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About Burford
Burford is a small parish situated on the North side of the river Teme and is the most southerly place in Shropshire. The Parish sits at the tripoint between the counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The name Burford is probably from the old English Burg-ford meaning the land by the fortified place. Burg usually referred to a Roman, Iron-age or earlier fort. In 1066 Burford was held by a Norman Lord who had settled in England before the Norman conquest. At this time Burford was a sizeable settlement within Shropshire and was considerably larger than it is now.
Burford House is nationally known. It has a garden, cafe and garden centre and it stands on the site of an Anglo-Saxon castle. The garden centre is internationally known for its Clematis collection and is situated in the southwest of the parish where the Ledwyche Brook meets the river Teme.
Close to Burford House is the red sandstone Church of St Mary in the Diocese of Hereford. It has some Norman masonry but was largely restored in 1889. It is known for its monuments, which include one to Princess Elizabeth, daughter of John O'Gaunt, who died in 1426.
There are two main industrial areas including a business park, a training centre for engineering excellence linked to North Shropshire College and the area's largest employers: Kerry foods and Esterform. The Rose and Crown public house provides excellent food and local ales.
Penlu sports club, which used to be the old nurses home, was developed by a Doctor Burnett who raised funds for the sports facility in the 1940/50s. Recently refurbished this venue is used extensively for a large variety of functions and by local organizations.
Next to Penlu is the local Cottage Hospital which has newly refurbished wards. There is also a filling station with a small shop providing a variety of groceries.
The Alms Houses on the Ludlow side of Burford were built by Lord Northwick in 1870 for Widows of Farm Labourers, who lived in tied cottages. The facility now takes only single women.
Burford has a well-used modern Village Hall with a popular nearby Children's playground and recreation field. Next to the Hall is Burford C E Primary School which takes many of the Local children up to the age of 11.
Burford provides the site for the Annual Tenbury Countryside Show held on the first Saturday in August. The Village is next to the Old Market Town of Tenbury Wells which is approached over the River Bridge into Worcestershire.