Overview

This first part of the day trip is a pleasant easy start with scenic countryside views leading to the historical pretty village of Chaddesley Corbett, so even if you feel you could not manage the woodland walk, or make use of the Swan Inn, it’s still a nice start for you, bearing in mind the next point of interest on your trip will not open until 10.00am. We started our visit in the village of Belbroughton, Bromsgrove, so set your SAT NAV DY9 9TG for the Talbot Inn. From here and at the junction, follow High street and sign for Blakedown / Chaddesley Corbett. There is no sat NAV for the ancient woodland of Chaddesley woods nature reserve, so follow our directions for the short drive. A few yards after leaving the Talbot and High st, TURN LEFT on Church road. Then stay on this lane for a few miles, until you reach a “Y” junction and TURN RIGHT for Woodcote / Kidderminster and then drive through woodland, it’s a nice countryside trip for you. At the next junction, TURN SHARP RIGHT for Bluntington / Woodrow, along Woodcote Lane, and drive through woodland again. Look for the roadside pull in area, parking the car alongside the narrow woodland lane (photo 1) The gate will allow you to enter the wide path (photo 2) for a pleasant woodland walk. Chaddesley woods is mentioned in the Doomsday book, shown as “the woods of two leagues” perhaps wooded since the ice age, ancient flowers offer the clue, such as yellow Archangel, herb Paris, Dogs Mercury, as well as small leaved Lime. It became a nature reserve in 1973 due to the kind support of John Cadbury. (photo 3). On the east side there are ancient woodland of mainly Oak, with Hazel Coppice. It also supports Rowan trees, Midland Hawthorn which has two seeds in its berry instead of one. To the west, it is different, with large planted broad leaved species, and large areas of conifers. Where you have parked is the “Jubillee walk” created in 1977 to mark the Queens 25th jubilee anniversary, and you can easily follow this path on Yellow markers, and it attracts many visitors each year. Now set SAT NAV for DY10 4SA. The Swan inn. Follow Sat NAV, and you will arrive at the gated entry for Chaddesley Corbett (photo 4) CHADDESLEY CORBETT The village is an ancient settlement, with a pre-historical mound, and there are parts of a Roman road, while it’s name is thought to mean “Ceadda’s clearing in the woods”. It is first mentioned in the Saxon charter when the land was given to the Bishop of Worcester, and also mentioned in the Doomsday book 1086, as belonging to a Saxon noblewoman. The village was known later on as Chaddesley, but following the Norman conquest, the old Manor was owned by the Corbett family, and the area became known as Chaddesley Corbett. It is a large parish of some 6079 acres, where the Dovedale brook rises in Belbroughton, and flows south of the parish. Barnet brook, which also rises in Belbroughton, waters the northern area. Chaddesley Corbett has one main road running through the village, (photo 5) where you will find black and white timbered cottages, and red bricked houses, (photo 6) of different years. A number of delightful cottages may be seen along the main road (photos 7, 8 and 9) leading you towards two attractive Inns, The Swan Inn, and the Talbot Inn, of which we now offer you a review. THE SWAN INN The Doomsday book recorded the village of Chaddesley Corbett, and following dates show that during the reign of King Edward V1 in 1552, a licence would now be required from 1634 to run any Inn as stated “there are nun that sell ale without a licence. The Swan became rented by the miller master, John Bate, then his son Thomas took over in 1841. It was a home brew house, the drink being mild, pale, sweetish and strong, popular in this area, but they were also licensed to sell wines and spirits. Thomas had died by 1850, and his wife Elizabeth took over as landlady, but she retired in 1873, and a William Horne became the tenant with the help of his wife Mary. In 1927 the Swan was leased to Daniel Batham and son, and remains so, with the intention of keeping it as a centre of local community use. The Swan inn, (photo 10) has a reasonable car park, but very plain looking, (photo 11) until you step inside, to the bar area. (12) while the main lounge of timbered beams, old wooden tables and a warm welcoming stove awaits you (13).The larger bar area (14) also has a warm stove to greet you (15), and toilets are situated by the bar reception (16). If you now drive along the main road a few yards, you arrive at The Talbot Inn, (17) which has been closed for some time while undergoing renovations over the last number of years, and permission has been granted for it to reopen again as an Inn, perhaps late 2022, although not much seems to be happening at the moment. If you drive a little further on, to the churchyard, (photo 18) we can give A bit of World War One history for you. The home guard division of Chaddesley received orders to form a line of defence against enemy attack by tanks, so the men here used two large 4 foot diameter drainage pipes, filled them with concrete, placed an iron bar with a loop in it into the setting concrete, then attached a large steel chain between the two pipes that lay each side of the road, and you can still see these pipes that lie in the church orchard ( photo 19) right by the gate leading into the churchyard (photo 20). www.Chaddesley-Corbett.co.uk/history Thus ends part one of this day trip, and we suggest now you read part two HARVINGTON HALL AND MUSEUM. The Hall opens at 10.00am, and there is a cafe available before your two hour visit, which is wheelchair friendly.

Transport & Parking

Along the wooded lanes to take you to the nature reserve, the only parking spots are along the lane itself, so can be rather full in main season. In Chaddesley itself, It’s a bit difficult to park, as there are many double yellow lines in the village, but if using the Swan inn, a big enough car park is available.

Access

For the woodland walk, the gate may just about open wide enough to get wheelchair through if you can get up and fold your chair, then the path can be used, even on wet days as drainage is quite good. The Swan is reasonable wheelchair friendly, and you will be able to enjoy a drink at one of the bar areas, and their are outside tables for use as well.

Toilets

Toilets are basic, you may have to get out of your chair to use, but other facilities will be available on other parts of your day trip.

Staff

We found staff friendly and helpful

Photos