Beckford

Beckford
Gloucestershire
Location
Grid reference:	SO972360
Location:	52°1’0"N, 2°1’60"W
Data
Population:	602
Post town:	Tewkesbury
Postcode:	GL20
Dialling code:	01386
Local Government
Council:	Wychavon

Beckford is a small village on the main Cheltenham to Evesham Road, five miles north-east of Tewkesbury, on the Gloucestershire—Worcestershire border.

The village straddles the A46 trunk road and is one of the villages at the foot of Bredon Hill. The Carrant Brook runs between Beckford and Little Beckford and there was a ford across the brook which gave rise to the original name. There is no link between the village of Beckford and the family with the name of Beckford who are considered to be among the original Jamaican slaveowners. The local pub is called the Beckford Inn and the village is known for its silk printing factory which attracts tourists through its workshop tours and demonstrations.

Beckford once had a railway station, belonging to the Midland Railway](later part of the LMS), and situated on a lengthy loop line, branching off the Bristol to Birmingham main line at Ashchurch, passing through Evesham, Alcester and Redditch, and rejoining the main line at Barnt Green, near Bromsgrove. The loop was built to address the fact that the main line bypassed most of the towns it might otherwise have served, but it took three separate companies to complete.

The loop officially closed between Ashchurch and Redditch in June 1963, but poor condition of the track had brought about withdrawal of all trains between Evesham and Redditch earlier, in October 1962, being replaced by a bus service for the final eight months. Redditch to Barnt Green remains open on the electrified Birmingham suburban network.

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Worcestershire Beckford)