Tenbury Wells (locally Tenbury) is a small market town and civil parish in the north-western extremity of the Malvern Hills District of Worcestershire, England. Situated 6 miles southeast of Ludlow, its northern border adjoins Shropshire and, at the 2021 census jointly with Burford, it had a population of 5,224.
History
The history of Tenbury Wells extends as far back as the
Iron Age. The town has been described as being the home of the Castle Tump, but the Tump is now in Burford owing to boundary changes. The Tump, possibly the remains of an early Norman motte and bailey
castle, can be seen from the main road (A456) but there are no visible remains of the castle that was constructed to defend and control the original
River Teme crossing.
It has also been described as "... the remains of an 11th-century Norman Castle."
Originally named Temettebury, the town was granted a royal charter to hold a market in 1249.[ 4th entry, towards the end of the first line.] Tenbury was in the upper division of Doddingtree Hundred.[ Worcestershire Family History Guidebook, Vanessa Morgan, 2011, p20 The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire.]
The Wells element of the name was added following the discovery of mineral springs and wells in the town in the 1840s.
The arrival of the railways was a cause of great celebrations; a breakfast, carnival and ball were organised in Tenbury Wells in 1864 when the town was connected to the Kidderminster line.
The St Michael and All Angels Choir School devoted to the Anglican choral tradition by Frederick Ouseley closed in 1985, after which the buildings served alternative educational purposes.
For more than 100 years, Tenbury has been well known throughout the country for its winter auctions of holly, mistletoe and other Christmas products.[ Malvern Hills District official website ]
Kyrewood Priory
Kyrewood Priory was a small priory which was founded in the 13th century. It was a monastic house of Augustinian canonesses, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene.
Little is known about the history of Kyrewood Priory, as few records have survived from its time in operation. It is believed to have been founded sometime around the year 1238, likely by the noblewoman Margery de Sapy, who had a manor in the area. The priory was relatively small, with a community of only a few nuns, and it appears to have been financially supported by local landowners.
Despite its small size, Kyrewood Priory was known for its piety and good works in the local community; it attracted several donations of land and money over the years. However, by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII in the 16th century, the priory was in a state of decline and disrepair. In 1536, Kyrewood Priory was dissolved and its lands and buildings were sold off to a local landowner. Today, little remains of the priory except for a few fragments of stonework; the site is privately owned and not open to the public.
Architecture
One notable architectural feature in the town is the unique (often described as Chinese-Gothic) Pump Rooms, designed by James Cranston in the 1860s, to house baths where the
mineral water was available.
Other notable structures in Tenbury include the parish church of St Mary, with a Norman tower, and a number of monuments.
The part-medieval bridge over the River Teme, linking Tenbury to Burford, was rebuilt by Thomas Telford following flood damage in 1795.
The Grade II-listed Eastham bridge collapsed into the River Teme on 24 May 2016. There were no casualties.
The Victorian era workhouse, designed by George Wilkinson, was used as the local council buildings from 1937 until the early 21st century and is currently being converted into residential housing. The Victorian infirmary behind the workhouse was demolished to create car parking for a new Tesco supermarket, which opened on 27 April 2017.[ Malvern Hills District Council Planning Committee decision 7 March 2012]
The unique Victorian corrugated iron isolation hospital was demolished on 24 October 2006.[ Teme Valley Times Festive Special 2006 p2.]
Geography
Tenbury Wells lies on the south bank of the River Teme; the river forms the border between Shropshire and Worcestershire. The settlement of Burford lies on the north bank of the river.
Flooding
For several centuries, Tenbury has been subject to flooding, most recently in 2007, 2008, 2020 and 2024:
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The first of these floods, in 2007, was caused by the River Teme and the Kyre Brook bursting their banks.
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The second was caused by a combination of 15mm (0.59 in) of rain falling in an hour and the town's drainage system (much of which was blocked) failing to cope, creating .
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The third flood again involved the River Teme and the Kyre Brook bursting their banks. The 2008 flood damage was caused by a combination of the drainage not having been upgraded since the 2007 floods and the wall on Market Street (which should hold back the Kyre Brook) not having been rebuilt following the 2007 floods. Since then much work has been done in respect of improved drainage and particularly defences in Market Street.
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The River Teme and the Kyre Brook rose in February 2020; houses and shops were again flooded.
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Storm Bert caused more flooding in November 2024, when the town centre flooded in the matter of minutes after the nearby Kyre Brook rose and caused a wall to collapse.
In December 2024, Jessica Murray, writing in The Guardian, asked "Could Tenbury Wells be the first UK town centre abandoned over climate change?"
Governance
From 1894 to 1974, it was a
rural district, comprising the town itself and villages such as
Stoke Bliss,
[ British History Online Retrieved 21 May 2009.] Eastham and Rochford. From 1974, Tenbury was in the District of
Leominster until it became part of Malvern Hills District when Leominster District Council was taken over by Herefordshire Council in April 1998.
[ Herefordshire Council web site. Retrieved 21 May 2009. ]
Local interest
Regal Cinema
The Regal
Movie theatre on Teme Street in Tenbury Wells opened in 1937.
It operated as a commercial cinema, one of six in the Craven Cinemas chain, until the decline of British cinema led to its closure in 1966. Following purchase by Tenbury Town Council to prevent demolition, various volunteer groups have run it.
The Regal has been the subject of a Heritage Lottery Fund supported restoration project. Replicas of the 1930s Mediterranean by artist George Legge have been painted around the auditorium; the detailing on the front of the building has been recreated and neon lighting has been erected on the front canopy.
The building, owned by Tenbury Town Council, is now under the management of a trust. Modern equipment now allows the showing of recently released films, live broadcasts and live acts. Paul Daniels was its patron until his death.
In 2016, The Regal was nominated for the Britain Has Spirit award.
Apple and fruit heritage
Tenbury was also known as "the town in the orchard" owing to the large numbers of fruit
of
apple trees and also
pear,
quince and
plum trees in the immediate vicinity of the town. This heritage is revisited every October at the Tenbury
Applefest.
Markets
Until 2018, markets were held on Tuesday mornings, Friday mornings and Saturday mornings in and around the town's Round Market building, which was built by James Cranston in 1858.
[ "The Historic Tenbury Wells Round Market" Tenbury Wells Open for Business. Retrieved 2 February 2025.]
Power station shelved
A proposal to build a
biomass power station on a business park failed owing to residents' concern about the disruption to local businesses during its construction.
The proposal continued to attract protests and, in July 2007, a petition against the plans was signed by more than 2,300 people.
In July 2009, it was announced that the £965,000 grant offered to the power station had been withdrawn and the project shelved.
[ Birmingham Post (newspaper) 23 July 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2010]
Education
For primary education, the town is served by Tenbury CofE Primary School on Bromyard Road.
Tenbury High Ormiston Academy on Oldwood Road is the main secondary school for the area. The King's St Michael's College, a private international boarding school,
Transport
Tenbury Wells railway station served the town between 1861 and 1962, on the
Tenbury Railway from .
[Donald J Grant, Directory of the Railway Companies of Great Britain, Matador Publishers, Kibworth Beauchamp, 2017, , page 558]
The nearest stations to the town are now at and on the Welsh Marches Line. Transport for Wales operates regular services on the Welsh Marches line between , , , and .
Bus services in the area are operated by Yarranton Brothers, which connect the town with Bewdley, Kidderminster, Ludlow and Worcester.
Media
Television
Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and
ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter
and the local relay transmitter.
Radio
Local radio stations are:
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BBC Hereford and Worcester
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Heart West Midlands
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Smooth West Midlands
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Radio Wyvern
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Capital Mid-Counties
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Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire
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Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire
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Carousel FM, a community based station.
Newspapers
The town is served by these local newspapers:
Notable people
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Acton Adams (1843–1924), New Zealand politician; born at Willden Manor, Tenbury; his ashes are buried at St Mary's, Tenbury
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Sir Archer Baldwin MP, died at home there in 1966
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Dean Vincent Carter, author
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Thomas Goode (1835–1926), South Australian pastoral pioneer, born at Kyre Magna near Tenbury
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Ian Griggs, later Bishop of Ludlow, was priest-in-charge of the parish of Tenbury 1984–87
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Henry Hill Hickman, pioneer of anaesthesia, practiced as surgeon at Teme Street in the town where he died in 1830
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Jason King, DJ and television presenter, born at Tenbury
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Frederick Ouseley, composer, organist, and musical scholar; founder and first Warden of St Michael's College
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Wilfred Shorting, cricketer, born at Tenbury.
See also
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Tenbury Community Hospital
Further reading
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Miller, Howard (2004): Tenbury Wells and the Teme Valley
External links
