Spetchley

Spetchley
Spetchley Hall in 2015
Spetchley Location within Worcestershire
Population	117 (2021)
OS grid reference	SO896540
District	Wychavon
Shire county	Worcestershire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WORCESTER
Postcode district	WR5
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Droitwich and Evesham

Spetchley is a hamlet and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, that lies in the district of Wychavon, half a mile from Worcester, along the A44 road. Spetchley contains Spetchley Park, a country mansion with extensive gardens. It had a population of 117 in 2021.

History

See also: History of Worcestershire and History of Worcestershire § Georgian society, politics and religion

Dovecote at Home Farm, Spetchley

The name Spetchley derives from the Old English spēclēah meaning 'speech wood/clearing', i.e. a place where speeches were made at local assembly meetings.

The Spetchley estate, once owned by the Sheldon and Lyttleton families, was bought in 1605 by Rowland Berkeley, a wool merchant and banker. His original Tudor house on the site was burned down on the eve of the battle of Worcester, 1651, by disgruntled drunken Scottish Presbyterian Royalists to prevent Oliver Cromwell from using the house for his headquarters. All that remains of the Tudor house today is part of the moat.

Spetchley railway station

Main article: Spetchley railway station

This hamlet was the location for the first Railway Station for Worcester city. The station was built by the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. The station opened on 24 June 1840 but closed for passengers on 1 October 1855 and goods 2 January 1961. The passengers were conveyed by coach from The Crown Inn, Worcester for a fare, inclusive of the train, being met by the Company.