# Rushbury

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{{Short description|Village in Shropshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name=         Rushbury
 | static_image_name=     St Peter's Parish church, Rushbury - geograph.org.uk - 223021.jpg
 | static_image_caption=  St Peter's parish church, Rushbury
 | country=               England
 | region=                West Midlands
 | os_grid_reference=     SO513918
 | map_alt= 
 | coordinates = {{coord|52.522|-2.719|display=inline,title}}
 | population=            699
 | population_ref=        (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128100&c=Rushbury&d=16&e=62&g=6460995&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1448467904719&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=25 November 2015}}</ref>
 | post_town=             CHURCH STRETTON
 | postcode_area=         SY
 | postcode_district=     SY6
 | dial_code=             01694
 | constituency_westminster= [Ludlow](/source/Ludlow_(UK_Parliament_constituency))
 | civil_parish=          Rushbury
 | unitary_england=       [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire_Council)
 | lieutenancy_england=   [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire)
 }}
'''Rushbury''' is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) in [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire), roughly five miles from [Church Stretton](/source/Church_Stretton) and eight miles from [Much Wenlock](/source/Much_Wenlock).

Nearby villages include [Cardington](/source/Cardington%2C_Shropshire), [Longville in the Dale](/source/Longville_in_the_Dale), [Ticklerton](/source/Ticklerton) and [Wall under Haywood](/source/Wall_under_Haywood). Longville and Wall lie within Rushbury parish.

Rushbury is a quiet rural community, with a [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England) church and primary school.

==History==

===Origins===
The name Rushbury is thought to derive from Rush Manor,<ref>{{cite web|last=Currie|first=C R J|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22860|work=A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10: Munslow Hundred (part), The Liberty and Borough of Wenlock|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=12 April 2012}}</ref> but other evidence suggests that it could originate from the Old English 'risc', literally meaning 'a place where rushes grow', and the Old English word 'burh', meaning a 'fortified place'; putting the two together gives 'Rush Fortification'.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coats|first=Professor Richard|title=Rushbury|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/search|work=Survey of English Place-Names|publisher=Nottingham University|accessdate=13 April 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Human activity has been present since [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) times and there was once an [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age) hill fort.<ref>{{cite web|last=Currie|first=C R J|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22860|work=A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10: Munslow Hundred (part), The Liberty and Borough of Wenlock|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=12 April 2012}}</ref> The area of Rushbury Civil Parish (CP) has changed throughout history.  According to the 1831 [census](/source/Census_in_the_United_Kingdom) it was 5,620 acres, before decreasing to 4,132 acres by the 1851 census and then increasing to 6,304 by 1891, where it has remained ever since.<ref>{{cite web|last=Southall|first=Humphrey|title=Rushbury CP/AP|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_AREA_ACRES&u_id=10365235&c_id=10001043&add=Y|work=A Vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=1831 Census of Great Britain|accessdate=12 April 2012}}</ref> Rushbury CP now includes the settlements of East Wall, Longville in the Dale, Lushcott, Stanway, Stone Acton and Wall under Haywood.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home page: Rushbury|url=http://www.2shrop.net/rushburypc|publisher=Rushbury Parish Council|accessdate=12 April 2012|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027073625/http://www.2shrop.net/rushburypc|archivedate=27 October 2011}}</ref>

===Population===
Throughout history the population has changed; from the start of the census in 1801 the population steadily increased and reached a peak of 507 in 1831, after which it decreased slightly to 495 before increasing again (with the exception of 1921 where it was 530) in 1881 from 500.  There was a slight decrease again in 1951.[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10365235&c_id=10001043&add=N see chart on population of Rushbury].<ref>{{cite web|last=Southall|first=Humphrey|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10365235&c_id=10001043&add=N|work=Vision of Britain|accessdate=13 April 2012}}</ref> According to the 2001 census the population was 603.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rushbury parish headcounts|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=799051&c=rushbury&d=16&e=15&g=482656&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1334315319816&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=13 April 2012}}</ref>

===Economic history===
According to the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) Rushbury had the most arable land compared to the surrounding manors.  In 1086 it had: "two ploughteams in demesne worked by 4 servi, while 1 villanus, 2 bordars, and 3 radmen worked five more".  Rushbury also had enough woodland in the Middle Ages to fatten 40 swine and about 1250, one pig in ten was given to the lord of Lutwyche.  However, by 1301 most of Rushbury had [deforested](/source/deforestation) and been made warren land. In 1086 one water mill was recorded at Rushbury and a tanner was supposed to have lived here in 1602.<ref>{{cite web|last=Currie|first=C R J|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22860#s3|work=A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10: Munslow Hundred (part), The Liberty and Borough of Wenlock|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=13 April 2012}}</ref> A link showing a pie chart of occupational categories in 1831 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22860#s3 here].  Over three-quarters of the male population aged over 20 were involved in agriculture [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_IND&data_cube=N_OCC_PAR1831_SIMP&u_id=10365235&c_id=10001043&add=Y see chart].  A map showing land utilisation of Rushbury in 1942 can be seen [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/index.jsp?layer=europe&xMin=3168886.56697&yMin=2926322.20156&xMax=3171686.56697&yMax=2929122.20156 here].  The yellow areas represent common land, brown arable land, dark green mixed forest and purple houses with gardens, allotments and orchards.

In 2001 the vast majority of people worked in agriculture (51 people) or in retail trade (39) or education (30).  Most people worked away from home travelling by car or van (163) but a high proportion also worked from home (90).<ref>{{cite web|title=Parish of Rushbury|url=http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/factsfigures.nsf/viewAttachments/SGAK-8SUECX/%24file/P01_39uf053.htm|work=2001 census|publisher=SASPAC|accessdate=16 April 2012}}</ref>

left|180px|thumb|Wilderhope Manor
[Wilderhope Manor](/source/Wilderhope_Manor), a 16th-century country house restored in 1936 and now owned by the [National Trust](/source/National_Trust), is used as a Youth Hostel. It is a grade I listed building.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-483802-wilderhope-manor-rushbury-|title= Wilderhope Manor, Rushbury|publisher= British Listed Buildings|accessdate = 27 January 2014}}</ref>

==Church==
The founding date of the church is unknown, but was most likely built around Saxon times and the name St Peter was known by around 1740. Between 1548 and 1792 the church belonged to the lord of Rushbury manor. A rectory was built around 1260.

It is known that in 1716 there were two Sunday services, one with a sermon and communion six times a year.  In the mid 18th century, sacrament offerings (charity money) were given to the poor.

In the 1800s, the rector of Rushbury received £40 a year in half of grain and corn tithes from [Gretton](/source/Gretton%2C_Shropshire), Gilberries, Wall under Haywood and other parts of Rushbury township.

The church was restored in 1855-1856 by William Hill of [Smethcott](/source/Smethcott) with the costs being met by subscriptions and grants from the [Hereford](/source/Hereford) Diocesan Church Building Society.  The [registers](/source/Parish_registers) begin in 1538, but there are several gaps in the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|last=Currie|first=C R J|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22860#s5|work=A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10: Munslow Hundred (part), The Liberty and Borough of Wenlock|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=14 April 2012}}</ref>

The church clock, on the west side of the tower, was placed in 1921 in memory of parish men who died serving in [World War I](/source/World_War_I), replacing an older clock of 1789.  Inside the church is a wall tablet listing these men, and another to the apparent only local man to die in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), Stanley Thomas Hughes.<ref name=swm>{{cite book|last=Francis|first=Peter|title=Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance|year=2013|publisher=YouCaxton Publications|page=124|isbn=978-1-909644-11-3}}</ref> The churchyard contains a [Commonwealth war grave](/source/Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission) of a [Machine Gun Corps](/source/Machine_Gun_Corps) soldier of World War I.<ref>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393479/GOUGH,%20FREDERICK] CWGC casualty record.</ref>

Also buried in the churchyard is [Robert Hart](/source/Robert_Hart_(horticulturist)), pioneer of [forest gardening](/source/forest_gardening).<ref name=flickr>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturewise/355393329] Photo of Robert Hart's grave on Flickr.</ref>

The church was made a grade II [listed building](/source/listed_building) on 12 November 1954.<ref>{{cite web|title=Church of St Peter, Rushbury|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-483791-church-of-st-peter-rushbury|publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=14 April 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
''Further information [Geography of Shropshire](/source/Geography_of_Shropshire) [Geology of Shropshire](/source/Geology_of_Shropshire)''

Rushbury is located in the [Shropshire Hills](/source/Shropshire_Hills) an [Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty](/source/Area_of_Outstanding_Natural_Beauty) (ANOB) and sits in a valley, known as Ape Dale, with [Wenlock Edge](/source/Wenlock_Edge) to the southeast. About 7&nbsp;km (4 miles) to the west is the [Long Mynd](/source/Long_Mynd).<ref>{{cite web|title=Detailed map of Shropshire Hills AONB|url=http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/AONB-map-including-LEADER.pdf|work=Shropshire Hills|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=15 April 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105103431/http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/AONB-map-including-LEADER.pdf|archivedate=5 November 2011}}</ref>

Rushbury lies in [Silurian](/source/Silurian) rock a type of limestone much like Wenlock Edge itself.<ref>{{cite web|title=South geological map of Shropshire|url=http://www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/shropgeol/top20south.html|work=Shropshire Geology|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref> Rushbury lies about 200m above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|title=Map|url=http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/about-the-aonb/map/|work=Shropshire Hills|publisher=Shropshire Council|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref>

Three rivers flow past or near Rushbury: Lakehouse Brook flows right next to the village, while Heath Brook and Coley Brook run near the village and within Rushbury CP itself.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LnJ1c2hidXJ5JTdlc3N0LjAlN2VwZy4xJmJiPTUyLjU0NDM5MDExMDczNzElN2UtMi42Njc1Mzk1OTY1NTc2MiU3ZTUyLjUxNjAzNzY0MDA1NjElN2UtMi43NTQ2NTc3NDUzNjEzMw==|work=Ordnance Survey|publisher=Bing Maps|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref>

The nearest major settlement is [Church Stretton](/source/Church_Stretton) at 5&nbsp;km (5 miles) and is about 26&nbsp;km (16 miles) from the county town of Shrewsbury<ref>{{cite web|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LnJ1c2hidXJ5JTdlc3N0LjAlN2VwZy4xJmJiPTU0LjkxMDcwMTU5MDU0OTIlN2UxMC44ODQ0NTcwNTE4NzUlN2U0Ny40NTMzMjQwMTg0Mjg2JTdlLTExLjQxNzc4OTA0MTg3NQ==|work=Ordnance Survey|publisher=Bing Maps|accessdate=16 April 2012}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Road===
Rushbury Road runs through Rushbury Village itself and connects to the B4371, which in turn connects to the nearest major road A49 that runs through Church Stretton and goes to Shrewsbury in the north.

===Rail===
The nearest train station is [Church Stretton railway station](/source/Church_Stretton_railway_station) which has services to Shrewsbury, [Ludlow](/source/Ludlow) and [Hereford](/source/Hereford). Rushbury previously had a [station](/source/Rushbury_railway_station) on a branch line of the [Great Western Railway](/source/Great_Western_Railway) from 1867 to 1951.<ref>{{cite book|last=Quick|first=M. E.|title=Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales – a chronology|year=2002|publisher=Railway and Canal Historical Society|location=Richmond|page=371|oclc=931112387}}</ref>

===Bus===
There is a bus that passes close to Rushbury. The 540 Shrewsbury - Cardington service operates Monday-Friday (excludes bank holidays) during school term time.  The bus stop is located by the Village Hall.<ref>{{cite web|title=540 Shrewsbury - Cardington|url=http://shropshire.gov.uk/bustimes/timetable.jsc?timetable=540mfi0911|publisher=Shropshire County Council|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref>

===Walking/cycle===
There are many established paths and public rights of way, the nearest main public bridle path being Coats Wood which connects to other bridle ways, some of which run almost the entire length of Wenlock Edge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rushbury|url=http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LnJ1c2hidXJ5JTdlc3N0LjAlN2VwZy4xJmJiPTUyLjU0NDM5MDExMDczNzElN2UtMi42Njc1Mzk1OTY1NTc2MiU3ZTUyLjUxNjAzNzY0MDA1NjElN2UtMi43NTQ2NTc3NDUzNjEzMw==|work=Ordnance Survey|publisher=Bing Maps|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref> There are also established cycle networks nearby.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shropshire Cycling|url=http://www.shropshirecycling.co.uk/|publisher=Shropshire Cycling|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[Robert Hart (horticulturist)](/source/Robert_Hart_(horticulturist)) (1913-2000), pioneer of forest gardening, had a smallholding nearby on Wenlock Edge,<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary - Robert Hart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,,178796,00.html|website=theguardian.com|access-date=19 February 2026}}</ref> buried in Rushbury churchyard.<ref name=flickr/>
*Sir [Neil Cossons](/source/Neil_Cossons) (born 1939), [industrial archaeologist](/source/industrial_archaeology), lived in Rushbury from 1990s.<ref>''Who's Who 1996'', A & Black (London, UK), p.422. First mention of home.</ref><ref>''Who's Who 2017'', p.508.</ref>

==See also==
*[Listed buildings in Rushbury](/source/Listed_buildings_in_Rushbury)

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Rushbury}}

{{Shropshire}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in Shropshire
Category:Civil parishes in Shropshire

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rushbury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rushbury) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rushbury?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.