Birlingham

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.083|-2.1|display=inline,title}}

| official_name = Birlingham

| population =

| static_image_name = The Swan, Birlingham.jpg

| static_image_width = 250

| static_image_caption = The Swan, Birlingham

| shire_district = Wychavon

| shire_county = Worcestershire

| region = West Midlands

| civil_parish = Birlingham

| constituency_westminster = West Worcestershire

| postcode_district = WR10

| postcode_area = WR

| post_town = PERSHORE

| dial_code = 01386

| os_grid_reference = SO932428

}}

Birlingham is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. The village is south of Pershore, located in a bend of the River Avon.

Toponymy

The name Birlingham is derived from the Old English Byrla–inga–hamm, meaning "Land, in a river-bend, of a man called Byrla". It has been recorded as Byrlingahamm (972) and Berlingeham (1086, Domesday Book).{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=A. D. |last2=Room |first2=Adrian |title=The Oxford Names Companion |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198605617 |page=946}}

History

=Roman Britain=

Romans are believed to have settled in Birlingham during the Roman occupation of Britain, suggested by the discovery of a Roman brooch within the village. It is possible that there was a crossing point near the village at Swans Neck, though no evidence has been found of this.{{cite report |last1=Griffin |first1=Simon |last2=Mann |first2=Andrew |last3=Darch |first3=Erica B. |last4=Pearson |first4=Elizabeth |date=14 January 2003 |title=Archaeological 'Strip and Record' and Watching Brief at Birlingham, Worcestershire |url=https://public.worcestershire.gov.uk/sites/archaeology/Reports/wr4819.pdf |publisher=Archaeological Service - Worcestershire County Council |pages=2–8 |access-date=14 September 2018 }}

=Late Middle Ages=

The Swan Inn, the village's public house, is believed to date back to the 16th century.{{cite news |title=The Swan at Birlingham, near Pershore, gets new owners and a new look |url=http://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/news/11285924.Popular_country_pub_gets_new_owners__and_a_new_look/ |access-date=14 September 2018 |work=Evesham Journal |date=18 June 2014 |language=en}}

Governance

The village of Birlingham is primarily governed by Birlingham Parish Council, then by Wychavon District Council. It falls within the West Worcestershire constituency.{{cite web |title=West Worcestershire - UK Parliament |url=https://beta.parliament.uk/constituencies/5G8NCbBe |website=beta.parliament.uk |access-date=15 September 2018 |language=en}}

Geography and demography

Birlingham is surrounded on the north, south and east sides by a river-bend known as Swans Neck, part of the River Avon. The village is located on a floodplain.{{cite report |last1=Bretherton |first1=Jeremy |last2=Pearson |first2=Liz |date=6 July 2000 |title=Watching Brief at Gwen Finch Nature Reserve, Birlingham, Worcestershire |url=https://public.worcestershire.gov.uk/sites/archaeology/Reports/wr8394.pdf |publisher=Archaeological Service - Worcestershire County Council |pages=1–9 |access-date=14 September 2018 }} Bow Brook passes by the village's west side.

Nearby villages include Defford and Eckington.

In 2001, the parish had a population of 325, compared to a population of 373 in 1991.{{cite report |author=Worcestershire County Council |author-link=Worcestershire County Council |date=2001 |title=2001 Census Worcestershire County Population Report |page=28 }}

Transport

There are two bus services that serve Birlingham: the 52/53, which goes between Worcester and Eckington (via Pershore and Evesham),{{cite web |title=Timetables {{!}} Worcestershire {{!}} First Bus |url=https://www.firstgroup.com/worcestershire/plan-journey/timetables/?day=1&source_id=2&service=52%2F53&routeid=21285901&operator=14&source=sp |website=First Bus |access-date=14 September 2018}} and the 54, which goes between Worcester and Pershore.{{cite web |title=Timetables {{!}} Worcestershire {{!}} First Bus |url=https://www.firstgroup.com/worcestershire/plan-journey/timetables/?day=1&source_id=2&service=54&routeid=21285911&operator=14&source=sp |website=First Bus |access-date=14 September 2018}} Both services are run by FirstGroup.

Places of worship

File:Birlingham Church - geograph.org.uk - 42341.jpg

File:Entrance Arch, Birlingham Church - geograph.org.uk - 756819.jpg arch]]

File:Flag of the Church of St James the Great, Birlingham.svg

Birlingham is served by the church of St James the Great, located in the Anglican Diocese of Worcester. The original church was built in the 12th century, with its chancel arch now located outside as the churchyard's entrance. The current west tower was built in the 15th century, the rest of the church being rebuilt around the 1870s by Rev Robert Rashleigh Duke.{{cite web |title=About us - St James the Great -A Church Near You |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/18636/about-us/ |website=www.achurchnearyou.com |access-date=14 September 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Upton |first1=Chris |title=Pretty legacy from beyond the grave |url=https://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/christ-upton-pretty-legacy-beyond-6648698 |access-date=14 September 2018 |work=birminghampost |date=30 January 2014}}

Sport

Birlingham is represented in Worcestershire Cricket League Division League Six by Birlingham Cricket Club.{{cite news |title=Title glory for Birlingham cricketers |url=http://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/sport/16591508.cricket-birlingham-win-worcestershire-league-division-six/ |access-date=14 September 2018 |work=Evesham Journal |date=22 August 2018 |language=en}}

References

External links

[http://www.birlingham.org/ Birlingham Parish Council website]

Category:Villages in Worcestershire