At the end of the ice age a glacier melted in this area forming "Lake Woofferton";
eventually resulting in a valleyed, fertile area. It remained as such, blessed with
a ready supply of water via a stream (Mill Brook) flowing from surrounding hills,
with a ford crossing point and sheltered, low lying land. A natural place to attract
a settlement, this area, at the time of Domesday Book, became known as Alretvne
(the enclosure of the alders). We still have them along our stream today.
The manor of Orleton was given by William the Conqueror to Ralph de Mortimer. It
contained "4 hides of land which pay tax. In Lordship there are 4 plough teams with
11 villagers, 15 smallholders, a reeve (magistrate) and a rider; between them 7
ploughs, 6 slaves, 5 ploughmen and a smith." A hide was a measure of land which
could be ploughed by one man with an ox in one year. This could vary from 160 acres
to 20 depending on land quality.
For many centuries the settlement revolved around agriculture and was self sufficient
with its local produce, smiths, cobblers, clog makers, millers, stone masons, wheelwrights
In 1855 a public elementary school and school master's residence was built in a
19th century style, with a capacity for 99 pupils, to serve the community. The population
in 1911 was 584 and there were 132 houses in the whole parish.
There were no street names but "Kings Road" was the same in appearance as it had
been since early Victorian times, whereas "Millbrook Way" had a farmhouse and buildings
plus four cottages. The roadside was lined with damson trees.
The first major developments were Hallets Well and Green Lane Council Houses after
World War ll in the early 1950s.
The community still employed many of its inhabitants on farms and sawmills, whilst
virtually every woman relied on seasonal farm work to supplement income.
More commuting to work and schools, media accessibility and urban inhabitants spurred
change in the 1960s. Orleton wanted to have the same amenities as other places and
eventually the District Council agreed to provide mains water and sewerage.
This history provided by Alf Jenkins.