Oddingley

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Oddingley
Worcestershire

Approaching Oddingley
Location
Grid reference: SO909595
Location: 52°14’2"N, 2°8’2"W
Data
Population: 197  (2001[1])
Post town: Droitwich
Postcode: WR9
Dialling code: 01905
Local Government
Council: Wychavon
Parliamentary
constituency:
Mid Worcestershire

Oddingley is a village and parish in the Oswaldslow hundred of Worcestershire, approximately six miles north-east of the county town of Worcester.

History

The church of Oddingley seen from the Birmingham-Worcester canal

Toponymy

Oddingley was recorded in 816 as Oddingalea.[2] It was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Oddunclei.[3] The name derives from the Old English for "Woodland clearing of the family or followers of [a man called] Odda".[2]

19th century

In 1806, Oddingley became known for the unsolved murder of the village parson, George Parker. Parker was shot and beaten to death by a man widely suspected to be Richard Hemming, a carpenter from Droitwich.[4] Hemming was never apprehended and it was believed that he had escaped the country. In 1830, a body was found which was later identified to be that of Hemming.[4]

Geography

Oddingley lies approximately six miles north-east of the county town of Worcester and about three miles south of Droitwich. Nearby villages to Oddingley include Hadzor, Newland, Dunhampstead, Saleway, Sale Green and Tibberton. It is situated close to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.[5]

Demography

The population of Oddingley, according to the 1801 census, was 110. In the 1991 census, the population of the village was recorded as 165. By 2001, this had grown to 197 with 77 households.[1]

Church

Oddingley's church is dedicated to Saint James the Apostle and lies to the south of the village.[5][6] In June 2014, the church website was launched to provide more information about the history of the church, its current services and upcoming events.

References

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Oddingley)