Historic England: Worcestershire

An illustrated history of one of Britain’s finest counties – Worcestershire. Using photographs taken from the unique Historic England Archive.

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This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest counties. It provides a nostalgic look at Worcestershire’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.

The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.

In the heart of England, Worcestershire is a largely rural county centred on the historic city of Worcester with its medieval cathedral. The north of the county reaches into the more industrialised West Midlands, with much of the rest of the county devoted to agricultural produce. Natural features include the rivers Severn and Avon, the Malvern Hills and the edge of the Cotswolds and Bredon Hill. Many of the major towns including Redditch, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, Malvern and Stourport have preserved their historic character, and some reveal the important role that local industries have played in the history of Worcestershire, such as carpet weaving in Kidderminster and needle making in Redditch.