kingdom. The country around the city is highly fertile, and the markets held on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, are well supplied. The Severn affords abundance of fresh-water fish. Here Charles II. was defeated by Cromwell in 1651. Worcester gives the title of Marquis to the Duke of Beaufort. It returns two members to Parliament, and is divided for municipal purposes into six wards. It is governed by a mayor, twelve aldermen, and thirty-six councillors. It is connected by railway with Bristol and Birmingham, and thus with all parts of the kingdom. Latterly a portion of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, has been opened to Evesham. Population in 1851, 27,528.

Court (Lord

Ward), and beyond,
Stanford Court, Sir T. E.
Winnington, Bart.

To Stourport, 2 miles,
Bewdley, 6 miles.

Hartlebury Castle (Bi-
shop of Worcester).

Blakebrook House, J.
Best, Esq.

Len Castle, J. P. B.
Westhead, Esq.

Broomfield House.

Kidderminster is a large and populous town on the Stour, famous for the manufacture of carpets. The old church is a noble Gothic pile, containing numerous monuments. The walks in the churchyard command fine views of the town and its vicinity. The town possesses several charitable institutions. It returns one member to Parliament. Pop. 1851, 18,462. The Staffordshire and Worcester canal, which passes through Kidderminster, opens a communication with Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, &c. In the vicinity are the remains of an ancient castle, the vestiges of an encampment at Warsal Hill, and a chalybeate well at Sandburn. Richard Baxter was for many years vicar at Kidderminster, and Baskerville the printer was born in the vicinity.

From Kidderminster to Bewdley is 3 miles, to Stourport 4 miles, to Tenbury 16 miles, to Leominster 27 miles, to Ludlow 24 miles, to Bridgenorth 13 miles, to Stourbridge 64 miles. Bewdley on the Severn is chiefly supported by its navigation, and has a considerable trade in tanning leather. Pop. 1851, 7318. It unites with Stourport in returning one M. P. Stourbridge is a handsome town, noted for the manufacture of glass. The canal, which passes the town, communicates with the adjacent counties, and contributes greatly to its prosperity. Pop. 1851, 7847

154

BRISTOL TO GLOUCESTER, WORCESTER, &c.—Continued.

Two miles and a quarter from the town is Hagley, the famous mansion erected by the first Lord Lyttelton. It contains a valuable library and a numerous collection of paintings. The grounds command varied and extensive views. In Hagley church is the mausoleum of the Lyttelton family. Near Stourbridge also, but in Staffordshire, are Himley Hall, the seat of Lord Ward, and Enville Hall, the seat of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, the latter a spacious and elegant mansion, with grounds laid out by the poet Shenstone, to whose memory a small chapel is dedicated. Ten miles from Kidderminster is Hales Owen, a neat town, formerly celebrated for its monastery, some remains of which still exist. The church, which is admired for its beautiful spire, contains several interesting monuments, one in memory of the poet Shenstone, who was educated in the free grammar-school, and buried in the adjacent cemetery. In the vicinity is the Leasowes (M. Attwood, Esq.,) a beautiful seat, indebted for much of its elegance to the taste of the poet Shenstone, who was born here. Hales Owen is 7 miles from Birmingham.

LXI. LONDON TO GLOUCESTER AND CHELTENHAM (by Railway), 121 Miles.

Gloucester, the capital of the county from which it derives its name, gave his title to H. R. H. the late Duke of Gloucester. It is situated in a beautiful valley on the bank of the Severn, and is sheltered on the east by a range of hills. The city is intersected by four principal streets which meet in the centre. They are broad, clean, well-paved, and lighted. The principal building is the cathedral, begun in 1047, and enlarged at subsequent periods. It is 420 feet in length, 144 feet in breadth, and surmounted by a tower 129 feet in height. The interior is impressive, the stalls are said to be scarcely inferior to those at Windsor; the choir is richly ornamented, and there is a whispering gallery. The eastern window is the largest in England. The Cathedral is adorned by several monuments, of which those of Robert Duke of Normandy, Edward II., Bishop Warburton, and Dr Jenner, chiefly claim attention. The bishopric of Gloucester was first constituted by Henry VIII., and was joined to Bristol in 1836, so that the Bishop takes his seat in Parliament under the title of Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. There are various parochial churches, several meetinghouses, a gaol, constructed on the plan of Howard, a town-hall, custom-house, assembly rooms, theatre, &c. The new bridge over the Severn is a handsome structure, 87 feet span. The principal trade of Gloucester consists in the manufacture of pins, iron, flax, and hemp. A considerable inland trade is carried on with the counties through which the Severn flows. There is also a small quantity of wine, spirits, and West Indian produce imported. The river admits sloops and brigs up to the city, but for larger vessels, a

canal and basins have been recently formed with depth of water sufficient to admit vessels of 500 tons burden. For municipal purposes, the city is divided into three wards, and is governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and eighteen councillors. It has returned two members to Parliament since temp. Edward I. Gloucester was the birth-place of Robert of Gloucester the chronicler, John Taylor the water poet, George Whitfield the famous Methodist, and R. Raikes the founder of Sunday schools. Markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the supply is abundant. Pop. 1851, 17,572. About 3 miles beyond Glouces ter is Highnam Court, erected from a design by Inigo Jones. Gloucester is connected by railway with all parts of the kingdom, but unfortunately the two main lines meeting at this city are of different guages.

Cheltenham is situated on the River Chelt, which flows into the Severn. Its situation is healthy and picturesque, and it is sheltered on the north by the Cotswold hills. It owes its celebrity to its mineral waters, which were first discovered in 1716. The waters are cathartic and chalybeate, resembling those of Harrowgate. Every accommodation has been provided for those who use them. The well walk is a magnificent promenade, shaded by ancient elms. St. Mary's Church is a large elegant building in the form of a cross with a lofty octagonal spire. It contains a curious font, and near it is an ancient stone cross. Besides this there are Trinity Church, numerous new churches, and a few places There are also some charitable establishments, of worship for Dissenters. assembly rooms, good hotels, billiard rooms, and a theatre. Cheltenham returns 1 M.P. Pop. 1851, 35,051. Two miles distant is Southam House (Earl of Ellenborough.)

LXII. BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER RAILWAY, 524 Miles.