1830 - 1900

In the late 1830’s a Wesleyan (Methodist) chapel was built on the Common. About the same time work started on a new Anglican church in Church Lane. Thomas Heywood of Hope End funded the new church which opened in 1841.

The Methodist chapel could not compete with the new church and Thomas Dowell, with Thomas Heywood in agreement, recognised the need for a local school, purchased the chapel and converted it to a school (Old Infants School) complete with two nearby cottages in 1853. Initially both infants and older children used the chapel building. Infants continued to be educated there until 1955. It is now a dwelling.(See Schools )

Later a purpose-built school next to the vicarage on Church Lane was funded by Charles Hewitt of Hope End and the older children were educated there. The new school (Hope End Church of England School)  was opened in 1874 and was closed in 1955 although the infants continued to use the building until 1961. It is now a dwelling.(See Schools )

The Farmers Arms public house was probably built around 1850 and has been considerably extended since. 

In the 1870’s Windmill Cottage was a post office and the former Nightingales a village shop.

Christ Church was extended in 1878 due to an increase in the population of the village. A vestry was added in 1899. Sadly in 1944 the church suffered a major fire and had to be rebuilt. It reopened in 1952.  

The boundaries of the Parish of Wellington Heath were set in 1842 but continued in the overall parish of Ledbury until 1894 when it became separate and autonomous. The 1871 Census shows the parish as having 504 inhabitants, 112 of which were agricultural labourers, 27 in domestic service and 93 scholars (children). There were 19 gloveresses, 6 dressmakers, 8 farmers and 8 paupers.

In 1886 the Ordnance Survey conducted a survey of the area and in 1887 published the first 2500th scale maps.

An oak tree was planted at the top of Ledbury Road to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. Due to insufficient moisture (surrounded by tarmac) it unfortunately died. It has now been carved into a sculpture of local wildlife. See Jubilee Tree & Monument.