The Circular Walk

Track 1

Welcome to the Ribbesford Circular audio trail.

This is one of a series of audio trails delivered by County Council Countryside Service. You will hear some short instructional tracks giving the directions of the walk, along with some longer tracks interpreting what you can see along the way. You can either listen while you walk or stop to listen at the start of each new track.

Whilst on the walk please be sure to close any gates you have opened behind you and keep any dogs under close control.

This 2 mile route will take you on a leisurely stroll through this delightful part of Worcestershire. Depending upon your speed of walking it could take between one and two hours. This particular walk is way marked with a willow tree logo.

To commence the walk, you need to be standing on the riverside path in the bottom corner of the Gardeners Meadow car park. (If you are starting at Blackstone Riverside Park, go straight to Track 2).

Turning your back on the town, head down the riverside path in a downstream direction, passing through the two large red brick pillars of the flood defences and with Cricket Club on your right hand side.

Whilst you walk along the riverside path, look out on the right for the impressive sandstone outcrops which are typical of the underlying geology of this area. Depending upon the time of year you may see a variety of wildlife as you progress along the riverside path, from the ducks and swans who reside there all year round, to summer sightings such as sand martins and dragonflies. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a kingfisher, a sudden flash of blue darting past or across the river.

The Severn is Britain's longest river, with its source at Plymlimon in the mountains of mid Wales, it winds its way down through the Midlands until finally emptying out into the Bristol Channel.

Once ocean going ships would have been a common sight in Bewdley; now in a dry summer the river is navigable to little more than canoes. However, we should not under estimate the phenomenal power of this river when in full flood. Sometimes the western half of the town needs protecting, and recently state of the art flood defences having been installed.

While on your walk should you hear the whistle of a steam train, fear not you haven't gone back in time; it is the ever popular railway. Originally built between 1858 and 1862 the line connected Hartlebury near Droitwich with Shrewsbury - a distance of some 40 miles. Even in its heyday the line was never a commercial success, relying mainly on colliery and agricultural haulage and small numbers of passengers. It did, however, have a strategic importance in the Second World War as a way of by passing the Black Country and its bomb damage.

The line was axed in the 1960's as part of the now notorious Beeching cuts. Today, just the 16 mile stretch between and remains as a heritage railway and tourist attraction. Opening in the 1970's it relies on hundreds of volunteers who freely give of their time and expertise to keep the line and its trains alive. It is an extremely popular local attraction, drawing some 250,000 visitors a year.

Proceed along the riverside path until you come to the road bridge with the Bewdley bypass overhead and press track 2.

Track 2 For those of you starting the walk at this point, you will need to head off on the track out of the car park with the bypass above you on the left. Follow the signs for the Ribbesford Circular down to the river.

You should now be standing beneath the vast road bridge with the Bewdley bypass rumbling over head. You are about to enter Blackstone Riverside Park, a popular spot for dog walking, fishing, recreation and picnics, managed by Worcestershire County Council's Countryside Service. Proceed into the Park, walking by the riverside.

Looking across the river you will see fine views of the giant red sandstone outcrop that is Blackstone Rock, from which the park takes it name. Rising 65 metres above the flood plain with its wooded escarpment stretching down to the river bank opposite, the rock is an impressive local land mark. Atop the rock there is evidence of an Iron Age hill fort dating from a time before the Roman invasion. Another Iron Age settlement once occupied the lower gravel terraces below the rock. That site was excavated in the 1970's prior to being quarried out. During the Medieval period, caves cut into the rock were reputed to have provided a hermitage, and the architecturally splendid Blackstone Farm below also has medieval origins.

Follow on through the Park with its grassed open spaces, keeping roughly to the riverside, and leave the park where the path narrows and passes through the trees, then press track 3.

Track 3 The path passes through the trees for a short distance before coming to the road. Cross over the road carefully, and proceed left, walking along the verge for 20 metres or so, then turn right up a tree lined avenue signposted Ribbsford Church. At this point press track 4.

Track 4 Now proceed up the avenue of horse chestnut trees. Looking across to your left you will see Ribbesford House. This striking property was built in the 19th century, on the site of a far older manor. During the Second World War it was used as a training camp for the free French under General de Gaulle. Follow the avenue up, ultimately bearing right until you find yourself outside Ribbesford Church, then press track 5.

Track 5 You should now be outside St Leonard's Church. It is well worth taking the time to walk slowly around the Church - look particularly at the walls in detail. The church’s red sandstone nave, chancel and north and south aisles are 15th century. The timber porch dates to 1633, whilst the north doorway and parts of the north wall date from the 12th century. Fragments of sculpture inset into the south wall and doorway may be pre-Norman and suggest an early Medieval church occupied the site previously. Following a fire, part of the church was rebuilt in 1877 although this is unlikely to have affected the stone fabric of the building. St. Leonard's was the main church for Bewdley during the Medieval and early modern centuries, hence the importance of the Ribbesford to Bewdley track along which this walk continues.

Home Farm’s large sandstone built barn and stable date from around 1650-75 and there is also documentary evidence for a Medieval fishpond, tithe barn and corn mill associated with the settlement here.

Ribbesford is one of two “Ribb-esfords” recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The place-name of Ribbesford comes from the Old English ribbe-bedd-ford, which translates as “ford by a bed of ribwort or hound’s tongue.”

The manor of Ribbesford was granted to the powerful Mortimer family of Wigmore, who also held from 1246 to 1460. In essence, Ribbesford is a forest edge settlement with associated parkland and scattered farms. A small private archaeological excavation on land behind the Church has revealed pottery dating to the 15th – 16th century and possible building remains, suggesting that Ribbesford was a larger settlement in the later Medieval and Tudor periods.

Leaving the church behind, follow the surfaced track passing a large white modern house on your left with a young orchard to the front of it. Proceed up hill on the surfaced track until you pass again under the Bewdley bypass via a tunnel. At this point press track 6.

Track 6 Keep walking straight ahead. The path here is flanked by young Lime Trees. Looking across to your right the high ground on the horizon, with a radio mast to its left is the Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve. The fields in the foreground have grown asparagus for many years, a crop you would not immediately associate with this area - the Vale of Evesham being its more natural home. Proceed on to the Road, and then press track 7.

Track 7 Cross over the road and head down through a kissing gate. Note the fine line of oaks and sycamores on your right and the first views of the town up to your left. After 50 yards or so the path takes on the appearance of a sunken lane with some fine ancient oak trees on the bank to your right. One huge long dead stump exhibits how shallow the soil is here and how the trees have had to cling to the bank, hence their long tentacle like roots showing on the surface. Some of these oaks are probably well over 300 years old and are superb specimens of ancient trees, possibly remnants of the ancient park land of Bewdley that survived into the 17th century.

As the path drops down, tucked away amongst the trees on are some ponds. These are the remnants of a snuff mill. Originally recorded as a corn mill in 1336 and perhaps associated with Ribbesford Manor, by 1608 it is listed among the properties of King James. The mill was converted to grind snuff in the 18th century, an activity that continued until 1870 when it was converted for use in polishing combs made out of horn, which it did until closing down in the 1920's. The lower millponds served a secondary purpose as fishponds and more recently have been used for recreational fishing.

The path you are walking was historically the main route from Bewdley to St Leonard's Church at Ribbesford. Many a coffin would have been taken up from the town for burial at the church, as the central area of the town has no burial grounds, presumably due to the flood plain of the river and the often saturated ground.

At the end of this path you come to a metal gate where the Worcestershire Way walking route goes straight on. Turn right in front of the gate and proceed up a gentle slope, passing through a kissing gate and up a shady path. The path eventually drops down through a few houses before hitting the Ribbsford Road. At this point press track 8.

Track 8 Crossing over the Ribbsford Road you will see the Grade 2 listed historic alms houses on your left. There have been alms houses here since 1625, although the ones you see today date from 1763 with extensive restoration in the 1970's. Take the path immediately to your right, proceeding down through the houses towards the cricket club. Immediately in front of the cricket club gates, take the path to the left which will take you back down to the riverside and your starting point in Gardener's Meadow car park. Upon arriving in the car park press track 9.

Track 9 From your vantage point back on the riverside, look north back up the river towards the bridge. Only a couple of centuries ago this view would have been dominated by the river port that stretched along Severnside South. Cargo boats called 'Trows', loaded with local produce, such as leather goods, horn beakers, fruit, wood products and snuff would be crowding the busy wharfs; an indication of the history that made Bewdley once an extremely wealthy place.

However, the town's history began long before the 18th century and behind the Georgian facades on Load Street are buildings that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Load Street, along with High Street and Severnside North and South were the principle streets, created as part of the planned port-town of Bewdley in the 15th century. The river was the town's life blood and its economy revolved around the port and its associated industries which drew on the substantial resources of the Wyre Forest. The fine architecture stands as a reminder of the wealth and investment this created. However, the town's origins are rooted further to the west. Studies have revealed that Wyre Hill was once the main street in pre-15th century Bewdley. This would have made sense, as it would certainly have been up above the river's flood level.

The Royal Palace of Tickenhill once dominated the skyline on high ground that overlooked the Medieval park, the name of which has been preserved by Park Lane.

We hope you enjoyed the Ribbsford Circular and will take time to enjoy the town Bewdley with its Architecture, shops pubs and cafes and river frontage.

If you started the walk at Blackstone Riverside Park, play track 1 to get you back to your car.

We hope you have enjoyed the Ribbesford Circular. For more information on downloadable audio trails please visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/countryside

This audio trail was voiced by Rebecca Blockley, recorded by ...... and special thanks to Adam Mindykowski of the Historic Environment and archaeology service of Worcestershire County Council for providing the historical material.