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Hanley Castle 1791
Hanley-castle is on the Severn, and near Upton, opposite Malvern-hills, a parish six miles broad and four long. There are no traces of the castle visible. In this parish are Blackmore-park, Severn-end, and Hanley-hall, as is Holy-well or Malvern-well, on the side of the Malvern-hill. A circular cavity in the earth, about six feet in diameter, was discovered in a corn-field by a shepherd’s boy in 1787. On examination, this aperture leads to a considerable cavern at about the depth of ten feet from the surface, extending in every direction at least twenty feet in diameter; at about thirty-five or forty feet is a body of water, supposed to be nearly one hundred and forty feet deep. This discovery leads to various conjectures amongst the curious in the neighbourhood; but whether it be from a natural or artificial cause is yet undetermined: some attribute it to the convulsion of the earth, whilst others ascribe it to have been an excavation, made some hundred years past, for the purpose of obtaining water for cattle, or as a place of retirement for safety in times of war and danger, supposing in this case that the waters have since forced their way into the recess. The field where this cavern is is nearly a plain, and the soil at some depth a solid body of chalk.
Source: Universal British Directory 1791
Notes: The entry for Hanley Castle was included with that of Upton-upon-Severn but has been included in the site separately for ease of finding.
Hanley Castle Worcestershire Delineated C. and J. Greenwood 1822
Hanley-Castle a parish in the hundred of Pershore, lower division, 1 ? mile N.N.W. from Upton-on-Severn, and 111 from London; containing 256 inhabited houses. There formerly was a castle here, but no traces of it are now to be seen. The village is delightfully situated near the Malvern-hills, and there are several gentlemen’s seats in the neighbourhood. Here is a good free school, originally intended as a classical one, but is now on Dr. Bell’s system: the present income is returned at about £300 per ann. out of which the Rev. Mr. Turberville, who is considered the head master, pays the teacher £50 per ann. and finds books, &c. for the children. The living is a vicarage; Rev. G. Turberville, incumbent; instituted 1789; patron, Sir A. Lechmere, Bart. Population, 1801, 986 1811, 1186 1821, 1424.
Source: Worcestershire Delineated: Being a Topographical Description of Each Parish, Chapelry, Hamlet, &c. In the County; with the distances and bearings from their respective market towns, &c. By C. and J. Greenwood. Printed by T. Bensley, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, 1822.
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