BISHOP’S WOOD
The hamlet of Bishop’s Wood lies three miles to the west of Brewood on the Shropshire border, just south of the A5. At its highest point the village is just short of five hundred feet above sea level and boasts panoramic views taking in Belvide Reservoir and Cannock Chase.
The area is steeped in history and probably derives its name from the country residence of the early Bishops of Lichfield. Boscobel House, the famous King Charles Oak tree, Whiteladies Monastery, The Blackladies and Weston Park are all within easy walking distance.
Bishop’s
Wood was created a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1852, the Church of St John
the Baptist having been consecrated in 1851. It is a cruciform building, built
from local red sandstone, in Early English style, to a design by G. T. Robinson.
The old school and schoolhouse, built about the same date, stands to the east of the church and has now been converted to a dwelling house.
The village today is a mix of both old and modern development. Newcomers to the village quickly become aware of the close-knit community spirit and active social life. The well-used village hall, recently re-opened by the Earl of Bradford, has been extended and refurbished with the help of a lottery grant and funding from the Parish and District Councils. The hall must surely now rank amongst the best in Staffordshire.
There are several scenic walks in the area and damson trees can still be spotted in many of the hedgerows. They are the remnants of a past era, when damsons were collected and sent to Liverpool for dyeing naval uniforms, the pulp being sent to the jam factories.