WORCESTER. 
735 
some very light sand, with a few spots of clay, and some of 
peat earth, towards the east. In the eastern district, indeed, 
the soil is in general a strong clay: but the waste land, which 
at one time was very considerable, was principally of deep, 
black, peat earth. Between Worcester and the vale of 
Evesham, the soil is partly red marl, and partly strong clay, 
with some sandy loam; and there is also a small vein of 
land, which partakes of each of these qualities; whilst the 
sub-soil, more especially under the sandy loam, consists of 
lime-stone. In the vale itself the soil is particularly deep; 
of a darkish coloured earth, with a substratum, in many 
parts, of clay, and some gravel. Beyond this, on the con¬ 
fines of the county, and in the small detached parts, includ¬ 
ing a small part of the Cotswold hills that runs into this 
county, a limestone prevails on the upper land, and a rich 
loam in the lower. Between Worcester and Malvern, the 
general character of the soil is a clay, mixed with gravel in 
different proportions. To the left of this line, including 
Malvern Chace, a deep surface of clay is found in some 
places; in others, a rich loam, inclining to sand; the sub¬ 
stratum is supposed to be marl. In the central parts of the 
western district, a strong clay is sometimes found, becoming 
gradually gravelly towards the light sands in the north. In 
each of these districts, some rocky and stony soil is met with ; 
but no traces of flint or chalk. The vale of Severn is de¬ 
scribed as containing probably 10,000 acres of a deep and 
rich sediment, deposited from time immemorial, by the wa¬ 
ters of this river, and by its tributary streams. This sedi¬ 
ment in some places consists of a pure water clay, adapted 
for brick-making, but generally of a rich mud, fertile, and 
favourable to vegetation. 
As to the mineralogy of this county, little can be said; 
for, as in all the other fertile counties in England, little is to 
be found under the surface, where the external produce is so 
luxuriant. 
On Bullish common is a well called the Dropping Well, 
which is considered as excellent for the cure of weak eyes; 
and several cases are well attested of its successful applica¬ 
tion. The canals in this county are, 1st, the Trent and Se¬ 
vern, or Staffordshire and Worcestershire, or as, indeed, it 
is more commonly called, the Stourport canal; 2d, the 
Droitwich canal; 3d, the Worcester and Birmingham canal; 
4th, the Dudley Extension canal; 5th, the Leominster ca¬ 
nal, near Tenbury. Its principal rivers are the Severn, 
Avon, Stour, and Teme; the Severn enters the county from 
Shropshire, runs through its whole length, and being joined 
by the Teme from the north-west, the small river Salwarp 
from the north-east, the Stour from the north, and the Avon 
from the south-east, renders the soil extremely i'ertile. The 
commerce and manufactures are very considerate, not only 
from its own produce, but from its lying in a situation to make 
it the depot and line of communication for the mining and 
manufacturing counties which almost surround it. Of its own 
exported produce, we may enumerate the great quantities of 
hops, fruit, cyder, and perry, which are bought at Wor¬ 
cester markets, rendering it the great mart for those articles 
in the western district of the kingdom. This county also ex¬ 
ports a considerable surplus of its own manufactures, in the 
article of Kidderminster goods, Worcester gloves, in China 
and glass-ware, and in nails, and the smaller articles of iron¬ 
work, as well as barred and sheet-iron, for the northern 
parts. We must not omit the great quantities of salt from 
Droitwich, of oil and oil-cake from Evesham, and of clover 
and grass-seeds, corn, beans, flour, malt, salmon, fat cattle, 
sheep, lambs, hogs, hay, timber, large and small, from the 
county in general. 
That Worcestershire was known to the Romans, the roads 
whose vestiges are discovered to run through the county, 
afford convincing proofs. Several coins also of the lower 
empire have been found, particularly in the fields adjoining 
to the large camp on Witchbury hill, where about 40 years 
ago an earthen pot filled with them, was taken out of a pool 
on tire side of the hill. Besides these, urns have been found 
filled with bones, and various other vestiges of the ancient 
conquerors of Britain. 
The county contains 30,462 houses, inhabited by 160,546 
persons; viz. 78,033 males, and 82,513 females; of whom 
16,855 families were returned as being employed in trade, 
handicraft, and manufactures, 13,818 in agriculture, and 
3441 others. 
WORCESTER is the chief town of the above county, and 
one of the most ancient cities in England. It is agreeably 
situated in a beautiful vale on the eastern banks of the Severn, 
from which it rises gradually. Its air and climate are re¬ 
markably healthy, and the surrounding country is not only 
deserving of notice from its fertility and variety of prospect, 
but from the pleasing effect produced by its beautiful, and 
often romantic, outline. From the eastern blasts it is com¬ 
fortably screened by a hill, covered with some fine woods, 
which add much to the beauty of the scenery; whilst being 
open from north to south, in the direction of the river, a 
brisk current of air generally prevails, which is exceedingly 
conducive to health. Being an ancient fortified place, this 
city had a very strong wall, of which some remains may yet 
be seen at the back of the commandery, in which were six 
ports or gates, said to have been handsome, but which have 
been taken down some years ago; and however the anti¬ 
quary may regret this, yet it must be acknowledged, that it 
has tended, much to improve the principal entrances into the 
city. The streets are in general broad, so as to admit a free 
circulation of air. They are also well paved and lighted. 
The Foregate-street, the High-street, the Broad-street, and 
Bridge-street, are exceedingly regular and beautiful. The 
other streets, however, are not remarkable either for airiness 
or regularity. The cathedral is a noble specimen of Gothic 
simplicity; the outside is extremely plain, and devoid of all 
laboured ornaments. Its beauty consists in its height, space, 
and the lightness of its architecture, which is greatly aided 
by the lofty pinnacles rising from every termination of the 
building. The cathedral was first erected by Ethelred, king 
of Mercia, in 680, when it was a convent of secular priests. 
It was burnt down and rebuilt before the conquest, and was 
again reduced to ashes in 1113. It was again burnt down in 
1202 , with all the adjacent offices of the monastery, and part 
of the city; but being again rebuilt, and king John buried 
there, it was, in the presence of Henry III. his son, and of 
many bishops, abbots, and nobles, solemnly consecrated in 
1218. After this, a general repair took place, and a com¬ 
plete new front was given to it. The greatest part of the 
buildings, consisting of the hall, refectory, cloister, water- 
gate, &c., were all built between 1320 and 1386, by bishop 
Wakefield, who also lengthened the body of the church 
(the north aisle having previously been vaulted by bishop 
Cobham), by adding two arches to the west end; he is 
recorded also to have built the north porch, an elegant spe¬ 
cimen of the architecture of the times. From this period 
until the unhappy contest of Charles and the parliament, no 
particular alterations were made; but great dilapidations 
took place, while the place was occupied by the parlia¬ 
mentary forces. These have been in a great measure re¬ 
paired, particularly of late years, when great improvements 
have been made, not only in the exterior architecture, but 
in the interior regulations and arrangements. After all the 
damages which it has suffered, and notwithstanding the un¬ 
avoidable varieties of architecture which have taken place, 
this memorable cathedral is now an object of great interest 
to the man of taste. Its form is that usual one of a double 
cross, displaying the grand features of the Gothic style, 
which consist in extent and strength, and to which we may 
add the solemnity of the high pointed arch, and the beauty 
of diminutive ornament. The proportions of the exterior 
are on a grand scale; it is in length 514 feet ; in breadth 
78; and in height 68; and the tower, which rises from the 
centre of the cross aisle to the altitude of 200 feet, is orna¬ 
mented at the corners by four lofty pinnacles, and with ele¬ 
gant battlements of light open work. This tower has been 
reckoned heavy, particularly in the upper tier of ornamented 
windows. Much curious work may be seen on its various 
sides, as well as some ancient statues: these are, the Virgin 
with the infant Christ, St. Walsten, St. Oswald, and other 
religious 
