Harvington, and Local Villages
What's New?
We have had an update! All new features to the website have been added, and a new approach to the website has been adopted. Read more about our update below:
Our New Features
We've been busy with:
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Our very own AI history bot. Ask any question about the history of the Lenches
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A new local businesses directory covering 12 key types of businesses
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An updated Pubs and Clubs section, highlighting our favourite local pubs and clubs.
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A re-managed calendar page, regularly updated with all the events occurring in the Lenches, Harvington, local villages and nearby venues
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Starting to include information about Harvington and other villages
Our New Goals
We want to:
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Provide up-to-date information about events and businesses in the local area
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Promote our village halls, churches, community groups, clubs, pubs and local businesses
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Invest time and effort into giving our local groups a platform online
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Make the Lenches and Local Villages website self-funding
The Lenches
Parishes
The Lenches is a picturesque territory covering a section of Worcestershire. The Lenches actually falls within the jurisdiction of more than one parish due to its size and other factors.
The Parish of Church Lench
Information from Church Lench Parish Council is available on the Parish Council website. Church Lench is placed at the top of a hill and has one of the best views in Worcestershire, looking across towards the Malvern Hills. The church is also well worth visiting – descriptions and pictures can be seen elsewhere on the website. Church Lench was mentioned in the domesday book and is known to be over a thousand years old. You may like to take a look at our history pages.
The Parish of Rous Lench and Radford
The parish of Rous Lench (or Rouse Lench), comprising the village of Rous Lench and the hamlet of Radford, is a rural parish of just over 100 homes situated to the northwest of Church Lench. The manor of Rous Lench, together with land in the surrounding villages of Church Lench and Radford, was owned by the Rous family or their distant relatives the Boughton (later Rouse Boughton) family, from the late 14th century. Information about the Parish Council is available on the Parish Council website.
The Parish of Harvington
In 1086 "Herferthun cum Wiburgestoke" was listed in the Domesday Book as having a population of only 10 households, smaller than any of the Lenches settlements and only slightly larger than Abbots Morton. Today no trace of Wiburgestoke remains. The name Harvington derives from the nearby ford over the river Avon and may have started as Herverton, Hereford or Herefordtun. You can find out more about Harvington on the Arch Benefice page here.
Old and New
There is a healthy mix of both old and new in the Lenches, whether that be buildings, facilities or people. The local churches date back many centuries but the sports club and Church Lench village hall just a few years. We have residents that have lived in the villages for nearly a century and others that have just moved here or have just been born here. The local school invites our older residents to talk to the pupils about what it was like to receive evacuees in the war, and in 2013 the school railings that were removed to help the war effort were replaced with new ones (the pace of village life runs slow).
Our Local Churches
The Lenches are home to a collection of historic churches that stand as timeless witnesses to our rich heritage. Each church, whether it's All Saints in Church Lench, St Peter's in Rous Lench, or St James in Harvington, offers a serene place for worship and reflection. These churches, with their unique architectural features and storied pasts, serve as focal points for community gatherings and events.
Our Local Pubs
The heart of social life in the Lenches and local villages beats within our welcoming pubs. The Coach and Horses in Harvington and The Lenches Club are more than just places to enjoy a pint! Whether you're a regular or a visitor, our pubs offer a warm and inviting atmosphere, echoing the character of our villages.
The Amphitheatre
Take a look at everything going on at our latest addition to the village on their own website: https://lenchestheatre.co.uk/
