Rochford, Worcestershire

{{see also|History of Worcestershire}}

In 1870–72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Rochford as follows:

ROCHFORD, a parish, with a village, in Tenbury district, Worcester; on the river Teme, 2¾ miles E of Tenbury r[ailway]. station. It has a post-office under Tenbury. Acres, 1,379. Real property, £2,150. Pop[ulation]., 315. Houses, 66. The property is divided among a few. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Hereford. Value, £400. Patron, J. P. Jones, Esq. The church is Norman, and was restored and enlarged in 1865. There are a national school, and charities £8.{{Cite book|title = Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales|last = Wilson|first = John Marius|publisher = A.Fullerton & Co.|date = 1870{{ndash}}72|location = Edinburgh|url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/10077}}

'The church of ST. MICHAEL consists of a chancel 18 ft. 4 in. by 15 ft. 6 in., north vestry, nave 45 ft. 8 in. by 17 ft. 10 in., south porch, and wood bell-turret at the west end of the nave roof.'{{Cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp317-319#p9|title=Parishes: Rochford / British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk|access-date=2016-03-17}} Parts of the chancel and the greater part of the nave date from the early years of the 12th century and the Norman features of the church include the nave and the north doorway. Restored in 1864/65 the church of St Michael is a Grade II listed building and gained its status in 1966.{{Cite web|url = http://www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?page=rochford|title = Worcestershire & Dudley churches|access-date = 22 February 2016}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-150718-church-of-st-michael-rochford-worcesters#.VstLzDY_W9Y|title = British listed buildings|access-date = 22 February 2016}} 'The church is built of red sandstone ashlar, which has been repaired in places, and the walls of the nave are plastered internally'. The church is located on the bank of the river Teme in Lower Rochford.{{Cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp317-319#p10|title=Parishes: Rochford / British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk|access-date=2016-03-17}}

There are 12 listed buildings within the parish of Rochford. These include a number of cottages, farmhouses and a mansion, Old Hall.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/worcestershire/rochford#.VtwtFTY_VAY|title=Listed Buildings in Rochford, Worcestershire, England / British Listed Buildings|last=Stuff|first=Good|website=www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|access-date=2016-03-06}} The Old Hall is a grade II listed building on Rhyse Lane, gaining its status on 6 October 1952. It was an old house dated 1704 with possible C17 or earlier origins. 'The construction of the building is Brick faced with sandstone rubble, plain tiled and large brick stack at centre of main ridge'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-150720-old-hall-rochford-worcestershire#.Vtw3DzY_VAY|title=Old Hall – Rochford – Worcestershire – England / British Listed Buildings|last=Stuff|first=Good|website=www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|access-date=2016-03-06}} A majority of the buildings that are listed were constructed within the 17th century, with the exception of Parsonage Farmhouse, which was built circa 16th century.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-150714-parsonage-farmhouse-rochford-worcestersh#.Vtw39TY_VAY|title=Parsonage Farmhouse – Rochford – Worcestershire – England / British Listed Buildings|last=Stuff|first=Good|website=www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|access-date=2016-03-06}}

Rochford population ranged from 0 – 94 years of age, (2011 census) with ages evenly spread throughout the range, causing roughly equal numbers of both older and younger people. 11 people were aged 51 in 2011, making that age the most common within the population, as it is nearly twice as many any other age.{{Cite web|url=https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11127978&c=rochford&d=16&e=61&g=6477270&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1460463683766&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2545|title=Age Neighbourhood stats 2011|website=Neighbourhood statistics|publisher=Office for National statistics|access-date=12 April 2016}} The census supports the idea that the population of Rochford is older and the area is home to families and older people without dependent children rather than young single people or new families as there was 49 families without dependent children in 2011 apposed to 39 with dependent children.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11127978&c=rochford&d=16&e=61&g=6477270&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1460463683766&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2496|title=Neighbourhood statistics|website=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=Office for National statistics|access-date=12 April 2016}} Despite this there is still a large number of families and children within the parish including 40 people under the age of 18, proving it to be popular with families.{{cite web|url=https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11127978&c=rochford&d=16&e=61&g=6477270&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1460879655167&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2545|title=Age Neighbourhood stats 2011|website=Neighbourhood statistics|publisher=Office for National statistics|access-date=17 April 2016}} This combined with lower than average house prices, around £10,000 cheaper than UK national average (£290,000) it is a popular and reasonably priced area to live.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/28108792?search_identifier=e7b90182ca648b01d60297b67d545a1c#MP2Kdw5jkPYfSOec.97|title=Check out this property for sale on Zoopla!|website=Zoopla|access-date=2016-04-12}}

Like many rural villages, Rochford has limited public services close at hand. The nearest railway station, Ludlow, is about 8 miles (13 km) away,{{Cite web

| url = http://www.uklocalarea.com/index.php?q=Tenbury&wc=47UCJJ&lsoa=E01032214&nearest=y

| title = UK Local Area – Tenbury, Malvern Hills – Neighbourhood Profile – Schools – House Prices – Council Tax – Gas / Electricity Prices

| website = www.uklocalarea.com

| access-date = 25 February 2016

}} and there is no bus service: the nearest bus stop is in Tenbury Wells, more than 2 miles (2.2 km) away.{{Cite web

|url = http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/downloads/file/4238/malvern_bus_route_map

|title = Worcestershire County Council download – Bus Route Maps for Worcestershire {{!}} Travel and Roads {{!}} Buses

|last = Council

|first = Worcestershire County

|website = www.worcestershire.gov.uk

|language = en

|access-date = 25 February 2016

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306073202/http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/downloads/file/4238/malvern_bus_route_map

|archive-date = 6 March 2016

|df = dmy-all

}} As a result, car ownership is high, with 199 cars registered within the parish. 65.6% of households have access to two or more cars, as a result of the limited public transport prevision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11127978&c=rochford&d=16&e=62&g=6477270&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1456670583844&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2483|title=Neighbourhood statistics_ car ownership|website=Neighbourhood statistics|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=28 February 2016}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Malvern Hills}}

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Category:Villages in Worcestershire

Category:Civil parishes in Worcestershire

Category:Places formerly in Herefordshire