Noake's Worcestershire Page 59

BREDON. 59

Bredon.

IF it be true that -

"Blessed is the eye

That dwells between the Severn and the Wye,"

I say that for rural beauty, rich and extensive scenery, and charming repose, the view from Bredon Hill over the valley adown which meanders the lovely Avon, to join that sweet nymph, Sabrina, is equal to that of which the poet sings, and in fact leaves nothing to be desired. We don't object to the good folks of Birmingham and the Black Country paying frequent visits to the Malvern Hills, but once in a season let them take an opportunity of admiring Bredon, without which their idea of Worcestershire scenery cannot be complete and perfect. Bredon Hill - an "outlyer" of the Cotswolds - has great attractions for botanists and students in geology, as also for antiquity worshippers in general; it possesses lias quarries, an ancient camp, a landslip, a remarkable object called " the Banbury stone," said by some to have been anciently consecrated to pagan worship, and two other stones called "the King and Queen," where a manorial court was formally held. Then walk down into the village, and linger in its picturesque street; notice that fine fourteenth century tithe-barn - sufficiently grand and capacious for a church - enter the magnificent parish church, take note of its splendid Norman porch and nave, Early English chapel, Decorated aisle, tower, spire, and chancel, its interesting monuments, ascent to rood-loft, encaustic tiles, coffin slabs, and fine old coped tombs in the churchyard, and see if there be not sufficient indication of the former importance of the