DODDERHILL - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"DODDERHILL, a parish partly in the upper division of the hundred of Halfshire, and partly in Droitwich borough, in the county of Worcester, half a mile N.E. of Droitwich. It is situated on the road to Bromsgrove, and near the Midland railway, which has a station at Droitwich. The parish contains the extra-parochial place of Crutch, and the hamlets of Rashwood, Astwood, Impney, and the village of Wychbold. William de Dovere founded a hospital here for a master and poor brethren, temp. Edward I., which was called St. Augustine de Wich.

It was under the government of the Prior of Worcester, and at the suppression of free chapels, in the reign of Edward VI., was valued at £21 11s. 8d. The living is a vicarage* [the asterisk denotes that there is a parsonage and glebe belonging to the living] in the diocese of Worcester, value with the curacy of Elmbridge annexed, £500, in the patronage of Jackson, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Augustine, is a curious structure, with a tower and six bells, and contains monumental tablets to the Penrices, Amphlets, Holbeches, and other families. It was partially destroyed in the parliamentary war, but has since been rebuilt. The Independents have a chapel, and there is a National school for both sexes. Sir John Pakington, Bart., M.P., is lord of the manor."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]