This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Fladbury" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Fladbury
River Avon and Cropthorne Mill, looking from the Nait in Fladbury
Fladbury Location within Worcestershire
Population	750
District	Wychavon
Shire county	Worcestershire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Pershore
Postcode district	WR10
Dialling code	01386
UK Parliament	Mid Worcestershire
List of places UK England Worcestershire 52°06′56″N 2°00′31″W / 52.115449°N 2.008589°W / 52.115449; -2.008589

Fladbury is a traditional English village located in rural Worcestershire, England. Five miles from Pershore, 5 miles from Evesham and 107 miles from London. It is sited on the banks of the River Avon, with many interesting and original buildings and features. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, almost 1,000 years ago. Cropthorne village is on the opposite bank of the Avon. The two ancient communities are linked by the Jubilee Bridge.

History

A Beaker settlement was discovered in the centre of Fladbury during excavations into Saxon occupation.^[1] Excavations of the Beaker site took place from 1932 to 1941.^[2]

There are the remains of a Roman polyfocal farmstead settlement with prehistoric origins on the site of the current Spring Hill Farm.

Fladbury was a settlement mentioned in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Oswaldslow and the county of Worcestershire. It was also known as Fledanbyrig and Flandenburch. It had a recorded population of around 250 people in 60 households in 1086, putting it in the largest 20% of settlements recorded in Domesday.

A convent existed at Fladbury in Saxon times, and the town was given to the Bishop of Worcester by King Ethelred in 631, and the bishop’s bailiff governed the place. A market was held on Wednesdays.

By 1822, the number of inhabited households was only 61 households, and increased to 96 households and 425 residents by 1871. By 1879 Fladbury was an important parish and large village, having the river Avon for its eastern boundary, and Fladbury railway station on the Great Western railway line to the north. The station opened in 1854 and closed in 1966.

A national school, with residence for the master, was erected in 1864-65. The current school, Fladbury First and Pre School^[3], is situated next to the original national school.

Landmarks

There are 24 historic buildings, monuments and sites listed by Historic England in the parish.

The church of St John the Baptist in Fladbury is a Grade 1 listed^[4] church in the village centre. It has been a site of Christian worship since monks settled here in 691AD when Ethelred, King of Mercia, made a grant of land to Oftfor the then Bishop of Worcester. The monks later moved on to found the monastery that became Evesham Abbey.

No trace of the early Saxon building remains, and the present building dates from the 12th century, with only the base of the tower dating back to Norman times. The church was rebuilt in 1340 with significant restorations taking place during Victorian times. The family of Worcester architect, Frederick Preedy, lived in Fladbury and there is much of his work in the church. He added the chancel and vestry in 1864 and completed a major restoration in 1871. Most of the 19th century fittings are designed by him together with 10 stained glass windows, mainly family memorials. There are several stained-glass memorial windows, one representing the coats of arms of seven knights slain at the battle of Evesham in 1265. This church is one of the few in Worcestershire which contains memorial brasses. The church also contains many medieval, and later, monuments to local families.

The tower has a ring of eight bells which were rehung on a new frame in 1991.^[5] The famous statesman, Sir John Throckmorton of Throckmorton Manor, Knt., (d. 12 April 1445) was interred in a large altar tomb in Fladbury Church.^[6]

Fladbury Mill is a Grade II listed building, listed in February 1965. It dates mainly from the 18th century, with some parts dating from c1650. It is constructed of brick to an irregular plan. It has gabled wings; one gabled bay is of earlier timber framing.^[7] In 1888, electricity generated by the water wheel powered two houses. By 1900, turbines at the mill powered Fladbury's street lighting. New turbines were installed in the late 1970's, but these no longer power the village lighting.

Cropthorne Mill is sited on the far side of the river from Fladbury village, on the other side of the weir to Fladbury Village. It is a listed building built in two parts. More recent living accommodation was built probably in the 18th century was added to the much older working original Mill.

Education

A voluntary-aided Church of England First School provides education to around 85 children aged 4 to 10. A September 2007 Ofsted inspection accorded the school a Grade 2 (good).^[8]

Fladbury Walkabout

Fladbury Walkabout is an Open Gardens and Flower Festival, which runs on the first weekend of July each year (6 and 7 July in 2024). The event normally includes market stalls, live music, classic cars, children's activities, boat trips and refreshments, together with a Fun Run on the Sunday.^[9]

Sporting Clubs

Fladbury has a number of sporting clubs, including a cricket club, football club, paddle club and tennis club all based on the recreation ground. The existing playing field (4.628 acres) was purchased by Fladbury Parish Council for £600 in November 1951.

Fladbury Cricket Club^[10] was established in 1876. Its first match was against Toddington, Gloucestershire. The first formal fixture played on the current ground was on 6 June 1954 against Comberton. The changing room was in a nearby public house and teas cost 1s 9d. In 1985, Fladbury Cricket Club joined a league for the first time. This league was merged with others to create the Worcestershire County League in 1999.

Fladbury Football Club plays in the Evesham & District Sunday Football League.

Fladbury Paddle Club^[11] uses the River Avon. It runs annual regattas.

Fladbury Tennis Club^[12] has three courts on the recreation ground.

John Singer Sargent

The American artist John Singer Sargent visited Fladbury in 1889. His painting, 'Two Girls with Parasols at Fladbury',^[13] is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

FladFest

Fladbury held its first annual music festival to celebrate local bands on 26 April 2024. This was held in the Village Hall. The next FladFest is planned for 26 April 2025.^[14]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fladbury.

• Fladbury Village Website
• Fladbury CE Aided First School
• Wychavon Local Authority
• Historical Book of Cropthorne Mill, Fladbury and Modern Day Images
• fladfest website