&resaAaas, population 339, is pleasantly situated on the right bank of the Avon, 5 miles S.S.W. from Pershore. The village ls chiefly known as the birth-pl000 of the author of Iludibras. The house in which Butler was born is still standing, about a quarter of a mile from the church. It is a low rude timber-frame and thatch cottage, and is known as Butler's Cot. Strensham church is a handsome edifice, con taining some fins monuments and brasses. Strenaham possesses a Free school and some almshouses. Wolrerley, population 2141, about 2 miles N. from Kidderminster, on the right bank of the river Stour, has a neat pariah church, erected in 1722; a well-endowed Free school; and a National school.
Dirisions for Ecclesiastical, Legal, and Parliamentary Purposes.— Worcestershire is in the province of Canterbury, and for the most part In the diocese of Worcester ; a few parishes are in the diocese of Hereford. The county is in the Oxford circuit: the assizes and quarter session. for the county and city are held at Worcester.
County courts are held at Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Dudley, Evesham, Kidderminster. Pershore, Redditch, Stourbridge, Tenbury, Upton-on Severn, and Worcester. By the Poor-Law Commissioners the county is divided into 18 Unions :—Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Dudley, Evesham, Kidderminster, King's Norton, Manley, Pershore, Shipaton, Stour bridge, Tenbury, Upton-on-Severn, and Worcester. These Unions contain 267 parishes and townships, with an area of 627,797 acres, cud a population in 1851 of 384,323. Before the Reform Act Wor cestershire sent nine members to the House of Commons; namely, two for the county, two each for the city of Worcester and the boroughs of Droitwleh and Evesham, and one for the borough of Bewdley. By the Reform Act the number was increased to 12,; namely, two each for the East and West divisions of the county, two for the city of Worcester, two for the borough of Evesham, and one each for Bewdley, Droitwich, Dudley, end Kidderminster.
Ilistory and Antiquities,&c.—The etymology of Worcester' is with some plausibility adduced from 'N't'yre-Cestre,' the Camp or Castle of Wyre, under which name a considerable forest still exists iu the neigh bourhood of Bewdley. Of the early history of the county little is accurately known : there are however many evidences of its occupation by the Remus. During the Heptarchy, Worcester was the principal Mercian see, and the inhabitants of the district were under ecclesias tical government. After the Conquest the form of government was changed. Earls of Worcester were created, and had the civil power confided to them. During the war between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, and subsequently during the resistance of the baions to King John, the posaessions of the Earls of Worcester frequently changed masters. Some of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot retreated to and were apprehended at liendlip, an old house, of a curious con struction, well fitted for concealment, situated between Droitwich and Worcester. During the contest between the king and the parliament, Worcestershire was on several occasions overrun by the contending parties. [Woaczorzn.]
The antiquities of this county are not remarkable. Three Roman roads have been traced—Icknield-atreet, which ran from Alcester northward to Staffordshire ; a second road, which passed from Tewkesbury to Upton, Worcestershire, and so to Shropshire; and the Ridgeway, which is the boundary of the county for some distance on its eastern frontier. Ancient encampments may be traced at Malvern, at Bredon, and on the hills at Woodbury and Witchbury. There are many remains of ecclesiastical houses ; the chief are St.
Wulstan's et Worcester, and the abbeys of Malvern, Bordesley, and Evesham. The most remarkable churches are the cathedral at Wor cester, the churches at Evesham, Malvern, Droitwich, Eastham, Naunton, Beauchamp, Stockton, and Church Leach.
The principal gentlemen's seats are—Creme, belonging, to Lord Coventry ; Ilagley Park, the residence of _ord Lyttleton; Witley, the property of Lord Ward; Hewell Grange, belonging to the Hon. Robert Clive ; Hartlebury Castle, the episcopal residence of the bishop of the (Home; Ombersiey, belonging to Lord Sandy. ; Westwood Park, Madresfield, Bordesley Park, Standford Court, Pull Court, Overbury Park, Hanley Conn, Kyre, and Banbury Hall.
Manufactures and is largely manufactured at Dudley, in the neighbourhood of which there are likewise extensive coalmines. In the northern part of the county a very large quantity of nails Is made, and there are likewise factories for fish-hooks and needles; of many descriptions and qualities are made at glass is manufactured at Stourbridge ; a declining glove-trade is carried on at Worcester; and porcelain is manufactured to a considerable extent. The population of the southern and eastern part of the county is wholly occupied with agriculture.
Religious Wersliip and Education.—According to the Returns of the Census of 1851, it appears that there were then in the county 489 places of worship, of which 244 belonged to the Established Church, 127 to five sectious of Methodists, 46 to Baptists, 24 to lndependenta, and 12 to Roman Catholics. The total number of sittings provided was 141,512. The number of Sunday schools was 341, of which 193 were connected with the Church of England, 82 with Methodists, 27 with Baptists, and 20 with Independents. The total number of Sunday scholars was 35,221. Of day schools there were 701, of which 233 were public schools with 21,279 echelon, and 468 were private schools with 9278 scholars. There were 19 evening schools for adults, with 379 scholars ; snd 21 literary and scientific institutes, with 1541 members, and libraries containing 15,776 volumes.
Savings Benks.—In 1853 the county possessed ten savings banks, at Bewdley, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, Kidderminster, Shipeton on-Stour, Stourport, Teubury, Upton-upon-Severn, and Worcester. The total amount owing to depositors on November 20th 1853 was 463,204/. 31. 5d.