Astwood Bank
| Astwood Bank | |
| Worcestershire, Warwickshire | |
|---|---|
 Astwood Bank, Nr Brandon Brook | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP042621 |
| Location: | 52°15’26"N, 1°56’21"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Redditch |
| Postcode: | B96 |
| Dialling code: | 01527 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Redditch |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Redditch |
Astwood Bank is a village on the border of Worcestershire to the west with Warwickshire on the east, and immediately south of Redditch, a town more thoroughly divided between those counties. The county border here runs along the A441 road, running due south from Redditch: the great bulk of the village is west of the road in Worcestershire but with some houses and closes on the other side.
Nearby are such villages as Studley and Sambourne in Warwickshire, and Callow Hill, Feckenham, and Cookhill in Worcestershire. Joining Astwod Bank to Redditch’s swollen townscape is a hamlet, Dagtail End.
Church
Residents held church services in the local school until a church was built in 1883–84. The foundation stone was laid by Lady Georgina Vernon of Hanbury Hall. The church of St Matthias and St. George was originally designed by W. J. Hopkins as a large church with a south tower, only the east end was completed by him in 1884. The nave was added by W. Cogswell in 1911 and consecrated by Bishop Louis Mylne.[1] The tower was never built hence the deep sloping roof.
The church was built as a chapelry of Feckenham. It became an independent parish in 1950.
Railway station
A railway station called Studley & Astwood Bank railway station served the district, with service going as far north as Lichfield Trent Valley and as far south as Tewkesbury. The line was closed in 1964 so now Redditch railway station is the end of the line. The station building still exists as a domestic dwelling house and is located on the Slough, just into Green Lane, Studley, Warwickshire. It is about two miles from Astwood Bank and one mile from Studley.
Sport and society
- Cricket: Astwood Bank Cricket Club: the team have twice played at Lord's in the National Village Knock Out Final
Astwood Bank has an annual carnival.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Astwood Bank) |