{{Short description|Village in Worcestershire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | country = England | coordinates = {{coord|52.170|-2.115|display=inline,title}} | official_name = White Ladies Aston | population = 237 | static_image_name = White Ladies Aston Church. - geograph.org.uk - 9125.jpg | static_image_width = 180 | static_image_caption = [[St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston|St John the Baptist]] | shire_district = [[Wychavon]] | shire_county = [[Worcestershire]] | region = West Midlands | civil_parish = White Ladies Aston | constituency_westminster = [[Droitwich and Evesham (UK Parliament constituency)|Droitwich and Evesham]] | postcode_district = WR7 | postcode_area = WR | post_town = WORCESTER | dial_code = | os_grid_reference = SO849548 | london_distance = }}
'''White Ladies Aston''' is a village in the [[Wychavon]] local government district of [[Worcestershire]], England, and also lends its name to the civil parish in which the village is located. The village is located to the east of the A44 which started as a [[Salt road|Saltway]] linking [[Droitwich Spa|Droitwich]] to [[Oxford]]. To the south is [[Pershore]] and five miles west is [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. The parish is bound to the east by the [[Bow Brook]]. The parish, according to the 2021 census, has a population of 237.<ref>{{cite web |title=White Ladies Aston (Parish) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/wychavon/E04010441__white_ladies_aston/ |website=City population |access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref>
There is evidence that people at least passed through the area during the Neolithic or early Bronze Age.<ref>{{Citation |title=White Ladies Aston Big Dig: What did we find? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUCVVRF0TT4 |language=en |access-date=2022-10-16}}</ref> As a village it has existed since Roman times with the parish boundaries being formed during the Anglo-Saxon period and have remain until today.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hooke, Della.|title=Worcestershire Anglo-Saxon charter bounds|date=1990|publisher=Boydell Press|others=Sawyer, P. H.|isbn=0-85115-276-7|location=Woodbridge, Suffolk|oclc=21762845}}</ref> The [[Domesday Book]] mentions local land owners notably the [[Oswald of Worcester|Bishop of Worcester]] who granted Aston Manor to the [[Cistercian]] Nuns in 1255. The nuns were referred to as the "White Ladies" which combined with the word "Aston", derived from the Anglo-Saxon term for "East Farm", forming the name of "White Ladies Aston".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Victoria history of the county of Worcester.|date=1971|publisher=Published for the University of London, Institute of Historical Research by Dawsons of Pall Mall|others=Willis Bund, J. W. (John William), 1843–1928., Doubleday, H. Arthur (Herbert Arthur), 1867–1941., Page, William, 1861–1934.|isbn=0-7129-0479-4|location=Folkestone, Eng.|oclc=49694121}}</ref>
The parish [[Church of England]] church is dedicated to [[St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston|St John the Baptist]].
== History == {{see also|History of Worcestershire}}
=== Pre-Roman and Roman times === The A44 (Evesham Road) and Edward's Lane are ancient [[Salt road|saltways]] dating back to the [[Iron Age]]. These saltways linked [[Droitwich Spa|Droitwich]] to Oxford after branching from the saltway from Droitwhich to Worcester at Martin Hussingtree.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Hooke, Della.|title=The Anglo-Saxon landscape : the kingdom of the Hwicce|date=2009|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0-7190-8068-5|location=Manchester|oclc=298181248}}</ref> The A44 (Evesham Road) saltway to the west and Edward's Lane to the north formed parts of the parish boundaries.
=== Anglo-Saxon === During the Saxon times the village was referred to as "Eastun", "Estun" and "Aston" as the term for "East Farm" in relation to the [[Worcester Cathedral|Cathedral of Worcester]].<ref name=":0" />
Located in the parish was a mound named after Oslaf, a [[Bernicia]]n prince fighting [[Penda of Mercia|King Penda]]. This mound became the meeting place for the [[Oswaldslow]] [[Hundred Court]] after its creation in 964 A.D. and was renamed after [[Oswald of Worcester|Oswald]].<ref name="Mason4">Mason ''St Wulfstan of Worcester'' p. 4</ref> Now known as Low Hill.
The boundaries of the parish date back to Saxon times. The eastern boundary is the [[Bow Brook]], formalised in 974 AD by [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]] granting land to the east of the Bow Brook to Pershore Abbey establishing a permanent boundary with the parish of [[Peopleton]].<ref name=":1" />
In 976 the western boundary was changed as the result of the ruling of the Hundred Court where by a local farmer was accused of illegally farming land to the western side of the saltway. The ruling was in his favor, as a result the parish was expanded to include the area of Snaetch's Hill to the west of the saltway.<ref name=":1" /> Today known as Sneachill.
As the result of a land dispute between [[Bredicot]] and [[Churchill, Wychavon|Churchill]] the Bredicot boundary charter of 983 A.D. defined the northern boundary between Bredicot and Aston Episcopi as, "along the [[Dyke (construction)|dyke]] to the salt way".<ref name=":1" /> [[File:White_Ladies_Aston_Parish_Boundary.png|alt=|left|thumb|The boundary of the parish of White Ladies Aston]]
In 984 the south west and southern boundary of the parish was defined by Bishop Oswald as:<blockquote>"'From Snaet's [Snaetch's] Spring above the Marsh along the Rommes Valley to the Salt Street (Saltway), thence southward past Oswald's Low to the Salters' Well (Egdon) and along the dyke to the Saw Brook and along this brook to the Bow Brook and along the Bow Brook to the Wood Ford at Beornwynn's Valley<nowiki>''</nowiki>.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>
=== Norman ===
==== Domesday Book entries – 1086 ==== Worcestershire was divided between major landowners with the [[Worcester Cathedral|Church of St. Mary's, Worcester]], holding all the land in [[Oswaldslow]] and all the ancient dues and rights of the church confirmed at this time [[Wulfstan (died 1095)|Wulfstan]], Bishop of Worcester, was the Tenant-in-chief. In the [[Domesday Book|Domesday Survey]], in 1086, the settlement of Aston was recorded under two tenants. The northern section, called Aston Episcopi, formed part of the [[Northwick, Worcestershire|Manor of Northwick]]. The Domesday Book entry for the Manor of Aston Episcopi states<blockquote>Ordric<ref>{{Cite web|title=[White Ladies] Aston {{!}} Domesday Book|url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SO9252/white-ladies-aston/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=opendomesday.org}}</ref> holds 3 [[Hide (unit)|hides]] and 1 [[virgate]] of this manor at (White Ladies) Estun. He has 3 ploughs; 5 villagers and 4 smallholders with 4 ploughs. The value was 20s; now 40s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Domesday Book, Worcestershire|publisher=Phillimore|year=1982}}</ref></blockquote>The southern section, called Nether Aston, formed part of the [[Warndon|Manor of Warndon]] which was held by [[Urse d'Abetot|Urse D'Abitot]] who leased it to Robert de Bracy.<ref name=":0" /> The Domesday Book entry for the Manor of Nether Aston states<blockquote>Urso also holds 1 hide and 3 virgates at Warndon and (White Ladies) Estun, and Robert from him. He has 2 ploughs, with 2 slaves. Meadow, 16 acres; woodland 2 furlongs long and as wide: it is in the Forest. The value is and was 16s<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
==== Founding of the church ==== In 1204 Robert de Everay made a gift of two palfreys to the Bishop of Worcester. This action won Robert the right to present a candidate for the office of vicar to the parish of Aston Episcopi and it was understood he intended to build a stone church this resulted in the [[St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston|St John the Baptist church]] which is still present to this day.
==== The Forest Law of 1217 ==== For people who broke [[Forest Laws]] the punishment were severe. Under the 1217 Charter of [[King Henry III of England|King Henry III]] the Forest Laws were removed from Aston parish. The village is located in the north of the [[Horewell Forest]]. As a result of this Charter villagers could hunt and gather wood with impunity. This change came about because of the deforestation of the area around Aston caused by a greater need for farm land. Over this time the area changed dramatically in appearance, unlike the neighboring village of Churchill which lay within the [[Feckenham Forest|Forest of Feckenham]] and as a result the villagers of Churchill where still subject to the old laws.
=== The Manor of Aston Episcopi from the 12th century to 17th century === In 1120 part of Aston Episcopi manor was given by Bishop [[Theulf]] to Robert de Evercy. A descendant of the same name obtained a recognition of his right to build a stone church at Aston in 1204. [[Walter de Cantilupe]], Bishop of Worcester, in 1242 acquired additional land for Aston Episcopi from the Manor of Aston Bruley owned by the de Bruley family. In 1255 part of the revenue from Aston Episcopi was granted to the eight [[Cistercian nuns]] running the newly formed [[Whistones Priory]] in Barbourne, Worcester. The nuns were of the Cistercian Order and wore white habits so creating the village name, White Ladies Aston.<ref name=":0" />
During the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|Reformation]] of [[Henry VIII]] Whistones Nunnery was dissolved in October 1536. The dissolution of the nunnery might have caused another change in the name of the manor but the name White Ladies Aston remained. This manor was granted on 14 July 1544 to Richard Andrews and John Howe, and on 30 July they sold it to Thomas Hill. A descendant of Thomas Hill, Francis Hill died in 1611 leaving a daughter Alice, wife of Richard Andrews, who sold the manor, in 1612, to [[Robert Berkeley (MP for Chippenham)|Robert Berkeley]] of [[Spetchley]] and the lands continue under Berkeley ownership today. The rest of the Manor of Aston Episcopi was retained by the bishop and remained in the possession of the [[Worcester Cathedral|see of Worcester]] until 1648. It was then sold by the Parliamentary trustees to Thomas Rawlins, Edmund Giles and Christopher Giles but was restored to the see at the [[Stuart Restoration|Restoration]] of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in 1660 and remained in the hands of successive bishops until the death of [[Henry Pepys]] when it is transferred to the [[Ecclesiastical Commissioners]].<ref name=":0" />
=== The Manor of Aston Bruley from the 12th century to 17th century === Robert de Bruley is recorded as holding the land of Nether Aston in 1185 and it being referred to as Aston Bruley. In the 13th century the marriage of William de Bruley to Beatrice [[Baron Beauchamp|Beauchamp]] of Warwickshire. The lands in the area continued in the Bruley Family until the middle of the 15th century, when by marriage it became the property of the Danvers Family, then to the Hubaud or Hubold Family. In 1558 the manor was sold to William Solley. The Solley family was still in possession of the manor in 1610 at the point when the Manor of Aston Bruley ceased to exist. By the time of the [[English Civil War]]s (1642–1651) the property was in the possession of the Symonds Family who were Roundheads and energetic supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War.<ref name=":0" />
=== Aston Hall Farm during the English Civil War === [[File:Aston_Hall_Farm.jpg|thumb|Aston Hall Farm pre 1830s]] John Good and Charles Berkeley of Spetchley mustered at Aston Court to join [[Prince Rupert of the Rhine|Prince Rupert]] in the Royal Cavalry before advancing to support King Charles I at the [[Battle of Newbury (1643)|Battle of Newbury]] in 1643.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Willis Bund|first=J.W.|title=The Civil War in Worcestershire, 1642 -1646 and the Scottish invasion of 1651|year=1905}}</ref>
By the time of the English Civil Wars the former Manor of Aston Bruley contained a very fine black and white timbered house of Aston Hall Farm. Aston Hall Farm was where [[Oliver Cromwell]], General of the Parliamentary Forces, spent the night of 30 August 1651<ref>{{Cite book|last=Willis Bund|first=J.W.|title=The Battle of Worcester|year=1913}}</ref> with his friend Mr. Justice Symonds in advance of the [[Battle of Worcester]] 3 September 1651. At the other end of the village, at Aston Court, an archaeological dig has produced evidence that Parliamentary troops plundered the farm, in 1651 before the Battle of Worcester, when the Royalist Good family refused to provide the Parliamentary troops with [[billet]]s.<ref name=":3" />
On the 31st he moved to [[Forward operating base|Forward Headquarters]] at Mr. Justice Berkeley's estate at Spetchley. On 3 September the Battle of Worcester began. Oliver Cromwell advanced from [[Worcester Woods Country Park|Nunnery Wood]], attacked the city and routed the Royalist force. Charles II was forced to flee from the City of Worcester out of the back door of his lodgings at Rowland Berkeley House (now the King Charles House) and eventually the country, and remained in exile until he returned as [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] in 1660.<ref name=":3" />
=== Aston Hall Farm in the 18th century === In 1707 Thomas Symond, of Aston Hall Farm, and John Palmer were leaders of the desperate band of ruffians who terrorised their neighbours in White Ladies Aston, [[Upton Snodsbury]] and [[Libbery, Wychavon|Libbery]]. The [[Berrow's Worcester Journal|Berrow's Journal]] later described the incident<blockquote>In the night of the 7th November, 1707, Mrs Palmer of Upton Snodsbury and her maid servant were murdered, and the house burnt down by a gang of desperate villains, at the head of whom was Mr. Palmer, her only son, and Mr. Symonds, whose sister Palmer had married.</blockquote>They were captured, tried and executed at [[Red Hill, Worcester|Red Hill]] in Worcester. The lands leased by Mr. Symonds and Mr. Palmer in White Ladies reverted to Worcester Cathedral and Bishop Lloyd set up a trust, to be known as Bishop Lloyd's Charity, to receive the revenues. These were devoted to the foundation of two Charity Schools, one for boys and one for girls on one site in Trinity Hall, Worcester. The house and some land was later purchased by [[Bund family of Wick Episcopi|Thomas Henry Bund]] who later sold all his land in the parish to Mr. Berkeley of Spetchley in around 1836.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Willis Bund|first=J.W.|title=Two Worcestershire Murders}}</ref>
=== The village and the Agricultural Revolution === {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = White Ladies Aston Inclosure Act 1825 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act for inclosing Lands, in the Parish of White Ladies Aston, in the County of Worcester. | year = 1825 | citation = [[6 Geo. 4]]. c. ''79'' {{small|Pr.}} | introduced_commons = | introduced_lords = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = 5 July 1825 | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = | collapsed = yes }} Prior to 1825 the area around White Ladies Aston operated as an [[Open-field system|open field system]] containing medieval [[ridge and furrow]] field patterns. The '''{{visible anchor|White Ladies Aston Inclosure Act 1825}}''' ([[6 Geo. 4]]. c. ''79'' {{small|Pr.}}) was passed that legally enforced the enclosing of parcels of land into fields of rectangular shapes, surrounded by hedges or fences, these can still be seen in the countryside today.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Davidson|first=D. A. B.|title=White Ladies Aston – A Continuing Village|publisher=Saxon Print|year=2018|location=Winchcombe}}</ref>
=== The coming of the railway === On 24 June 1840, on the north western edge of White Ladies Aston, the newly built [[Spetchley railway station|Spetchley station]] was located on the recently constructed [[Birmingham and Gloucester Railway]]. Spetchley served as the main station for Worcester and passengers alighting here were taken by horse and carriage into the city. [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel|Mr. I.K. Brunel]] opening the station said, "The arrival of this modern facility will increase the prosperity of the whole area".<ref name=":4" /> In the 1851 census 5 villagers were recorded as working for the railway company. The station was closed to rail passengers on 1 October 1855 with the opening of a new railway line into Worcester, the station remained open as a goods yard finally closing in 1963 as a result of the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching Report]]. In contrast to the closures of railway stations in the 1960s, on Sunday 23 February 2020, a new railway station was opened in the area at [[Stoulton]], [[Worcestershire Parkway railway station|Worcestershire Parkway]].
== Culture == [[File:Border Morris White Ladies Aston Dance.jpg|alt=Border Morris White Ladies Aston Dance|thumb|Border Morris White Ladies Aston Dance]] The village has given its name to a [[Border Morris]] dances: the ''White Ladies Aston'' Dance.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cawte|first=E.C|title=White Ladies Aston Morris Dance|url=https://themorrisring.org/tradition/white-ladies-aston}}</ref> As part of the [[Border Morris|revival of Border Morris]] this is performed each year on the Saturday before Christmas.
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==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|White Ladies Aston}} *[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43173 Victoria County Histories: White Ladies Aston] *[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3269656 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of White Ladies Aston and surrounding area]
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[[Category:Villages in Worcestershire]]