Callow Hill, Worcestershire


Callow Hill is a small hamlet on the outskirts of Redditch in Worcestershire, England. Other villages nearby include Astwood Bank, Feckenham, Cookhill and Webheath.

History

Callow Hill can be traced back to the 16th century, when small cottages were built. In the mid-1600s further expansion came, as cottages, which still stand today, were built. Callow Hill stayed the same throughout the 18th and 19th century, unlike nearby Feckenham and Redditch, Callow Hill did not have needle factories. In the beginning of the 20th century the Callow Hill & Walkwood Golf Club was founded, members could play on a small course, the exact location is not known, but it is thought to be in between Love Lyne and Callow Hill Lane, due to the way the hill is formed. The Redditch Golf Club was founded in 1913 on the site and in the late 1920s moved to a larger site in Redditch Town Centre. In the early 1970s Redditch New Town Development Corporation planned to build the Bromsgrove Highway as part of the planned New Town highway infrastructure, it was constructed through the Golf Course. It was decided that Redditch Golf Club would be moved back to Callow Hill, but on green-field land adjacent to Upper Grinsty Farm. The remainder of the course in the town was renamed Pitcheroak Golf course, a municipal course for anyone to use, whereas the Callow Hill site club remained for private members. Redditch Golf Club relocated in 1972 to Lower Grinsty Lane. Part of Marlpit Lane was covered over with earth for the course, the rest of lane was severed by Windmill Drive. Part of Green Lane, to the west of Morton Stanley Park, was by passed as the existing 16th century lane could not cope with the traffic. In the early 1980s development began for an 'Victorian style village', the original part of the estate followed the Valley, which has later been interrupted by further development. The estate was officially opened on 7 September 1984. Since the further development came, and the former Riding School was bought in the mid-1990s and many homes were built on. Based in Callow Hill is a wine company, Callow Hill Country Wine which has its headquarters on Brookhouse Lane in the village.

Morton Stanley Park

Morton Stanley Park is a public park located to the north of Callow Hill. It was opened in 1986 and is run by Redditch Borough Council, however it is not owned by them. The land today that makes up Morton Stanley Park, was once Upper Grinsty Farm, which was bought in 1913 by William Morton Stanley. Stanley was a rich factory owner and retired to Upper Grinsty and lived the rest of his life there. In 1921, he edited his will, which resulted in Upper Grinsty Farm being given to the people of Redditch and Webheath. Stanley died three years later at the age of 84, little did he know his land would not be open to the public until over 60 years later. Upper Grinsty Farmhouse, became derelict and run-down until it was finally demolished in 1959. 5 years later when Redditch became a New Town, the Development Corporation wanted to build a housing estate on his land, however these plans were halted by the Headless Cross Residents Association. In 1978, the far-eastern fringes of Stanley's land was in fact built on, but Redditch Council gave council owned land to the west of the estate to compensate. Windmill Drive was built and after 60 years of waiting the park opened to the public with two carparks, one in the east in Headless Cross and one in the west in Callow Hill.

The Callow Hill Windmill

The Windmill referred to in the name of Windmill Drive was situated on the top of Callow Hill. The following information is taken from: 'Windmills in Shropshire Hereford and Worcester': Wilfred A Seaby, Arthur C Smith. Stevenage Museum Publications.
REDDITCH SP 027647. Brick Tower Mill on Callow Hill, Walkwood Common. Advertised in Birmingham Gazette for sale and as 'newly erected'. Again to be sold with sails, gearing, stones and other machinery complete in the Midland Counties Herald. A brick portion not very high was standing about 1855. Today the site is marked by a semicircle of trees and a small paddock adjoining the extended meeting house Windmill Cottage; a Peak runner stone was on the site in January 1983. Parts from the Callow Hill Windmill are buried in the grounds of Windmill Cottage, in the paddock.
The semicircle of trees is still in place, but the approaching short 'lane' has changed at least one of its hedgerows. The position of the windmill is visible on old O.S. maps. The correct grid reference is SP028648.

The Gazebo and village

The Gazebo, on Foxholes Lane, is Callow Hill's village hall. It is also used as a polling station. Very occasionally village meetings are held but only a maximum of twenty-thirty people can attend because the Gazebo is so small. Situated near the Gazebo is the Callow Hill village pond, which is surrounded by trees and greenery. There are two major roads travelling through Callow Hill, Foxholes Lane and Callow Hill Lane, which is the major linking Redditch to Hanbury, Droitwich Spa, Pershore, Worcester and the M5.

Bus services

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is a bus service from Pershore travelling to Sainsbury's in Redditch and stopping via the Gazebo in Callow Hill. The route is operated by the local bus operators, N.N Creswall of Evesham. There is also another bus route operated by the Woosh bus company based in Droitwich Spa. It is operated by Worcestershire County Council.

Politics

Callow Hill falls within the parliamentary constituency of Redditch which as of the June 2017 General Election is represented by Rachel Maclean,. The constituency was previously represented by former Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith who resigned her position in June 2009 following allegations of misappropriation of her MP expense allowance.

Redditch Borough Council

Callow Hill is part of the Crabbs Cross ward of Redditch Borough Council; in which two councillors are elected in rotation for four years each. In the 2010 local election, Councillor David Smith stood down & Councillor Jack Field died earlier that year, so two candidates for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats & Labour were fielded, the Greens stood just one candidate. Derek Taylor, and Andrew Brazier, who lives in Callow Hill, are the current councillors.

Worcestershire County Council

Callow Hill is part of Redditch South electoral division of Worcestershire County Council, which is represented by two Conservative councillors, Barry Gandy and Peter Gretton. Callow Hill comes under the Redditch South division of Redditch ward.

Notable residents