Blymhill stands 6 miles northeast from Shifnal and 6 miles northwest from Brewood. Slightly northeast from Weston-under-Lizard, Blymhill formed part of the Earl of Bradford’s estate and once housed workers from the estate. It contains a number of fine listed buildings. The church is dedicated to St Mary and has 14^th century origins. Despite being extensively rebuilt it retains many original features. Under the terms of the Staffordshire Review Order, 1934, parts of the adjoining parishes of Church Eaton and Gnosall were added to Blymhill.

 

Weston-under-Lizard is a model village standing on Watling Street, 6 miles northwest of Brewood. The ‘Lizard’ is a hill, 2½ miles to the southwest and 480 feet in height. The whole village belongs to the Earl of Bradford (head of the Bridgemen family). The Hall, a palatial residence, was built by Sir Thomas Wilbraham in 1671 and occupies the site of an ancient manor house, which was in the possession of the de Weston family until 1340. A memorial to one of them, Sir John de Weston and his wife, was incorporated (in the form of kneeling figures) in the 14^th century east window of the church, together with their coat-of-arms. Weston Hall is also a possible location for the fictional Blandings Castle in P G Wodehouse’s novels.

 

A church, dedicated to St Andrew, stands in the park. This has 12^th century origins but was rebuilt in 1700-01, and restored in 1876. There are a number of interesting features inside, including a carved oak pulpit, with brass sounding board, dating from l702 – the year the Church was substantially rebuilt by Lady Wilbraham. The Perpendicular tower (not rebuilt) contains three bells of pre-Reformation date, two of them being inscribed with the legend ‘Hail, Mary!’ A school was opened in 1873, but private education had been available for at least 40 years beforehand, some of which was supported by the Earl of Bradford. Four almshouses were also built at the expense of Selina, Countess of Bradford, in 1874 for the poor of the parish.

 

Weston Park is open to the public and plays host to a series of weekend events each year between March and November, of which the ‘V’ music festival, held each August, is probably the most famous. The gardens at Weston Park are a good example of an 18^th century landscape garden where Capability Brown once worked. The woodland garden has a fine collection of trees, rhododendrons and azaleas with pathways and ponds. The formal gardens include a 19^th century Italian Parterre. There is also a Rose walk, which leads to the Deer Park.

 

 

 

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