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Barkers Lane, KIDDERMINSTER, DY14 8BL

One of the many fascinating lanes in Cleobury Mortimer. You never know quite what you're going to come across!

This is a new building constructed on a cleared site, not a rebuild or renovation. The strong and unusual exterior colour would not perhaps be to everyone's taste. Since this photograph was taken the building has been completed with some additions and the strong red colour is no more, the outside being of traditional red brick which is of course more orange than red. Image

For a town of approximately 2000 to 2500 inhabitants (sources seem to vary) Cleobury Mortimer has a very large number of pubs. Depending on how you define them it has at least 6 or 7, including one that is temporarily closed. One that is very much open is The Bell Inn in Lower Street. It is the home of the well-known Bell Inn Brass Band who have their own web site. http://www.bellinnbrass.co.uk/index.htm Image Image

This former post office has a plaque on the front of the building recording that Simon Evans worked there from 1926 to 1940. He was a famous Cleobury Mortimer postman who moved here after suffering the effects of poison gas in the first world war. His postal round involved him walking up to 18 miles a day and through this he got to know and love the people and scenery of this part of Shropshire. This inspired him to write stories and articles which were published in the 1920's and 1930's. He also broadcast on radio. Sadly the effects of the gas eventually caught up with him and he died in 1940 when still only in his mid-40's. He is still fondly remembered in the town today.

There is no post office here today although the town currently still has one located within the Londis store in the town centre. The letter box on the wall to the left of the door dates from the reign of King George V but it out of use and sealed off. But it's a nice touch that it remains. The stamp booklet dispensing machine on the right is no doubt out of use as well. On the building's front is also a plaque dedicated to the famous Cleobury Mortimer postman and author, Simon Evans, who worked here for the last years of his life.

It was under construction in 2012 and completed that year or shortly after.

Much of the central area of Cleobury Mortimer is in a conservation area. According to South Shropshire District Council, "The town retains some of its medieval planned form with a central High Street and long, narrow burgage plots leading off from this; around the perimeter are back lanes". Barkers Lane is one of these lanes and is seen here looking from its junction with Church Street, Lower Street and The Hurst. The building on the right is the Methodist Church.

The Methodist Hall is behind the Methodist Church in Lower Street. The hall was built in 1981 to accommodate a large Sunday School. This no longer exists and the hall has mainly been let out to local groups, but recently it has been used by the Youth Worker employed by the local Anglican Church, who needed a base for the growing youth group. Image

Norman surnames have a useful function, there are often pairs of place names nearby. There are two Herefords, two Cleoburys, several Neens etc. Cleobury the town is a lovely place blighted by a main road, but home to a large number of buildings of character. This is the main road on the eastern side of the town, leading eastward towards the urban West Midlands, where many of the inhabitants now work.

Possibly the site of an old post office?