Birlingham

Birlingham is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. The village is south of Pershore, located in a bend of the River Avon.

Birlingham
The Swan, Birlingham
Birlingham Location within Worcestershire
OS grid reference	SO932428
Civil parish	Birlingham
District	Wychavon
Shire county	Worcestershire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PERSHORE
Postcode district	WR10
Dialling code	01386
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	West Worcestershire
List of places UK England Worcestershire 52.083°N 2.1°W / 52.083; -2.1

Toponymy

The name Birlingham is derived from the Old English Byrla–inga–hamm, meaning "Land, in a river-bend, of a man called Byrla". It has been recorded as Byrlingahamm (972) and Berlingeham (1086, Domesday Book).^[1]

History

See also: History of Worcestershire

Roman Britain

Romans are believed to have settled in Birlingham during the Roman occupation of Britain, suggested by the discovery of a Roman brooch within the village. It is possible that there was a crossing point near the village at Swans Neck, though no evidence has been found of this.^[2]

Late Middle Ages

The Swan Inn, the village's public house, is believed to date back to the 16th century.^[3]

Governance

The village of Birlingham is primarily governed by Birlingham Parish Council, then by Wychavon District Council. It falls within the West Worcestershire constituency.^[4]

Geography and demography

Birlingham is surrounded on the north, south and east sides by a river-bend known as Swans Neck, part of the River Avon. The village is located on a floodplain.^[5] Bow Brook passes by the village's west side.

Nearby villages include Defford and Eckington.

In 2001, the parish had a population of 325, compared to a population of 373 in 1991.^[6]

Transport

There are two bus services that serve Birlingham: the 52/53, which goes between Worcester and Eckington (via Pershore and Evesham),^[7] and the 54, which goes between Worcester and Pershore.^[8] Both services are run by FirstGroup.

Places of worship

Church of St James the Great

The church's original chancel arch

Flag flown from the church tower

Birlingham is served by the church of St James the Great, located in the Anglican Diocese of Worcester. The original church was built in the 12th century, with its chancel arch now located outside as the churchyard's entrance. The current west tower was built in the 15th century, the rest of the church being rebuilt around the 1870s by Rev Robert Rashleigh Duke.^[9][10]

Sport

Birlingham is represented in Worcestershire Cricket League Division League Six by Birlingham Cricket Club.^[11]