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Breathtaking views towards the northern
edge of the Cotswolds, the Vale of Evesham
and the Severn Valley are part of the character
of the wider parish. It is a quiet, rural area, its
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by farming and its ownership by the family at
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and open space. Most consider this to be a
wonderful place to live, to work, to bring up
children and to retire.
The heart of the village is the area beginning
at the turning from Preston Lane, taking in
the village hall, the former school, a lovely
example of a Victorian street, St Mary’s Church
and the village green with its war memorial.
It ends with a single-storey gatehouse at the
northern end, with farmland beyond. The
wider parish includes houses in Radbrook and
dwellings and businesses on what is still known
locally as Rough Farm (now the Grove Business
Park) on the other side of the A3400. In the
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company at Sweet Knowle Farm. A number
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Alscot Park, notably a livery stables, a classic
car restorer and a manufacturer of Victorian-
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Preston’s situation is linked inextricably to
Alscot Estate. Thus it is considered an ‘estate
village’ – one still predominantly owned by
a single family and a trust which manages it.
Naturally there is a close association between
the Holman-West family and the inhabitants
of the village and the wider parish. This is
particularly manifest at Christmas-time when
many tenants and other parishioners are invited
to the ‘Big House’ for an annual drinks party.
In the past most villagers had direct
economic ties to the Estate and its various farms
(as labourers, domestic servants, grooms etc.),
but this link has now all but disappeared. Most
people of employment age work outside the
parish and those in full-time education attend
schools in Stratford or in
other villages, following
the closure of Preston’s
school. Widespread car
ownership also means that
most shopping takes place in
Stratford or beyond, but the
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has remained, providing an
essential service and a vital
community link.
The houses and cottages
are of considerable character
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interest. Many are ‘Listed’
and the status afforded to
much of the village as a
Conservation Area is well
merited. The vast majority
of the land and housing is
still owned by Alscot Estate
and rented on both long and
short-term leases; there are
just fourteen privately-owned houses within the
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Perhaps by virtue of its small size, Preston’s
community is close-knit. Most of its inhabitants
know each other well and there is a great
deal of social cohesion. The principal agent
of this is the Three Parishes Millennium Hall,
which besides being a community centre
Our Parish, Our Village
T
he parish of Preston on Stour consists principally of the village of
Preston, Alscot Park (the house, grounds and deer park) and a
number of farms and cottages. It lies about four miles south of
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Meon Hill, which mark the edge of the Cotswolds and the associated Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Most consider
this to be a
wonderful place
to live, to work,
to bring up
children,
and to retire.
Alscot Park.