Stoke Prior: Walking Routes, Church and Salt History

Stoke Prior can be considered from two perspectives when planning a trip: named walking routes with specific distances, and the village’s ecclesiastical and industrial history. For the routes, the starting or ending point, length and connection to the canal are relevant. The historical information ranges from the old churchyard and a former part of the church building to the history of the salt works. You can first decide whether you are more interested in the routes or the historical themes.

Walking routes of different lengths

The walking route from Tardebigge to Stoke Prior ends in Stoke Prior after 3½ miles and runs alongside the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Aston Fields is the nearest railway station for this walk. The destination and connection to the railway station are therefore specified for this route; the 3½ miles indicate its length.

The John Corbett Way is a signposted walk from Stoke Prior to Droitwich Spa. It is 6.8 miles (11 km) long and runs partly alongside the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. It is named after the local industrialist John Corbett. This route thus combines a named trail with a historical connection in its name.

By comparison, at 6.8 miles the John Corbett Way is almost twice as long as the 3½-mile walk; the difference is 3.3 miles. Stoke Prior is the destination on the Tardebigge route and the starting point on the John Corbett Way. The canal connection is also described differently: the first route runs alongside the canal, while part of the John Corbett Way is described as following the canal. One route is classified as a walk, the other as a signposted walk.

Church and industrial history

St Michael and All Angels Stoke Prior stands in an old churchyard with two trees that are about 1,200 years old. The approximate age gives a sense of the long history of these two trees and broadens the view of the church setting beyond the church building itself.

The lychgate lies about 75 metres southwest of the Church of St Michael and was formerly the south porch of the adjoining church. Its location places the structure in relation to the Church of St Michael, while its former function establishes a specific connection to the church building. The churchyard and the lychgate thus offer different historical points of interest: one contains the ancient trees, while the other has a former architectural function.

The history of Stoke Prior’s salt works adds an industrial focus to these church-related connections. After a period of decline, John Corbett bought the salt works in 1853 and revived them. The sequence runs from decline to purchase to revival; the year 1853 refers to the purchase. Alongside the architectural history, this is a story associated with a named person and a specific historical year.

The name John Corbett also connects the walking route with the history of the village: the signposted route is named after the local industrialist who also bought and revived the salt works. The same name thus appears both as the namesake of the route and in connection with Stoke Prior’s industrial history.

Discover more destinations: Barnt Green, Worcester, Shrawley, Bromsgrove, Rock, Ribbesford, Hagley, Dunhampton.

For the regional travel overview: Worcestershire.