More information on Dodderhill in Victorian times

The reign of Queen Victoria was a time of great change for the whole country, and Dodderhill parish was no exception. While the essentially agricultural nature of activities in the parish did not alter, the methods used did change, with the introduction of steam power and more mechanisation so that machines began to do the heavy work. In 1845 the Tithe Map and Schedule were drawn up, and give much information about land ownership and use.

In neighbouring Droitwich many salt works were built, which employed the inhabitants of Dodderhill (both those in the ‘In Liberties’ area to the immediate north-west of the town, which although in Dodderhill parish was also within Droitwich until 1885/6) and those in Dodderhill proper. Salt was also produced at Stoke Prior to the north-east of Dodderhill, which provided further employment for its inhabitants. Public health measures such as better sanitation and clean water were introduced. In 1875 a report was written about the health of the workers in Droitwich, among which would have been Dodderhill people.

Transport was further improved with the extension in 1852 of the Droitwich canal out to the east to meet the Worcester and Birmingham canal which already went through Dodderhill parish. The Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton railway – Stoke Branch, was constructed through the parish also in 1852 linking Birmingham with Droitwich and beyond. When cutting into the southwest side of the hill of Dodderhill, below St Augustine’s church, workers found Roman remains, the first archaeological discoveries known to have been made in the parish.

Workhouses had been established for impoverished families in the 1700s, but they proliferated in the 19th century and more records survive from this time. A workhouse is mentioned in Dodderhill, thought to have been on the Worcester road in Wychbold.

Steam powered machinery came to Dodderhill in the mid 1800s, and was used for ploughing the heavy clay soil and for threshing. It is thought that steam power threshing machines were used until the Second World War.

The southern parish boundary was changed in 1885 to its current line, so that Droitwich was finally separated administratively from Dodderhill. The church of St Mary de Wyche was built in 1888 and the separate parish of Wychbold was established for it, taking in part of the older and larger Dodderhill parish.

State education for all children became compulsory under the Education Act of 1870 which set up elected school boards, and led to the building of Rashwood school. From 1880 children had to attend school up to the age of 10. State institutions gradually began to take over roles previously filled by charities as a ‘social conscience’ evolved. The elected County Council was created in 1888, initially taking over administrative responsibilities of the former quarter sessions courts (including the upkeep of roads and bridges) and acquiring housing and planning powers from 1890. In 1902 the County Council took over responsibility for elementary and secondary education.