RUSHOCK
Russococ (xi cent.); Rossoc (xii cent.); Roshock,
Russok, Ruschok (xiii cent.); Ruschok (xiv cent.);
Ryshok (xv cent.).
Rushock is a fertile and well-wooded parish, having
an area of 1,257 acres, 538 acres being arable land
and 597 pasture. (fn. 1) It is situated south of Chaddesley
Corbett and was formerly a chapelry of that parish.
When Ombersley Forest was partly disafforested in
1229 the new forest boundary passed through the
middle of the town of Rushock to La Brodeford. (fn. 2)
The other half of the town appears to have been in
the forest of Feckenham. (fn. 3) The Elmley Brook and one
of its tributaries are the only streams in the parish.
The main road from Kidderminster to Droitwich is
the chief road; it enters Rushock by the Bradford
bridge. The village is situated almost in the centre
of the parish, north-east of this road. The houses
are scattered and surrounded by trees. In the south
of the village there is a pound.
The parish lies about 200 ft. above the ordnance
datum, the land falling slightly in the west to the
bank of Elmley Brook. The inclosure award is
dated 15 April 1812, (fn. 4) the Act having been passed
in 1805. (fn. 5)
The soil is clay, the subsoil marl and clay.
Agriculture is the only industry. In the 18th century
flax and hemp were cultivated to a certain extent, and
in 1782 and later Henry Ellins claimed the bounties
offered for their cultivation in Rushock. (fn. 6)
Rushock Court was the scene of the arrest in 1679
of Father Wall, a Roman Catholic priest, who was
afterwards tried at Worcester on the charge of remaining in England contrary to the statue of Queen
Elizabeth, and executed at Red Hill near Worcester. (fn. 7)
The Rev. Timothy Goodwin, rector of Rushock,
was consecrated Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh in
1714. He became Archbishop of Cashel in 1727. (fn. 8)
MANOR
Before the Conquest RUSHOCK was
held by Achil, but by the time of the
Domesday Survey Hunulf was holding it
of Urse D'Abitot. (fn. 9) The overlordship passed with the
barony of Elmley Castle until 1512–13, when it is
mentioned for the last time. (fn. 10)
Hunulf's successor in the manor was Robert de
Rushock, who was holding it by the service of one
knight's fee in 1166. (fn. 11) Early in the reign of King
John Robert and his wife Alice were arrested for the
murder of Walter de Portes. Robert's property was
forfeited, but on payment of a fine he was allowed to
take the habit of a monk, and retired to Worcester,
where he died. His widow Alice, who had also
apparently promised to assume the religious habit,
tried unsuccessfully in 1220–1 to recover one third
of the manor of Rushock in dower, stating that part
of Robert's lands had been restored by King John to
the daughter of Robert. (fn. 12) The whole manor had
been granted after Robert de Rushock's forfeiture to
William de Braose, but was seized with his other
property by King John in 1208, (fn. 13) and granted by
William de Beauchamp, the overlord, to Thomas
Sturmy, to whom it was afterwards confirmed by
Walter de Beauchamp. (fn. 14)
In the mean time William de Braose died, and in
1215 his property was restored to his second son and
heir, Giles Bishop of Hereford, on payment of a
fine. (fn. 15) The bishop died in November of that year,
and his brother Reynold de Braose was allowed to
succeed to his estates in 1217, (fn. 16) and received seisin
of Rushock in the following year. (fn. 17) He granted it
to Alexander D'Abitot and the heirs of his body.
Alexander died without issue, but his brother and
heir Osbert claimed Rushock by another charter to
Alexander and his heirs, and
brought an unsuccessful action
against Geoffrey, son of the
above Thomas Sturmy, (fn. 18) and
Reynold de Braose. (fn. 19) He was
succeeded in 1246 by his son
Henry, (fn. 20) who came of age in
1254, (fn. 21) and died seised of the
manor about 1295. (fn. 22) It then
passed to his son Henry
Sturmy, who was succeeded
about 1304–5 by a son
Henry. (fn. 23) He settled the
manor in 1325 on his eldest
son Henry and the latter's wife Margaret. (fn. 24) The
elder Henry died about 1338–9, (fn. 25) and Henry Sturmy,
his son, obtained in 1359 a grant of free warren in his
demesne lands of Rushock. (fn. 26) This Henry, who died
in 1381, (fn. 27) had granted the manor before his death to
Sir John Attwood and his wife Lucy, and his grant
was confirmed in 1379 by William Sturmy, his
nephew and heir. (fn. 28)
Sturmy, Argent three demi-lions gules.
By an undated charter Thomas Beauchamp Earl
of Warwick (who died in 1369) granted a fee at
Rushock to his younger son William Lord Bergavenny, (fn. 29) and it is probable that the manor lapsed
to the overlord soon after this date, for in 1411
William Beauchamp Lord Bergavenny died seised
of it. It then followed the descent of Kidderminster
Biset (fn. 30) (q.v.) until it was sold, probably by George
fifth Lord Bergavenny, to Sir Stephen Jenyns, kt,
who in April 1513 obtained licence to grant it to
the Merchant Taylors' Company, London, in trust
for their grammar school at Wolverhampton. (fn. 31) This
grant was confirmed by James I in 1619, (fn. 32) and the
manor still belongs to the trustees of the school.
During the reign of Elizabeth Francis Brace was
tenant of the manor of Rushock, and apparently
resided there. (fn. 33) In 1619 the manor seems to have
been occupied by Thomas Russell. (fn. 34) Later in the
17th century the manor was leased by the Finches.
Francis Finch of Rushock was among the prisoners
taken by the Parliamentary
forces at Worcester in 1646, (fn. 35)
and he seems to have been an
ardent Royalist. He was fined
50s. in 1649 for the estate at
Rushock, (fn. 36) and in 1658 was
obliged to obtain a pass to
come to London on business. (fn. 37)
On the accession of Charles II
he petitioned for the office of
Grand Commissioner of Excise
as a reward for seventeen years
of faithful service. (fn. 38) Francis
and his son Windsor Finch
were dealing with the manor
of Rushock in 1665, (fn. 39) and
Windsor and his wife Margaret
were in possession in 1681
and 1684. (fn. 40)
The Merchant Taylors. Argent a royal tent between two parliament robes all in their proper colours and a chief azure with a leopard or therein.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MICHAEL stands
on the edge of a ridge and is of no
architectural interest, consisting of shallow
chancel, north vestry, transepts, nave with west gallery
and tower, all in poor modern Gothic.
There is a tall octagonal font of uncertain date,
with trefoiled panels and a shallow bowl. In the
chancel are two 17th-century chairs and a few other
pieces of old woodwork. Built into the tower walls
are also a few carved stone fragments of an earlier
church, probably that known to have been consecrated in October 1285. (fn. 41)
There are two bells: treble, by C. & G. Mears,
1853; tenor (cracked), 'All prayse and glory be to
God for ever D.L. C.W. 1681,' by John Martin.
The plated cup, paten, flagon and almsdish are
modern but of mediaeval pattern.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1661 to 1681; (ii) 1685 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The chapel of Rushock was consecrated by Bishop Giffard in 1285. (fn. 42)
It was dependent on the church of
Chaddesley Corbett, (fn. 43) and the rector of Chaddesley
was patron until 1389 or later. (fn. 44) The advowson of
Chaddesley had been granted in 1385 to the Dean
and canons of Warwick, and they appear shortly
after to have appropriated the rectory of Chaddesley,
and thus become patrons of Rushock, for they presented to Rushock from 1397 until 1512. (fn. 45) After
that time they appear to have leased it, for their
grantees are said by Nash to have presented in
1534, 1561 and 1587. (fn. 46) The connexion between
Rushock and Chaddesley Corbett was apparently
severed before 1535, probably at the time when
Chaddesley Corbett was appropriated by the college
of Warwick, for Rushock is called a rectory in 1535
and was then valued at £10. (fn. 47) The queen presented
to the church in 1589, (fn. 48) and the advowson has since
been in the Crown. (fn. 49)
CHARITIES
The charity of William Norris,
founded by deed 22 September
1702, and the subsidiary charities of
Frances and John Aaron are regulated by schemes of
the Charity Commissioners, 1878 and 1894.
The trust property consists of 4 a. 2 r. 30 p. at
Cutnall Green in Elmley Lovett let at £20 a year,
and a rent-charge of £5 10s. issuing out of Lowbridge Farm in Rushock; also £119 10s. consols
with the official trustees, producing £2 19s. 8d.
yearly, arising from a gift of 20 guineas by Frances
Aaron in 1766 and a legacy of £100 by will of
John Aaron, proved in 1771.
The income is applicable in support of the school
at Cutnall Green for children from Rushock and
Elmbridge, and any balance in grants for the benefit
of the school at Rushock.
The bread money consists of a sum of 7s. 7d. paid
quarterly out of Lowbridge Farm and applied in
bread to seven widows or aged persons. This
donation is attributed to a gift of William Norris in
1710.