BEWDLEY, RIBBESFORD AND WRIBBENHALL 35

to think that the worthy burgesses presented the former sum as symbolical of his Majesty being no longer worth a crown!

The manor of Bewdley was formerly held of the Priory of Worcester; then the Mortimers became the lords; afterwards it pertained to the Crown, and then in succession to the Blounts, Clares, Winningtons, and Roberts. Earl Dudley is now lord of the manor, and also lessee of the Crown lands, which contain the principal part of the landed estates in the vicinity; and the other principal landowners are the Ingram family, in the parish of Ribbesford proper, while in the hamlet of Wribbenhall and district there are Mr. Hemming, Mr. C. Sturge, and Mr. Slade Baker.

As before said, Bewdley was in the Marches of Wales, being me of those frontier towns which were fortified against the Welsh, and where the Lords Marchers held their councils. Tickenhill Palace was the council-house. It was there that frince Arthur was married by proxy to Catharine of Arragon, and there his body rested an its way from Ludlow to Worcester for burial. Queens Mary and Elizabeth, who in their youth frequently visited the Prior of Worcester, also resided then occasionally. The house was greatly damaged in the civil wars, and the mansion now standing on the site is comparatively modern, and is the residence of John Bury, Esq. The park was famous for oaks and deer.

Edward IV incorporated the town, and gave it three fairs (since increased to five), and a market on Saturday; and James I gave the place a charter, appointing a bailiff and fourteen capital burgesses, also founding a free grammar school. Queen Anne confirmed this, with certain variations. The revenues of the grammar school give about £60 per year to the head master, Rev. W. Grist; and the capitation fee, in partial enhancement of the stipend, is 15s. per quarter. A new school has been erected at a cost of £700, and contains, at present, about twenty scholars.

Tanning, with the manufacture of caps, combs, and horn articles, and an excellent river traffic, were the support of