WORCESTER, England, (I) a &Y, the capital of Worcestershire, situated in a beauti ful vale on the eastern bank of the Severn, 120 miles west-northwest of London. The cathedral is a noble specimen of Gothic simplicity. It was first erected by Ethelred, king of Mersa, in 680, and a later edifice was burned down and rebuilt in the beginning of the 13th century. It was restored in 1857-74. It is 394 feet long, 78 feet wide and 68 feet high, and the tower, which rises from the intersection of the nave and aisles to the altitude of 170 feet, is ornamented at the corners by lofty pinnacles. It contains many handsome monuments and sculptures, in cluding the tombs of King John, of Bishop Gauden and of Arthur, Prince of' Wales and son of Henry VII. There are about 20 other handsome places of worship, such as Holy Trinity, Saint Nicholas, Saint Andrew's, Saint Helen's etc. Among other buildings are the shire-hall, guildhall Victoria Institute (library, museum, etc.), corn-exchange, the hop and fruit market, museum of natural history, two gram mar-schools, several charitable institutions. etc_ Worcester is the chief seat of the English leather glove trade, has celebrated porcelain works, 'Worcester sauce' works, vinegar works, chemical and manure works, foundries, railway signal works, locomotive works. heist hair weaving, agricultural implements, carriage factories and other works. its trade in hops is extensive. There are municipal electric lift ing works and a service of electric trams. most remarkable event here was the victory of the English army, under Cromwell, over the Scotch in the cause of Charles II, in 1651.
There are traces of Roman occcuuppaa• , but its history dates from the establish t of the Episcopal see in the 7th century. The first charter was obtained from Philip and Mary in 1554; James I granted another in 16Z2 and its government was again altered by the Munic ipal Reform Act of 1835. Pop, about 50.000. (2) An inland county bounded on the north by Shrop and Stafford, on the west by Hereford, on the south by Gloucester and on the cast by Warwick; with some separated portions, en closed by the counties of Gloucester and War wick. The area is 751 square miles. The surface, generally' level or gently undulating, has some extensive and beautiful vales, the principal of which, that of the Severn. is 30 miles long and one quarter to a mile broad. On the southwest are the fine Malvern Hills, the loftiest of which is 1,444 feet above set-level. The soil, composed chiefly of clay and loam, is of great fertility. The principal crops are wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, turnips and hops. The orchards are celebrated for their apples and cider. The vales consist of meadows and rich pastures. The sheep are of the Leicester breed. Coal is found in the north and northwest ; the brine springs at Droitwich and Stoke Prior supply immense quantities of salt ; iron is found with the coal, and the manu facture of iron and steel, and of hardware, is extensive; carpets and rugs are made at Kid derminster; and porcelain, gloves and other articles at Worcester. Pop. 427,064. Consult Brassington 'Historic Worcestershire) (Bir mingham 1894-95).