A GROUP of 26 from Pershore Heritage and History Society enjoyed a conducted heritage tour of Bishampton on Thursday, August 7, taking in the history of the village with its 17th century cottages, grander houses, farms and features.
Starting off at 12th century Grade II* listed St. James Church, Carol Wood, whose family have lived in the village for six generations, gave a fascinating account of life in bygone days and the changes which she had seen take place during her own lifetime.
The visitors learned about the village’s farming traditions and its original three pubs, The Greyhound, The Beehive, and the only one surviving, the Dolphin, as well as its connections with the locally famous Ganderton family, and the Duc d’Orleans who owned Wood Norton Hall.
As well as a number of quaint black and white cottages, the tour took in the impressive Manor House built in 1629, Court Farm, the School House and the Baptist Chapel as well as the newly restored war memorial which has given rise to a World War 1 project undertaken by the Society which has successfully been the subject of a Heritage Lottery Funding award.
Carol’s own grandmother, Nurse Edith Cox who was born in 1905, was one of the many characters to feature in a book (Bishampton Remembered produced by the Society, the sales of which created the funding necessary to go towards refurbishing the memorial.
The History Society will be taking part in this year’s national Heritage Open Days (www.heritageopendays.org.uk) on Saturday, September 12 from 10am-4pm, when there will be heritage tours of the village featuring reference to the homes where World War 1 soldiers lived; displays about the Great War and its impact on village life; the launch of a new book titled ‘Those that Served’ in the First World War; as well as trips up the bell tower by Friends of St James, to see the six bells cast in the 17th century which celebrated the 145th anniversary of their consecration in June this year.
For more information about Bishampton History Society see www.bishampton.org.uk
LESLEY MILLER
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