Castlemorton
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|static_image = Castlemorton church and village.jpg
|static_image_width = 250px
|static_image_caption=
|coordinates = {{coord|52.033333|-2.3|display=inline,title}}
|official_name=Castlemorton
|population = 617
|population_ref = (2021 census){{cite web |title=Castlemorton |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/malvern_hills/E04010294__castlemorton/ |website=City population |access-date=15 April 2023}}
|shire_district= Malvern Hills District
|shire_county = Worcestershire
|region= West Midlands
|constituency_westminster=
|post_town= Malvern
|postcode_district = WR13
|postcode_area= WR
|dial_code=
|os_grid_reference=
}}
Castlemorton is a village and civil parish close to Malvern in the Malvern Hills District in the county of Worcestershire, England. It consists of a village centre, a large common and many farms and houses within the area.
In 2013 the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust purchased 42 acres of meadow at Hollybed Farm as part of a project to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Elizabeth II and restore the meadows as a nature reserve.[https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/hollybed-farm-meadows Hollybed Farm Meadows] Worcestershire Wildlife Trust[https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/10697778.castlemorton-common/ Castlemorton Common Worcester] (25 September 2013) Worcester News
In 1992 the Common was the location of the controversial Castlemorton Common Festival, a week-long free festival and rave. The event made national headlines.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2007/06/06/castlemorton_rave_feature.shtml BBC Hereford and Worcester - Castlemorton Rave] (6 June 2007) BBC Hereford and Worcester
The 2015 World War II film Our Father was filmed on location on Castlemorton Common.
History
{{see also|History of Worcestershire}}
A medieval motte-and-bailey castle stood to the south of the village, the earthwork remains are still present.[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp49-53 Parishes: Castlemorton - British History Online] British History Online
Castlemorton Common was once part of the vast Royal hunting grounds of the Malvern Chase. James I split up much of this hunting ground (examples are Eastnor Castle Estate, Bromsberrow Estate) and Castlemorton Common is the largest remaining tract of unenclosed public land. Much of Castlemorton is today within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to some very rare fauna and flora living within its boundaries.[https://www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk/about-the-aonb/aonb-designation-and-purpose/ AONB Designation and Purpose - Malvern Hills AONB] Malvernhillsaonb.org.uk
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425064334/http://castlemortonparishcouncil.blogspot.com/ Castlemorton Parish Council website]
- [https://bcharchive.org.uk/index.html BCH Archive website]
{{Commons category|Castlemorton}}
{{Malvern Hills}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Worcestershire
Category:Nature reserves in Worcestershire
Category:Civil parishes in Worcestershire
{{Worcestershire-geo-stub}}