Views of central Martley - a mixture of old and new

 

Location
Martley is a community of approximately 1200 people in the heart of rural England and seven miles west of the cathedral city of Worcester, which is famous for its connections with the English Civil War, its former porcelain factory and its cathedral. Despite being an ancient settlement (c.f. Berrow Hill, an encampment dating back to the Iron Age or earlier), the popular community of Martley is still growing, with the latest houses being completed in April 2008, so it is a living, working mixture of old and new.
You will find all that you might expect: beautiful countryside with charming villages and half timbered homes, ancient churches and ancient yew trees, rural crafts, historical sites, wonderful walks.
Most of the parish is given over to mixed agriculture - these days arable, but formerly cherry, apple and damson orchards and hopyards.
Commercial enterprises include the head office of Taylors of Martley, a large trucking company. In the 20th century, Lustys, UK manufacturers of Lloyd Loom furniture, had a base in Martley.
Martley is close to the River Teme, a substantial tributary of the longest river in Great Britain, the River Severn. The Teme rises in Wales and tumbles down through lonely countryside with small villages. The river is hidden in a deep valley near Martley, finally breaking through the Malvern-Abberley chain of hills before crossing the flat flood plain of the Severn, to its confluence with the Severn just south of Worcester. The area is part of the Abberley and Malvern Geopark.
Martley is the custodian of over 40 miles of parish footpaths (the village is situated on a loop of the Worcestershire Way). These footpaths are clearly marked and are in regular use by locals and visitors alike.

History
In Martley has a Norman church, with unique frescoes and the oldest set of six bells in the country.
Martley was home to Charles Hastings, the founder of the British Medical Association, and Thomas Sander, who started Amateur Gardening.
England's greatest composer, Elgar, was born nearby. He loved to walk and cycle in the surrounding countryside and the valley of the River Teme. Today, you can retrace his steps and seek the inspiration he found here and visit the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath (4 miles).

Updated 29/05/08 msh