Norton, Worcestershire Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:52.1637°N -2.1931°W
Official Name:Norton
Population:2,324
Population Ref:(2001)
Static Image Name:Broomhall Cottages - geograph.org.uk - 857789.jpg
Static Image Caption:Broomhall Cottages
Civil Parish:Norton Juxta Kempsey
Shire District:Wychavon
Shire County:Worcestershire
Region:West Midlands
Constituency Westminster:Mid Worcestershire
Postcode District:WR5
Postcode Area:WR
Post Town:WORCESTER
Dial Code:01905
Os Grid Reference:SO868517

Norton is a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, 0.8miles from the boundary of the City of Worcester, England. The village sits within the Norton Juxta Kempsey civil parish and is split in two by the M5 motorway, with the original village to the east.

The village saw considerable development in 1990s, mainly centred on the large decommissioned military Norton Barracks, which have been converted into apartments.

The village is the location of St Peter's Garden Centre and Worcester Cricket Club. Worcester Norton Hockey Club also originates from the village, but now play and train at nearby Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester.

Economy

In 1939 Morganite Crucible, a subsidiary of Morgan Crucible, opened its works in the village. In 2010 the site, now closed, was sold for use as an industrial estate, but a Morgan presence remains in the form of Molten Metal Products Ltd, distributors of Morgan products, owned by two ex-Morgan employees, Dave Hill and Jim Ritchie.[1]

A permanent military presence was established in the village with the completion of Norton Barracks in 1877.[2]

Transport

Worcestershire Parkway railway station opened on 23 February 2020. This has a platform on the Birmingham to Bristol line with CrossCountry services which link to Cardiff, Bristol to the south also Birmingham and Nottingham to the north. There is another platform on the Oxford route to Worcester with Great Western Railway services.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Disused factory unit proves to be sound investment. 2011-03-03. 2013-06-04.
  2. Web site: Norton Barracks History. 1 August 2009.