Doverdale

Doverdale was historically a manor. It appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lunvredele", when it was owned by Urse d'Abetot and formed part of the Cresslow hundred of Worcestershire. A priest and church were mentioned, suggesting it had already become a parish by that time.^[2][3] Cresslow hundred was subsequently merged into Halfshire hundred.^[4][5]

The current parish church, dedicated to St Mary, is believed to have been built in the 14th century, presumably replacing the church mentioned in the Domesday Book.^[6] A moated manor house, which possibly predated the Norman Conquest, stood adjoining the church. This house subsequently became known as Moat Farm, and was destroyed by fire in 1850.^[7][3]

A newer manor house, Doverdale Manor, was built at the northern end of the parish in the early 18th century.^[8] As of April 2022^[update] there are six listed buildings in the parish.^[9]

There are three tiers of local government covering Doverdale, at parish, district and county level: Ombersley and Doverdale Parish Council, Wychavon District Council, and Worcestershire County Council. The parish council is a grouped parish council, established in 1973 to cover the two parishes of Doverdale and Ombersley. They remain legally separate civil parishes, although they are sometimes inaccurately described as being a single parish.^[10][11][12]