Upton-upon-Severn

Upton-upon-Severn (or Upton on Severn, etc. and locally simply Upton) is a small town and civil parish in the Malvern Hills District of Worcestershire, England. The 2011 census recorded a population of 2,881,[1] making it the smallest town in the county.

Upton-upon-Severn
High Street
Upton-upon-Severn Location within Worcestershire
Population	2,881 (2011)
OS grid reference	SO852405
• London	114 miles (183 km)
Civil parish	Upton-upon-Severn
District	Malvern Hills
Shire county	Worcestershire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Worcester
Postcode district	WR8
Dialling code	01684
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	West Worcestershire

Upton is situated on the west bank of the River Severn and is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Malvern. The town has a distinctive tower and copper-clad cupola – known locally as the "Pepperpot" – the only surviving remnant of the former church. Its replacement, also dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield.[2]

History

See also: History of Worcestershire

Until the later half of the 20th century, the bridge at Upton was the only one across the River Severn between Worcester and Tewkesbury; the present bridge was built in 1940.[3] Oliver Cromwell's soldiers crossed the Severn here to win the battle of Upton before the main Battle of Worcester in the English Civil War.

Today

The population of the civil parish in 2011 was recorded at 2,881[1] – an increase from 2,859 recorded in 2001.[4] The parish extends westward from the town, including the settlement at Tunnel Hill, but does not include the village of Ryall located close to the town, on the other side of the river. Upton is in the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency.

Upton lies on the banks of the River Severn and is known for its regular flooding.[5] Low-lying areas of Upton suffered serious flooding in 2000. In the 2007 floods, levels exceeded those in 2000, and the town was inaccessible by road.[6] The town's main built up area lies on slightly higher ground than the surrounding countryside, and becomes an island during severe floods.

The town has three major music festivals, with the spring folk festival, and the summer jazz and blues festivals.[7]

Upton is the home of The White Lion Hotel, a 16th-century coaching inn, where parts of the building date back to 1510. The building has undergone many transformations over the centuries and is easily found on the high street due to its distinctive portico, adorned with its very own lion. Reputed to have played a part in the English Civil War, where soldiers from both sides are alleged to have enjoyed the hospitality of this popular local hostelry prior to the Battle of Worcester. Guests of the hotel can stay in rooms referred to in books VII and VIII of Henry Fielding's classic 1749 novel Tom Jones in which he refers to the hotel as "A house of exceeding good repute";[8] these rooms retain many of their original features.

Upton on Severn Sports Field is the home of Upton on Severn Rugby Club, as well as being used for Welland Junior Swifts matches and other community functions. Upton Town F.C. will play in the Midland Football League from August 2019.

Education

Primary education is provided by Upton-upon-Severn CofE Primary School with approximately 160 (2013) pupils on role.[9] Hanley Castle High School, located in a nearby village, provides secondary education for the region.

People

The 'Pepperpot' – remains of the former church of St Peter and St Paul. Its nave was demolished in 1937.

• John Dee, mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, was presented the lay rectorship of Upton upon Severn in 1553.[10]
• Nigel Mansell, Formula One world champion, born in Upton
• Admiral Sir William Tennant, KCB, CBE, MVO, DL (1890–1963), born in Upton. A bust of him is located in the town centre, in the grounds of The Pepperpot. William Tennant served in the Royal Navy in both World Wars and was the British Commander on the beaches at Dunkirk, during the evacuation of 300,000 British and French troops, fleeing the German advance in 1940.
• General Sir George Alexander Weir, KCB, CMG, DSO (1876–1951), born in Upton

Transport

The bridge at Upton-upon-Severn

Upton used to be served by Upton-on-Severn railway station, on a branch line Tewkesbury and Malvern Railway from Ashchurch to Malvern, with the intermediate stations Tewkesbury, Ripple, Worcestershire, Upton upon Severn and Malvern Wells (Hanley Road).[11] The Upton to Malvern section closed in December 1952 and the rest in August 1961, before the Beeching Axe.

Although the M5 motorway is close by, the nearest motorway junction is Junction 1 of the M50 (which is 2 miles or 3.2 km from J8 of the M5).

Upton Marina is home to Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue.

References

1. "Neighbourhood Statistics". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
2. "History of the Old Church" (PDF). www.upton.uk.net. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
3. "The Bridge at Upton" (PDF). www.upton.uk.net. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
4. ONS 2001 census: parish headcount
5. Clare Lissaman, Downpours shocked 'most flooded' town Upton upon Severn, BBC News, 20 July 2012.
6. "July 2007 Floods". www.upton.uk.net. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
7. "Upton Blues Festival". Upton Blues Festival. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
8. Fielding, Henry (1861). Tom Jones. Derby. p. 149. Retrieved 10 December 2011. tom jones exceeding good repute.
9. Ofsted. Retrieved 6 December 2017
10. Fell Smith, Charlotte (1909). John Dee: 1527–1608. London: Constable and Company.
11. "Upton Ticket". www.miac.org.uk. Railways in Worcestershire. Retrieved 10 December 2011.

• 'Parishes: Upton upon Severn', A History of the County of Worcester: volume 4 (1924), pp. 212–217. Date accessed: 14 July 2009.

External links

• Town Council
• Upton community website