WOECESTEESHIEE— WARWICKSHIEE. 105 



town, wliicli also carries on a considerable commerce in agricultural produce. But 

 in addition to being a town of business, Worcester enjoys a bigb reputation for its 

 social amenities, and families in searcb of a pleasant retreat are attracted to it 

 from all parts of England. 



Upton-on- Severn, below Worcester, owes its importance to its shipping, for the 

 river is navigable to this place for vessels of 110 tons burden. 



To the west of it rise the Malvern Hills, famous for their scenery, no less than 

 for the salubrious spas known as Great Malvern, West Malvern, and Malvern 

 Link, which have been established on their slopes. The springs to which 

 Malvern owes its reputation are slightly sulphureous, and in no other part of 

 England is hydrothérapie treatment carried on with the same success. Tenhunj, 

 a more retiring spa, lies in the valley of the Teme. Its water is supposed to 

 be most effective in the cure of cutaneous diseases. 



Evesham is the principal town of Worcestershire within the fertile valley of 

 the Avon. It boasts a famous old abbey with a fine bell tower, and, though now a 

 quiet country place, has been the scene of some stirring events. On Greenhill, to 

 the north of the town, was fought the battle (1265) in which Simon de Montfort, 

 the champion of the barons and of constitutional government, "fought stoutly 

 for the liberties of England," but fell, overwhelmed by numbers. A miracu- 

 lous well, still known as " Battle Well," burst forth from the ground on the 

 spot where Simon de Montfort expired, and for ages attracted pilgrims in 

 search of relief from their ailments. On Vineyard Hill, on the other side of the 

 Avon, the vine was cultivated from the time of the Conquest to the dissolution of 

 the neighbouring abbey. Pcrs/iore, lower down on the Avon, has a famous old 

 church with a handsome lantern tower of the fourteenth century, held to be not 

 inferior to that of Lincoln Cathedral. 



In the north the " Black Country " of Staffordshire overlaps the borders of 

 the county, and has given birth to several populous towns, the seats of coal mining 

 and iron works. Foremost amongst these is Dudley, within a detached portion of 

 the county. The castle, now in ruins, dates back to a time when Dudley was yet 

 a quiet country town. The hill which it crowns has yielded large quantities of 

 fossils, which have been deposited in the local museum. The Wenlock Canal 

 is carried through it by means of a tunnel. Ohlhury and Hales Owen, one to 

 the east and the other to the south of Dudley, are engaged in the same industries, 

 nail-making playing a leading part. Hugh Miller is our authority for stating 

 that the severe work in the iron-mines has in no respect been detrimental to the 

 physical beauty of the inhabitants, which is most striking amongst the women, 

 whilst the natives of the Malvern Hills, notwithstanding the salubrious air 

 they breathe, are homely in appearance, not to say ugly.* As to Balsall, it is in 

 reality a part of Birmingham. The only other town to be noticed is Redditch, 

 close to the eastern borders, where the manufacture of needles and fish-hooks 

 is carried on. 



Warwickshire, one of the midland counties, lies almost wholly within the 



* Hugh JliUer, " First Impressions of England and its People." 



