British Camp. 

Looking down over British Camp Reservoir

Striding out on Hangman's

Meeting the Gulley Quarry

Up close at the Eastnor Obelisk

Always trying to combine adventures - some things worked out, others didn't.

Facebook's Mysteries of Mercia wanted me to check out Clutters Cave.

Facebook Recommendation

Looking In

Looking Out

I should have checked the Facebook post's comments. Now frequently used as a Rambler's Toilet.

There's a Trigpoint to bag on Midsummer's hill, which oddly isn't marked on the OS Map.  A bit of pre-walking research would have helped.

As it would with the OS Marked Walm's Well, the oldest well on the Malverns. I was so close, yet distracted by the much more modern covered reservoir. The well is directly opposite, should I find myself in this part of the world again.

After the roadworks have cleared up.

And I have saved for ice-cream.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Inspiration - The Times Saturday Walk, July 2025

Geocaches - 0 

28/07/25 - Geocaching, Ghosts and Timothy Taylor Landlord

Mysteries of Mercia Folklore

Back into the Wyre Forest, where the Forestry Commission have been laying more ammunition can geocaches. Familiar paths, from the Visitor Centre, down to Dowles Brook and back for the bus in Bewdley Town.

A Forest

Dowles Brook

My next guidebook for walking inspiration is going to be from Hugh Williams. He has two Mysteries of Mercia books and one Magic of Mercia. They are not walking books but detail the locations in the Midlands that are shrouded in folklore. Exactly the sort of thing to tide me over until the Worcestershire Section of the Good Beer Guide gets its annual September update.

Two reasons have stopped a purchase. A) I am still working through several guidebooks and the shelves are rather groaning. B) Hugh posts some detail on the locations on Facebook, telling all you need to know.

This week's post was about St Andrew's Church, located where Dowles Brook meets the Severn and on the route home today.

Date unknown - before demolition in 1956

There is no sign of the Church today, but the gravestones remain in an overgrown wood. This is a truncated version of the text from Hugh, detailing a ghostly vicar and a horned lady.

A lost graveyard and ruined chapel, hidden deep in the Wyre Forest near Bewdley—peaceful or spooky? I stumbled upon this overgrown site on a long walk. Gravestones barely rose above the undergrowth, leaning as if in surrender to nature. Only an arch and fragments of wall remain of St Andrew’s, or Dowles Church.

I’ve seen a few abandoned churches, but this one felt different—maybe it was the wild garlic scent or the green cast over everything. Beneath a great yew lay something chilling: what appeared to be a mortsafe, a metal cage once used to stop grave robbers. This one was only a metre long—possibly for a child.
Local folklore adds to the eeriness. A ghostly vicar is said to pace the path by the ruins, vanishing at the gate. Brave campers have reported flying bricks, groans and ghostly shouts. One grave, belonging to Susan Wowens—rumoured to be a witch—was said to grow horns she removed each year. A local supposedly mounted one pair in silver and sent them to the Ashmolean Museum—who deny any record. More likely, she suffered a fungal condition, later mythologised.

Very Michael Jackson Thriller

The Mortsafe - a foil for grave robbers?

Some find the place spooky, and although I am unsure whether I would spend the night there, it does make a quiet spot for a sandwich break. Just ask the Ramblers - they took me there a few months ago.

Folklore itch scratched, it's time to engage in my usual hobby. It's a toss-up between the mug house for TT Landlord or the Horn and Trumpet for Bathams. Choice decided by the place that is open on a Monday lunchtime.

The riverside Mughouse

For first-class Timothy Taylor

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 3

Walk Inspiration - Hugh Williams Mysteries of Mercia Facebook Post