Area 3.07 sq mi (8.0 km) OS grid reference SO903393 Dialling code 01684 | Population 314 (2001) Sovereign state United Kingdom Civil parish Strensham | |
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From magor services to strensham services
Strensham is a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. In the 2001 census, the civil parish of Strensham had a population of 314 across 127 households. Since 1991, the population has risen 28.7% from 244 residents.
Contents
- From magor services to strensham services
- Strensham wtw
- History
- Geography
- Strensham services
- Strensham Court
- Notable residents
- References
Strensham wtw
History
The Church of St John the Baptist lies in Lower Strensham atop a hill overlooking the River Avon, constructed in the 14th century.
Strensham was once part of the Royal forest of Horewell. The woodlands were mostly removed around the time of the Civil War.
Geography
The eastern edge of the parish lies on the banks of the River Avon, while the River Severn is 2 miles (3.2 km) to the west. Both rivers converge 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south in the Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury.
Nearby villages include Twyning, Bredon, Eckington and Ripple. The town of Upton-upon-Severn lies 3 miles (4.8 km) to the north west.
Strensham services
The village gives its name to a motorway service area located just to the North of the village on the M5 motorway which opened with the motorway in 1962. The Midlands Air Ambulance service has been operating one of its helicopters from the services site since 1991 following a deal with the then operator, Take a Break.
Strensham Court
Strensham Court was an early 19th-century country house in a landscaped park. It was built of ashlar in two storeys to a rectangular plan. A substantial portico was added later with large Ionic pillars.
The manor of Strensham belonged historically to the Russell family. The Strensham estate was purchased in 1817 from descendants of the Russell family by John Taylor, grandson of John Taylor, the wealthy Birmingham industrialist. He had a new building constructed in 1824 to replace an earlier house on the site. Taylor was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1817 and died unmarried in 1848. The property passed to his brother James who died soon after, then to James's son James Arthur (MP, died 1889) and to the latter's son Arthur James.
The house was vacated in 1935 and demolished after a fire in 1974.