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| The Fox Inn at Chaddesley Corbett |
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Why not combine a wander around our village with a enjoyable lunch here at the Fox Inn. The village is full of charm and beauty with plenty to see so we recommend you visit for at least an hour before settling down for a meal with us. You can print off this page as a guide, park behind our pub and let us know what time you'll be back and we can reserve a table for you.
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In
recent years, a flint tool once used to cut and shape arrows was found
near the village of Chaddesley Corbett. Archaeologists have dated this
tool and it is thought to originate from between 2000 to 5000BC. Further
proof of early settlement can be found at a prehistoric burial mound at
nearby Barrow Hill. There was certainly some form of Roman settlement
here as pottery and coins have been found over the years. The course of
a Roman road connecting Droitwich and Shrewsbury passed between Chaddesley Corbett and Tanwood. The
earliest documentary evidence of today's village is in a Saxon charter dated 816AD in
which King Coenwulf of Mercia granted land and privileges to Bishop Denibert of the Priory
of Worcester. The name of the village in this document is Ceadesleaghe and, again, is of
Saxon origin and means 'The clearance belonging to Ceadda.' This latter word is thought to
be a corruption of the Celtic word 'cader' or hill-fort. Chaddesley had become quite an
important settlement by the time of Domesday and the population numbered 300-400.
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, the manor of Chaddesley was held
by a Saxon lady called Eddeve. This was unusual for, under William the Conqueror, she was
allowed to retain the land. However, after her death the manor passed to the Crown and
later, as a result of a marriage, was gifted to the Corbett family in the 12th century.
The family's name was added to the settlement's title during the 200-year period in which
they resided here. It is unclear to what extent the Corbett's were responsible for the
rebuilding of the church during the 12th century but they were certainly responsible for
the highly-praised 14th century chancel. Chaddesley passed into the estate of the
Beauchamp family of Warwick in the mid-14th century and there is some evidence to suggest
they attempted to elevate the village into a market town. Ownership of Chaddesley changed again in the early 15th century when the Earl
of Warwick gave the village and part of the manor to St.Mary's Collegiate Church. A map
from their stewardship was produced by James Fish in 1697 and many of the house's
boundaries remain the same today which demonstrates great continuity. In fact, Warwick's
St.Mary's Church still owns some houses in Chaddesley Corbett.
The Pakington family bought the estate of Chaddesley in 1529 and they later
moved into the moated manor house of Harvington Hall, Agriculture formed the basis of Chaddesley's economy and the farmers here were
quite innovative. Part of an early irrigation scheme can still be found nearby. The
expertise was collected by Chaddesley-born, John Broad, who published 'The Worcestershire
Farmer or Young Farmers Guide' in 1778. The industrial revolution offered more diverse employment opportunities - the
saw mills at nearby Cakebole are thought to be the first steam-powered mills in the county
and a carpet factory emerged at Hill Pool which was also in the parish. An excellent
booklet detailing the village's history and buildings has been published by the local
history society. You can buy this and a corresponding book on St.Cassian's inside the
church. The booklet provides information on most of the buildings in the main street a few
of which we will highlight here. The main street is a treasure of old
buildings the oldest of which date from the 15th century. Here you will
find a diverse collection of architectural styles in a street Nikolaus Pevsner once called 'one of the most attractive in the county.' The name
of Tudor House (pictured above) may be slightly amiss but was once a substantial timber
house. The rear of the building is much older than the frontage which dates from the
mid-18th century. The building, with ogee headings on the gables and Venetian Gothic
windows, was probably red brick at some time but stucco has been added since. The Golden
Lion at Bromsgrove was of a very similar design. The house was once owned by James Rose
who was the architect of the tower and spire of St.Cassian's. However, the house has
traditionally been the home of the village doctors. It is not clear whether Dr.Thomas
Attwood lived here but he certainly once practised in the village. He achieved some
notoriety as an occultist and is believed to have treated Dr.Samuel Johnson as a child.
On the corner of Fisher's Lane is the old Malt House. Records of this
timber-framed building can be traced back to the 16th century. However, it was burned down
in the 18th century and had to be rebuilt by Sir Robert Throckmorton. The present shop
window dates from around the 1960's but the building has seen many uses over the
centuries. For many years it was a malthouse but some of the older villagers have fond
memories of it being a cycle shop up until the Second World War. The Old Malthouse has
even been used as a youth hostel. The adjacent Georgian house next door was probably built
as a result of the fire here but it marked the introduction of classical architecture to
this part of the village. You'll notice that the end walls project above the roof line
which was a fashion attributed to London building regulations of that period. A little further along the road are Batch Cottages. Nikolaus Pevsner
described these as 'the best timber-framed cottages in the street.' The name Batch relates
to a stream or valley. It is thought that part of the cottages date from the 16th century.
In the early years of the twentieth century they formed seven individual cottages but,
although the frontages remain the same, they have now been converted into four houses.
Just down the road is the old workhouse of the village. Harkaway House dates from 1795 but
was largely rebuilt in the 1960's. It was used as a workhouse until 1838 when it's role
was taken by the Union workhouse in Blakebrook, Kidderminster.
There is much of interest down by the church. On the opposite side of the
road is the old vicarage of Hunter's Ride, the Victorian Police Station, and the Charity
Houses built in 1812. Pictured here is Lychgate House, a superb but curious example of
Georgian architecture. Part of the structure is a remnant of an older building which at
one time was a pub called The Bell. Recent excavations have unearthed the foundations of
an old skittle alley. Close to the rear of Lychgate House and standing in the churchyard of
St.Cassian's is the old schoolhouse. This charming red brick structure was built in 1894
with what would have been retro windows at the time. A map dated 1745 indicates that there
was an older school on this site. The churchyard itself lends to a pleasant perambulation
around the church and offers views of Lodge Farm behind. Pictured at the top of the page,
this timber framed building received a facelift in the Georgian period. The oldest part of St.Cassian's Church dates from the 12th century though
much of what you see from outside dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. The tower and
recessed spire was rebuilt in 1778 by James Rose. The church was restored in the 1860's
during which the interior was greatly altered. The church is something of a rarity because
it is open most of the time which allows visitors to Chaddesley Corbett to see its
collection of monuments.
The cross-legged knight in the south aisle of the nave is thought to be of
Roger Corbett II, Lord of the Manor, who died in 1290. The other effigy is of a priest and
dates from approximately the same period. It is thought that this is of another Roger
Corbett, rector of Chaddesley in 1306. The church font is notable in that it is the work
of the Hereford School of Norman Carvers and dates from around 1160. Highly decorated, it
has much intricate stonework. In the chancel there is the Forest Brass. It
is of Thomas and Margaret Forest who expressed a wish to be buried
"afore the hye Rode (rood)." He died in 1511
and the brass, although having suffered some damage over the years, survives reasonably
intact. However, part of the original inscription has been lost. St.Cassian's is certainly
one of the most interesting churches in this part of the county. In the
field opposite the church and across the main road it is possible to see
the earthworks of the fishponds of the old Manor House. Further up the
road towards Redcross is the entrance to Brockencote Hall. It is now used as a hotel so you can wander
up the drive to look at the house. It looks much older than it actually is though the
doorcase has been recycled from an earlier structure. There is a restored dovecote in the
grounds next to the large pond.