Summary
Rorrington is a hamlet in west Shropshire, England.
| Rorrington | |
|---|---|
 Cottages in Rorrington | |
  Rorrington Location within Shropshire | |
| OS grid reference | SJ299006 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MONTGOMERY |
| Postcode district | SY15 |
| Dialling code | 01938 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Shropshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
It is in the civil parish of Chirbury with Brompton. Four lanes lead into the hamlet: from Marton in the north, Meadowtown in the east, Middleton in the south, and Wotherton in the west.[1]
National Cycle Route 44 passes through the hamlet.[2]
History edit
Rorrington's name is possibly derived from Old English personal name and could be translated as "the estate of Hror".[3] As Roritune, it was recorded as a manor in the Domesday Book, when it was held jointly by Robert and Roger fitz Corbet.[4]
There was once a holy well here, located on the hillside at Rorrington Green. In the mediaeval period it was a place of pilgrimage and there was a small chapel on the site, administered by the canons of St Michael's church in Chirbury and probably dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This may have been the Christianisation of an earlier tradition.[5]
Until the 1830s, a "Halliwell Wakes" was held on Ascension Day, when villagers would process round the hillside, with music and dancing: pins were thrown in the well (dressed with green boughs, rushes and flowers) for good luck.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Ordnance Survey mapping
- ^ Shropshire Council Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine National Cycle Route 44
- ^ Mills, A. A Dictionary of British Place-Names, OUP, 2003
- ^ Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, Volume XI, 1860, p.94
- ^ Hannaford, H. R. Notes on a sketch survey of the Holy Well at Rorrington, Shropshire Archaeology Service, 1996, p.2
- ^ Hope, R. Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England Including Rivers, Lakes, Fountains and Springs, 1893, p.147