Pictures of Wolverley

About Wolverley

Wolverley is a charming village at the heart of rural Worcestershire. It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, but it is believed a settlement was there long before that, for the land is known to have passed into the hands of Alhune, 11th Bishop of Worcester, in 854.

The village stands beside the meandering River Stour and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. It is a few short miles from the famous carpet centre of Kidderminster, which is also the home of the Severn Valley Heritage Steam Railway Line.

Wolverley has a delightful church, this was built in the 18th century, but obviously this replaces an earlier church as church records are known to go back to around 1000AD. Dedicated to St.John the Baptist, Wolverley parish church has a superb clock tower housing a peal of eight bells. It sits peacefully in a grassed churchyard with trees and graves from past centuries.

The village supports a shop and post office, it also has several pubs. The Queens Head is at the centre of the village, this is a picturesque building with a pub sign believed to date back to Elizabeth I. The Lock Inn is located beside the canal, and the Live and Let Live is reached via the sandstone cutting.

The village has some pretty cottages and several fine homes. One of these is noted Sion Hill House, a handsome property dating from the 18th century with 20th century additions. Standing in fine grounds, the house has sweeping lawns dotted with old trees, a kitchen garden, ha-ha, and a conservatory. As with many of today's country estates some of Sion Hill's old barn buildings are now converted into comfortable dwellings.

Another place of charm and tranquillity in Wolverley is magnificent Bodenham Arboretum, this is gloriously set in over 156 acres of splendid countryside. This has 2,700 trees, 11 pools, a working farm and an exciting visitors centre overlooking the "Big" pool. This is a place for everyone, there are meadows grazed with sheep, stunning views across a lovely rural landscape, and colour, colour is everywhere, especially in autumn when the foliage turns from deepest green to rich glowing gold, orange and red. Even when the snow weaves its magic, there is still the vibrant Winter Flowering Cherry to catch the eye, along with frost making patterns on bushes and clinging to the dainty rustic bridge spanning the pool - mother nature never lets us down - she has something to surprise and delight at every season of the year.

Wolverley is close to the famous glass centre of Stourbridge and to Dudley Zoo and is sufficiently close for anyone wishing to explore the urban sprawl of Birmingham, England's second city.