Strensham: Churches, Building History and Riverside Walk

For planning a trip to Strensham, there are two distinct areas of interest: historic buildings and a circular walk through the river landscape. The Church of St John the Baptist, the site of Strensham Castle and several buildings around Strensham Court offer insights into different periods of construction. By contrast, the Eckington Wharf Circular Walk passes through flood meadows along the River Avon to Strensham Lock. When planning, you can therefore focus on local history or a riverside route.

Church and building history

Inside the Church of St John the Baptist is a Norman tub-shaped font. The church also has an outstanding collection of monuments to the Russell family and other people, dating back to the late 14th century. The font and monuments draw attention to different aspects of the church interior: a single architectural feature and a culture of commemoration that has developed over several centuries.

Strensham Castle also offers a distinctive historical focus. The site is a well-preserved example of a complex medieval manorial moat system. Its notable heritage also includes rare Civil War earthworks. The medieval site and defensive features from a later period thus give the place two distinct historical associations.

Several buildings at Strensham Court reveal specific details of their architecture. The Lodge and Gatepiers at Strensham Court were built in 1824. The single-storey lodge is built of ashlar and features Doric columns; the contemporary ashlar gate piers are topped with pediments. At Home Farmhouse, timber framing, whitewashed brickwork and an L-shaped plan are defining features. The two-storey house dates from the early 17th century.

The Stables East North East of Strensham Court are an L-shaped stable block built of red brick in the 18th century. The former stables of Strensham Court should be distinguished from the surviving stable block: they were built in 1824 and destroyed by fire in 1974.

Circular walk through the river landscape

The Eckington Wharf Circular Walk passes through flood meadows along the River Avon to Strensham Lock. On the way to the lock, the route passes a row of pollarded willows on the opposite bank of the River Avon, as well as further pollarded willows along the Bow Brook. The riverside trees and open meadow landscape therefore offer a different side to a visit from the historic buildings.

On the way to Strensham Lock, the circular walk also passes moorings where cruisers and narrowboats are berthed. Moorings and boating activity may vary seasonally. For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish between sections of the route: the flood meadows and pollarded willows are characteristic of the landscape along the route, while the moorings offer a glimpse of boating activity on the water. The walk brings these impressions together in a circular route, without requiring a particular walking time or level of difficulty.

As ground conditions and public rights of way can change, check the current route conditions before setting out. If you are more interested in building history, the church and historic buildings offer specific points of interest; if you prefer a waterside walk, you can follow the route to Strensham Lock.

Discover more destinations: Bewdley, Harvington, Berrow, Stoke Prior, Kempsey, Tenbury Wells, Rock, Rochford

For the main travel overview: Worcestershire.