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.[2][3]

Castlemorton
Castlemorton is located in Worcestershire
Castlemorton
Castlemorton
Location within Worcestershire
Population617 (2021 census)[1]
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMalvern
Postcode districtWR13
PoliceWest Mercia
FireHereford and Worcester
AmbulanceWest Midlands
List of places
UK
England
Worcestershire
52°02′00″N 2°18′00″W / 52.033333°N 2.3°W / 52.033333; -2.3

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.[4]

The 2015 World War II film Our Father was filmed on location on Castlemorton Common.

History

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A medieval motte-and-bailey castle stood to the south of the village, the earthwork remains are still present.[5]

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.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Castlemorton". City population. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. ^ Hollybed Farm Meadows Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
  3. ^ Castlemorton Common Worcester (25 September 2013) Worcester News
  4. ^ BBC Hereford and Worcester - Castlemorton Rave (6 June 2007) BBC Hereford and Worcester
  5. ^ Parishes: Castlemorton - British History Online British History Online
  6. ^ AONB Designation and Purpose - Malvern Hills AONB Malvernhillsaonb.org.uk
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