WALK 1 - 0.3 mile

A short stroll around Little Witley will introduce you to the village.

Directions:

Leave the church by the public footpath next to the lychgate. At the end turn right into Bank road. Immediately on the right are a group of tall trees that always give a haunting sound whenever there is a strong wind.

A few metres on there is a gap in the hedge opposite. Do pause and admire the view: to the left is Woodbury hill with its iron age fortress. Next slightly lower is Walsgrove hill and then in a gap between the hills stands ‘Jones Folly’ being the clock tower at Abberley school, erected by a black country industrialist. The next series of hills are the Abberleys whilst in the middle distance lies Witley Court.

Pass the driveway to Ribson House having ornamental gateposts that feature a Whippet on each and follow the road down and round an ‘S’ bend having a sandstone bank. Continue past several properties; just before a junction the half timbered property on the left is Old Butts Farm dating from the 17^th century.

Bear left at Church lane then turn right after 50 metres up Well lane. At the brow there are several interesting barn conversions followed by Well Farm, another 17^th century property. Fork right at the junction, after 100 metres go right onto a public footpath leading to Church lane and back to the church.

The church is Victorian dated from 1867 but the site Anglo-Saxon, indeed part of structure dates back to the 13^th century. The bell is dated 1733 although for many years it was not working bell but in 1993 finances permitted the bell to be reinstated.

The church is still in regular use and is open to the public. One sobering item in the church is a plaque recording the names of those who fell in the first world war: a large number for a small community.

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