Bewdley
Bewdley | |
---|---|
![]() The River Severn at Bewdley | |
Location withinWorcestershire | |
Population | 9,470(2011) |
OS grid reference | SO785752 |
•London | 134 mi (216 km) |
Civil parish |
|
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BEWDLEY |
Postcode district | DY12 |
Dialling code | 01299 |
Police | West Mercia |
Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Bewdley(/ˈbjuːdli/BEWD-lee) is a town andcivil parishin theWyre Forest DistrictinWorcestershire,England, on the banks of theRiver Severn.It is in theSevern Valley,and is 3 miles (4.8 km) west ofKidderminster,10 miles (16 km) north ofWorcesterand 25 miles (40 km) southwest ofBirmingham.It lies on theRiver Severn,at the gateway of theWyre Forestnational nature reserve, and at the time of the2011 censushad a population of 9,470.[1]Bewdley is a popular tourist destination and is known for theBewdley Bridge,designed byThomas Telford,and the well-preservedGeorgianriverside.[2]
Town geography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Bewdley_and_surroundings_OS_Vector_Map_District_raster.png/220px-Bewdley_and_surroundings_OS_Vector_Map_District_raster.png)
The main part of Bewdley town is situated on the western bank of theRiver Severn,including the main street—Load Street. Its name derives fromlode,an old word forferry.Load Street is notable for its width: it once also served as the town'smarket place.
Most of Bewdley's shops and amenities are situated along Load Street, at the top of which liesSt Anne's Church, built between 1745 and 1748 by Doctor Thomas Woodward ofChipping Campden.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Bewdleyskyline_.jpg/220px-Bewdleyskyline_.jpg)
Beyond the church, High Street leads off to the south towardsStourportalong the B4194, a road known locally as "theswitchback"because of its many sharp curves. Unlike in many English towns, High Street is so called not because of its importance to commerce, but because of its geographical position 'high' above the river.
On the west side of the church, the B4190, named Welch Gate within town limits (so called because it once contained atollgateon the road towards Wales), climbs steeply up to the west, giving access to the south side of theWyre Forest.Dowles Road, a continuation of the B4194, leads northwest toButton Oak,along the east and northeast side of the Wyre Forest. To the northeast of the town is the wooded hilltop of Wassel Wood in Trimpley, the southern terminus ofShatterford Hill.
In the area betweenStourportand Bewdley are several largecountry houses.Witley Court,Astley Hall,andPool Houseare considered particularly significant.
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Bewdley_Guildhall.jpg/220px-Bewdley_Guildhall.jpg)
Mesolithic-period settlers have been identified through excavations in Wribbenhall, which found 1,400 fragments of flint tools, as well as post holes, a hearth, gullies and a pit. This site has been dated to roughly 6,800 BC, making it the oldest settlement yet identified in Worcestershire. Pollen evidence shows that crops were already being grown and woodlands cleared at this time.[3]
The settlement of Wribbenhall, on the eastern side of the Severn, and now part of Bewdley, was recorded in theDomesday Bookas being part of themanorofKidderminster.By the 14th century, the town had come to be known asBeau lieu,French for "Beautiful place". Two centuries laterJohn Lelandwrote in hisItinerarythat "a man cannot wish to see a towne better".
Bewdley was grantedboroughstatus, as well as a weekly market, byKing Edward IVin 1472. It retained this status until the local government reorganisation in 1974. A parliamentary report of 1777 listed Bewdley as having aparishworkhouseaccommodating up to 80 inmates.
Samuel Kenrick (1728–1811) moved to Bewdley in 1765 and lived there as a banker for the rest of his life. Throughout that time he wrote lengthy letters to his old Glasgow University friend, Rev. James Wodrow, minister in Stevenston, Ayrshire. Their correspondence contains many insights into life in late eighteenth-century Bewdley. For example, Kenrick described one of the annual visits to the town by the Methodist preacher, Rev.John Wesley,who "has a little flock in this town whom he statedly visits in his regular excursions…. Sometimes he comes accompanied with the noise & parade of half a score horsemen, preceding his chariot, who set our whole streets in a gaze…. His friends consist of serious well disposed people of all denominations, who go under the name of Methodists." (Samuel Kenrick to James Wodrow, 20 March, 1786).[4]
Theboroughhad a population in 1841 of 7,458.[5]
During theSecond World War,Ribbesford Housein Bewdley was used as the headquarters for theFree Frenchofficer cadets. The cadets consisted of 200 teenagers who undertook military training at Ribbesford House until they joined with other allied forces in theD Dayinvasion.[6]
The formerquaysideon the western bank of the river has been much upgraded and landscaped over the last few decades. Its rows ofGeorgiantownhousesand buildings are well seen fromTelford's bridge. Since the completion of the flood defences in 2006 (see below), a "Civic Space" has been introduced to replace the oldbandstand.It is used on a variety of occasions, including the twice monthly Bewdley Riverside Market.
Governance
[edit]Bewdley is now governed by three tiers of local government, in increasing order of size: Bewdleytown council,Wyre Forestdistrict council,and Worcestershirecounty council.
For many centuries Bewdley had its ownMember of Parliament(MP), most notablyStanley Baldwin,who served as the Conservative Prime Minister, who represented it from 1908 to 1937. Reflecting changes in population, in 1950 theBewdley constituencywas abolished, and the town was included in theKidderminster constituency.
In 1983, the Kidderminster constituency (including Bewdley) was absorbed into theWyre Forest constituency.The MP for Wyre Forest isMark Garnierof theConservative Party,who in 2010 unseated the incumbent,Richard TaylorofIndependent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern(often simplyHealth Concern), a local organisation. The Labour Party held the seat from 1997 to 2001.
River and bridges
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Bewdley-bridge-town.jpg/220px-Bewdley-bridge-town.jpg)
TheRiver Severnoften used to flood in winter, damaging many houses and commercial premises in Bewdley. Among the worst floods in living memory were those in 1947, 1968 and 2000, where 140 properties were affected but after the 2000 floods, plans were made for flood defences on the western bank, completed in April 2006, costing £7 million.[7]Temporary barriers are also put up to protect properties on the eastern side of the river in Wribbenhall. Bewdley's long experience of dealing with flooding resulted in theNational Flood Forumbeing held in the town in 2002.
Bewdley Bridgeover the Severn was built in 1798 byThomas Telford.It was erected to replace the 1483medievalbridge that was swept away in the floods of 1795. A modern road bridge, opened to the southeast of the town at Blackstone in 1987 after many decades of campaigning, carries the Bewdley bypass across the river.
TheTenbury and Bewdley Railwaybranched off theSevern Valley Railwayat Bewdley, and ran through the Wyre Forest toTenbury Wells.It crossed the river atDowles,over a bridge designed by William Clarke,[8]a little to the north of Bewdley. This bridge was abandoned and dismantled in 1965, although its imposing brick and stone pillars remain. It was originally opened 100 years earlier, in August 1865.[9]
Education
[edit]Threestate schoolsare located in Bewdley. Of these, two areprimary schools:St Anne'sCEPrimary School on the west side of town and Bewdley Primary School in Wribbenhall on the eastern side of the Severn. Both were founded in 2007 when the region returned to a two-tier education system, replacing the former first and middle schools.[10][11]
The singlesecondary schoolisThe Bewdley School.
The Bewdley Grammar School on Lax Lane closed in the 1800s. Since then, the former grammar school has been adapted for many art galleries and art and craft activities. After the closure of Bewdley Grammar School, Bewdley High School & Sixth Form Centre was built on the opposite side of the river with new buildings. In 2007, Bewdley High School closed after 54 years due to an educational tier change that reorganised education as primary and secondary schools. All high schools were being replaced by new secondary schools.[12]
In 2007, after new construction, landscaping, building refurbishments and extensions,The Bewdley Schoolopened as a new secondary school. It has extensive new facilities for the arts, science and outdoor learning.[13]The Bewdley Sixth Form is also part ofThe Bewdley School,collectively offering GCSE and A Level courses.
In 2019,The Bewdley Schoolwon 'Secondary School of the Year' at the Worcestershire Educational Awards.[14]
Media
[edit]Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC West MidlandsandITV Central.Television signals are received from theSutton ColdfieldTV transmitter[15]and the local relay transmitter situated inKidderminster.[16]
Local radio stations areBBC Hereford and Worcester,Heart West Midlands,Radio Wyvern,Capital Mid-Counties,Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire,Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire,Smooth West MidlandsandThe Wyre,a community based station.
The town is served by these local newspapers,The Shuttle.[17]andExpress & Star.
Local attractions
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Bewdley_Railway_Station_2017.jpg/220px-Bewdley_Railway_Station_2017.jpg)
Events
[edit]Bewdley also hosts one of the largest inland riverregattasin the country. The BewdleyBeer Festivalis held each August Bank Holiday weekend. Bewdley also has an annualcarnivalwhich takes place every June. The Bewdley Festival, featuring a variety of artistic performances, is held annually in the town each October.
Country music scene and festivals
[edit]Bewdley has a distinguished music scene. It is particularly well known for its intimatecountry musicvenues and its many local festivals including Hop Fest, Bewdley music festival, Arley festival, and Bewdley Live.[18][19]FormerLed Zeppelinlead, and now solo singer,Robert Plantlives in the nearby village ofUpper Arley,and has been known to perform in the River Rooms; a small, intimatecountry musicvenue above the Cock and Magpie pub on the north riverside. The River Rooms attract country, soul, rock, jazz and pop performers from all acrossEuropeandNorth America.[20]Bewdley remains a significant centre for country music within theUnited Kingdom.[21]
Other amenities
[edit]TheWest Midlands Safari Parkis located nearby on theA456towards Kidderminster.[22]
Until the office moved in 2014 to Kidderminster, Bewdley contained the headquarters of theSevern Valley Railway.Thisheritage railwayruns the 16 miles (26 km) betweenKidderminsterandBridgnorth.Bewdley remains the principal intermediate station on the line.[23]
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gardens (usually abbreviated to simply "Jubilee Gardens" ) are located just off the High Street.[24]
Bewdley is on the southeastern edge of theWyre Forest,and there are many footpaths and cycle routes through the woodlands. A visitor centre is situated just outside Bewdley at Callow Hill on the road toCleobury Mortimer,the head of many waymarked trails through the forest.[25]Knowles Mill,a former corn mill owned by the National Trust is located within the forest.[26]
TheBewdley Museumexplores the history of the town and surrounding areas; it is located in the former butchers' shambles just behindBewdley Guildhall.[27]
Just outside Bewdley is Beaucastle, a Victorian mock-Gothic house, built in 1877. It was developed by George Baker, an industrialist and former Mayor of Birmingham and Bewdley. Beaucastle was designed byJohn Ruskinand William Doubleday.[28]
Notable residents
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Bewdley_Bridge_from_Severnside_North.jpg/220px-Bewdley_Bridge_from_Severnside_North.jpg)
- Stanley Baldwin,who served as prime minister three times between 1923 and 1937, was born at Lower Park House, Lower Park, in 1867. He served asMPfor thetownfrom 1908 for nearly thirty years and, in 1937, becameEarl Baldwin of Bewdley.[29]
- John Beddoe,ethnologist,was born in Bewdley in 1826.[30]
- Jannion Steele Elliott(1871–1942), ornithologist and naturalist, lived at Dowles Manor from 1903 until his death.
- Alun Evans,footballer, who in 1968 became the most expensive teenage transfer in history, moving fromWolverhampton WandererstoLiverpool F.C.,was born in the town.
- Becky Hill,singer.
- Will Holland(Quantic), musician, DJ and record producer, is from Bewdley.
- Karl Hyde,musician, best known as a member of Britishtechno/electronic musicbandUnderworldwas born in Bewdley.[31]
- Brian Turner Tom Lawrence,awarded theVictoria Crossin theBoer War,was born in Bewdley.
- Rustie Lee,television chef and actress has lived in the town and local area for 20 years.
- Alison Mardell,solicitor and senior Royal Air Force officer, was born here.
- FormerLed Zeppelinlead- and now solo singerRobert Plantlives in the nearby village ofShatterford,[32][33]and is a member of Bewdley Tennis and Rowing Club(s).
- Kayleigh Pearson,model, grew up in Bewdley, and attended Bewdley High School, nowThe Bewdley School.
- Mary Whitehouse,media clean-up campaigner, founder ofMediawatch UK,lived at Bewdley in late 1960s.[34]
Twin towns
[edit]Fort-Mahon-Plage,Somme,Hauts-de-France,France
Vellmar,Hesse,Germany
Clarksville,Indiana,United States
References
[edit]- ^"Wyre Forest".UK Census Data.Retrieved24 January2015.
- ^"Bewdley Bridge".Engineering Timelines.Archived fromthe originalon 10 July 2011.Retrieved24 January2010.
- ^Pevsner & Brookes 2007,pp. 10–11
- ^Fitzpatrick, Martin; Macleod, Emma; Page, Anthony, eds. (20 August 2020).The Wodrow-Kenrick Correspondence 1750-1810: Volume I: 1750-1783.Oxford / New York: Oxford University Press. p. 68.ISBN978-0-19-880901-2.
- ^The National Cyclopaedia of Useful KnowledgeVol III, (1847) London, Charles Knight, p.281.
- ^Upton, Chris (25 September 2009)."The European royalty who found a Midlands home during World War Two".Birmingham Post.Retrieved3 October2013.
- ^"Bewdley Case Study: The Bewdley Flood Defence Scheme".Geographical Association.Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2016.Retrieved12 November2017.
- ^"Dowles Bridge - SVR Wiki".svrwiki.Retrieved18 April2024.
- ^"Severn Bridges Demolished".severntales.co.uk.Retrieved29 December2021.
- ^"Bewdley, Wribbenhall First School".UK Government.29 November 2019.Retrieved2 August2020.
- ^"Bewdley Primary School".UK Government.24 July 2020.Retrieved2 August2020.
- ^"Wyre Forest schools shake-up".Kidderminster Shuttle.Retrieved24 May2019.
- ^"The Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre - Tes Jobs".
- ^"WEA 2019: Secondary School of the Year winner goes that 'extra mile'".
- ^"Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter".UK Free TV.1 May 2004.Retrieved23 January2024.
- ^"Freeview Light on the Kidderminster (Worcestershire, England) transmitter".UK Free TV.1 May 2004.Retrieved23 January2024.
- ^"The Shuttle".Kidderminster Shuttle.Retrieved23 January2024.
- ^"Home".Bewdley Live.Retrieved12 November2017.
- ^"Hopfest on Fire, Live Music".Hopfest.Retrieved12 November2017.
- ^"Live music events".The Cock & Magpie, Bewdley.Archived fromthe originalon 1 November 2016.Retrieved12 November2017.
- ^"Bewdley".Ents24.Retrieved12 November2017.
- ^"West Midland Safari Park".britishzoos.co.uk.Diamond Publishing Ltd.Retrieved30 December2012.
- ^"Bewdley Station".Severn Valley Railway.Retrieved13 May2022.
- ^"Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Gardens".Green Flag Award.Retrieved13 May2022.
- ^"Wyre Forest Park".Countryside Mobility.Retrieved13 May2022.
- ^"Knowles Mill".National Trust.Retrieved29 July2022.
- ^"Bewdley Museum".Discover Worcestershire.Retrieved13 May2022.
- ^"Beaucastle".Parks and Gardens.Retrieved13 May2022.
- ^"Stanley Baldwin".Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2011.Retrieved31 July2011.
- ^James, TE (1912). "Beddoe, John".InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography(2nd supplement).London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^Hyde, Karl (2016).I am Dogboy.London: Faber & Faber. p. 5.ISBN978-0-571-32865-9.
- ^"Whole Lotta Love for Ludlow! Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant talks about his time in the town".Shropshire Star.7 February 2015.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Midlands rock god Robert Plant cleared of stealing Stairway to Heaven riff".Kidderminster Shuttle.24 June 2016.Retrieved1 September2017.
- ^"Fearsome Mary and her fight to rid TV of 'filth'".Shropshire Star.11 October 2021. p. 29.Report by Toby Neal, part of 'Great Lives' series on Midlands worthies, which noted she was reportedly living there in 1968.
Further reading
[edit]- Larkham, Peter J., and John Pendlebury. "Reconstruction planning and the small town in early post-war Britain."Planning Perspectives23#3 (2008): 291–321. Case study
- Pevsner, Nikolaus; Brookes, Alan (January 2007),Worcestershire,The Buildings of England (revised ed.), London: Yale University Press,ISBN9780300112986,OL10319229M