Hollybed Street

Hollybush crossroads, A438

A438 near Coombegreen Common

A438 descends toward Rye Cross

A438 approaching Rye Cross

The building houses G.Windle & Sons. A filling station was also once operated here, but is now disused, though the canopy remains.

A438 heading east from Rye Cross

Hollybush Hill

It can be quite hard to imagine that 2000 years ago this quiet spot was part of a busy town - the Midsummer Hill iron-age hill-fort. Excavations in the late 1960s by Stan Stanford showed the area full of small building plots. Each plot had been reused time and time again over the centuries suggesting continuous occupation. The buildings used four posts arranged in a square - not at all like the round huts usually depicted for this era. Evidence for similar square buildings have been found in other so called "hill-forts" in Herefordshire and the Welsh Marches

North gate of Midsummer Hill iron-age hill-fort

Looking north along the Malvern Hills. Another hill-fort occupies Herefordshire Beacon on the left. Straight ahead are three overlapping peaks of Pinnacle Hill (north and south) and Black Hill. In the far distance one can just make out Worcestershire Beacon in the haze.

Lane across Castlemorton Common

Long straight lane heading towards Hollybush. Popular route for weekend picnics as it is possible to park on many of the green spaces.

Track across Castlemorton Common

Heading east towards Bowling Green.

Scrubland at Castlemorton Common

View east with Bredon Hill just visible on the horizon. The evening sun highlights the mixture of rough grazing, gorse and scrub in this more inaccessible part of the common.

West side of Castlemorton Common

Looking north to the cottages on Hancock's Lane lit up by the evening sun.

Cattle grazing near Hancocks Lane

Cattle are always to be found somewhere on the common where commoners exercise their grazing rights.

Coombegreen

The view from Wendy Woodward's seat atop the hillock on Coombegreen Common. Looking out to the houses on the B4208 and those on Birts Street. SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

The seat is at the front of the hill overlooking the Severn Plain. Behind are several commemorative trees including one dating back to 1937 for the King's Coronation. SO7736 : Plaque on Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green Common SO7736 : Coombegreen

Plaque on Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green

In loving memory of Wendy Woodward Died 3 March 2004 aged 90 years Enjoy the view as she did SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green Common

At the front of the hill overlooking the Severn Plain. SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

Hollybush Fete, Hollybush Church Hall, 2011

An auction of donated items too good for the bric-a-brac stall is taking place. On the other side of the hall the skittles competition was taking place. On this side books, CDs, a raffle. Inside the hall, Cakes, jams, produce (I bought a box of quinces for £1!) clothes, and the bric-a-brac stall. Scrummy cakes and cups of tea served in the adjoining room.