ELMLEY CASTLE - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"ELMLEY CASTLE, a parish in the middle division of the hundred of Oswaldslow, county Worcester, 4 miles S.E. of Pershore, its post town, and 4 S.W. of the Evesham station on the West Midland line. This was formerly a market town, but is now only a small village. Kersoe is a hamlet in this parish. A castle was built here in early times, and held by the Beauchamp and other families. Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, founded a college or chantry here for eight priests, in honour of the Virgin Mary.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Worcester, value £112, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and contains some handsome monuments to the Savage family, and one to the Earl of Coventry. The charities produce about £5 per annum. Elmley Park is the principal residence. Bishop Bonner is said to have been born here. The Earl of Beauchamp takes the title of viscount from-this place. On Bredon Hill are the ruins of a castle surrounded by a moat."

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