Bredon Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bredon Hill |
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The top of Bredon Hill, with Parsons Folly and the inner rampart of Kemerton Camp
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 299 m (981 ft) |
| Prominence | 257 m (843 ft) |
| Parent peak | The Wrekin |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Geography | |
 Bredon Hill
Location in Worcestershire
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| Location | Worcestershire, England |
| OS grid | SO958402 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 150 |
Bredon Hill is a famous hill located in Worcestershire, England. It sits southwest of Evesham in the beautiful Vale of Evesham. Even though it's part of the Cotswolds hills, Bredon Hill stands out on its own. This is because natural changes over time have separated it from the main Cotswolds range. The very top of the hill is in the village area of Kemerton, but the hill itself spreads across parts of eight other nearby villages.
At the very top of Bredon Hill, you'll find a small stone tower called Parsons Folly. People living nearby often just call it 'the Tower'. This tower was built in the mid-1700s by a man named John Parsons, who was a MP. He wanted it as a summer house where he could enjoy amazing views of the countryside. The hill is already about 299 meters (981 feet) tall, and with the tower on top, it reaches over 300 meters (1,000 feet)! Parsons Folly is a well-known landmark in the area. Today, the tower is used as a base for mobile phone signals, so you might see some large antennas on its outside.
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Discovering Bredon Hill's Past
At the top of Bredon Hill, you can find the remains of an ancient Iron Age fort called Kemerton Camp. This fort was probably left empty around the 1st century A.D. after a big battle.
Ancient Stones and Legends
There are also signs of Roman activity and several old standing stones on the hill. One large stone at the top is known as the Banbury Stone. It's also playfully called the 'Elephant Stone' because it looks a bit like an elephant! Another two stones below the summit are known as the King and Queen Stones. A local story says that if you walk between them, you might be cured of an illness.
Medieval Castle and Old Traditions
Near the village of Elmley Castle, on the north side of the hill, you can see what's left of a large medieval castle. This castle was once a very important stronghold for the powerful Beauchamp family. Over time, the castle fell apart, and some of its stones were even used to build a bridge in Pershore.
For many years, until about 1876, a fun fair and summer games were held every Whitsun (a Christian holiday) at the very top of Bredon Hill.
Roman Treasure Found!
In 2011, something very exciting happened on Bredon Hill! The largest collection of Roman items ever found in Worcestershire was uncovered. This amazing find included about 4,000 coins, featuring images of 16 different Roman emperors!
Nature and Wildlife on Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill is a super important place for wildlife in England. It has many different natural areas, like old forests, grassy areas with special plants, and scrubland. A large part of the hill's western and northern slopes was named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1955. This means it's protected because of its special nature. Later, in 2005, an even larger area became a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European rules. Part of this area is also a National Nature Reserve.
Bredon Hill is especially important because it's home to rare insects and other small creatures, like the amazing violet click beetle. Groups like Natural England and the Kemerton Conservation Trust work hard to protect the wildlife on the hill.
Many parts of the hill are looked after to help wildlife thrive. This includes the area around the summit, which is kept as open grassland for everyone to enjoy.
Exploring the Hill
There are lots of public footpaths and bridleways (paths for horses and walkers) that cross the hill. These paths start from the villages around the base of the hill, letting you plan many different walking routes. The Wychavon Way walking trail also goes over the hill, passing very close to the summit, so you can easily take a short detour to reach the top.
The hill's highest point is 299 meters (981 feet) above sea level.
Bredon Hill in Books and Art
Bredon Hill has inspired many famous composers, poets, writers, and artists over the years.
Writers Inspired by the Hill
- Fred Archer (1915–1999) was a farmer and writer born on Bredon Hill. His books describe life on the farms and in the villages, especially in the early 1900s.
- John Moore wrote about life on and around Bredon Hill in his 'Brensham Trilogy' books.
- The children's author Ursula Moray Williams lived on the hill from 1945 until she passed away in 2006.
A Famous Poem
The hill is also famous because of a poem by A. E. Housman from his 1896 book, A Shropshire Lad. Here are some lines from the poem:
- In summertime on Bredon
- The bells they sound so clear;
- Round both the shires they ring them
- In steeples far and near,
- A happy noise to hear.
- Here of a Sunday morning
- My love and I would lie,
- And see the coloured counties,
- And hear the larks so high
- About us in the sky.
Villages Around Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill is made up of land belonging to nine different villages. If you go around the hill clockwise from the top, these villages are:
- Kemerton
- Bredon & Bredon's Norton
- Eckington
- Great Comberton
- Little Comberton
- Elmley Castle, Bricklehampton & Netherton
- Ashton under Hill
- Beckford
- Overbury & Conderton
Local Arts and Crafts
There's a lively art scene around Bredon Hill! The Bredon Hill Open Studios group is made up of local artists, designers, and craftspeople who open their workshops to the public. This group includes artists like Samantha Dadd, Conderton Pottery, and the Beckford Silk-printing workshop. You can also find contemporary artists like Nick Holdsworth and Tony Whitehouse who paint the local area.
Images for kids
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The currently closed Bredon railway station.
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A 3D view of the digital terrain model of Bredon Hill.
