Settlements in Guarlford have existed for around 4,000 years. and have been known as Garford (
Lay Subsidy Rolls 1275), Gerleford (Lay Subsidy Rolls 1333), Garleford (
Valor Ecclesiasticus 1535), Galvert (Map of Worcestershire 1820), and Galfords (Ordnance Survey 1830). Guarlford is one of the earliest inhabited places in the Malvern area and shows evidence of
Neolithic activity with crop marks dating from a period that extends from 2350 BC to 409 AD. The first parish council was established in December 1894 according to a new Local Government act, and covered much of eastern Malvern including parts of
Great Malvern, Pickersleigh,
Poolbrook,
Barnards Green, Hall Green, and
Sherrards Green. In 1934 following a review, the boundaries were changed, and those areas came under the control of the Malvern council. During
World War II a radio listening post was set up in Rectory Lane by the
Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) to monitor enemy communications, which was instrumental in locating the German
V-2 rocket base in
Peenemünde that was subsequently bombed by the RAF in
Operation Crossbow. ==References==