BEWDLEY, RIBBESFORD, AND WRIBBENHALL. 33

Bewdley, Ribbesford and Wribbenhall.

THESE three places I have joined together on account of Bewdiey being in the parish of Ribbesford; and Wribbenhall, though belonging to the foreign of Kidderminster, being in reality only a suburb of Bewdley. The latter town was formerly extra-parochial, but by an Act of Henry VI it was placed within the parish of Ribbesford, and the whole within the jurisdiction of the Marches of Wales, until by an act of Henry VIII it was made a part of the county of Worcester.

Ancient authors enlarge lovingly on Bewdley and its charming site. Leland declares that "a man cannot wish to see a towne better," and that "at the rising of the sunne from the east - (mind you, only when it rises in that direction) - the whole towne glittereth, being all of new building, as it were of gould." The name of the town is said to have been derived from "Bellus locus," or "Beau-lieu," a fine place. Dr. Stukeley asserted that of all places he had seen he would choose Bewdley for a country residence. But Habingdon (seventeenth century) is so descriptive that I must quote him. He says: "Bewdley hath a fayre brydge of stone emulating Worcester's brydge, with a gate-house as Worcester's brydge, but thys of tymber, that towringe with stone. This brydge interleygnethe Severne first into our shyre, the greatest water ornament and prodigall benefactor of our county, who supplyethe Bewdley with abundance of coale, the want of fewell wch it had otherwise sustayned by the utter overthrowe of a bosome frynde and nerest neyghbour, the late renowned