Lickhill

The bridleway runs straight ahead. The field, on the left, is one of those in this area where poppies have flowered this year.

The blue and white marker on the post indicates that the public bridleway goes to the left. See:- SO7974 : Public bridleway, Blackstone. There is no public access or right of way over this field. Behind the hedge in the distance, is the route of the former railway line from Stourport-on-Severn to Bewdley.

In the foreground is the B4195 from Stourport-on-Severn. In the distance is the roundabout at the junction with the Bewdley Bypass, the A456.

These poppies were flowering in June 2011 in this and other nearby fields. The field is next to the B4195 road, from which the photograph was taken. There is no public access to this field, nor over the track seen in this view.

The bridleway is about to enter a wooded section, before coming out onto the B4195 Stourport-on-Severn to Bewdley road.

The roof in the distance is that of a farm building belonging to Upper Blackstone Farm.

Poppies were to be seen in several fields around Blackstone in June 2011, although the most spectacular display was in the field opposite Blackstone Picnic Site. See:- SO7974 : Poppy display by A456 in June 2011, Blackstone.

A narrow country lane, west of the Areley Kings area of Stourport-on-Severn.

This private road is the access road to Bank Farm. There is a public footpath running over it, which eventually connects with a track or lane running to a junction with Jennings Wood Lane.

From Ribbesford Road, it is a short distance to the Areley Kings area of Stourport-on-Severn.

Around Stourport-on-Severm there are public footpaths on both sides of the River Severn. In this view across the river, a footbridge takes the footpath on the other side of the river across the Gladder Brook, at the point of its confluence with the River Severn. There was still a carpet of snow on the adjacent field. The name Gladder apparently comes from Anglo-Saxon and means clear.

The notice is really a reminder that the path here is still on Lickhill Manor Caravan Park property, as the preceding field, behind the camera position, is also their land. The River Severn is on the left, out of view.

There seems to have been some clearance here fairly recently. These two seats give an excellent view of the river, but unfortunately it was not a day for sitting around!

Near Blackstone

The impressive Georgian-style Lickhill Manor viewed from the Severn Way. The house actually predates the Georgian period and was built around 1700. During the Second World War the building was commandeered to take the overflow of expectant mothers from Birmingham. On the 29 December 1941, it was the birthplace of Moody Blues band member Ray Thomas. The building is Grade II* listed. Historic England description: Country house. c1700, but possibly built in 2 distinct phases. Brick with graded slate roof. Entrance front of 3 storeys and 7 bays, the upper storey a different brick and bond, possibly extending a house of the late C17, in the early C18. Central door with 6-fielded panels in shouldered architrave and segmentally arched pediment. Flush framed 12-pane sash windows with flat arched gauged brick heads with stuccoed key stones, and moulded stone sills, aligned on each floor. Sill band to first floor, modillion eaves cornice. Rear elevation similar, but superior quality of detailing suggests that this was intended as the principal front. Central doorway with shouldered architrave with keystone and segmentally arched pediment on consoles. 12-pane sash windows have flat arched brick heads with fluted stuccoed keystones and moulded sills. Doorway inserted in former window opening to lower right. Parapet wall across both gables, linking 2 parallel ridges. Gable end stacks with projecting capping. Internally, a series of panelled rooms, to ground and first floor, at least one of the early C18 with bolection moulding to fireplaces and door surrounds. Others may be later C18, and there was some later C19 remodelling by the Crane family, whose monograms appear in painted plaster in a ceiling. Floral fresco painting to ceiling in one ground floor room. Small room to front has C17-style panelling, either a good copy, or surviving from an earlier building. Early C18 staircase with moulded string and turned balusters. Late C19 armorial glass in stair windows. Source:Link

View up the River Severn from near Lickhill Manor.