Bewdley

Pevsner has described Bewdley as ‘The most perfect small Georgian town in Worcestershire’ and it was easy to see why on a sunny May afternoon. It is hard to believe this was the scene of disastrous floods not many years ago. The view below is of north-east bank of the River Severn where the Stourport Road joins the Kidderminster Road just before the bridge.

The downstream side of the bridge from the Kidderminster Road

Severnside North (the south west bank upstream of the bridge)

During the 17th and 18th centuries Bewdley became a thriving inland port transporting wood, coal and charcoal on the river. Industry and trade also developed (boat building, rope making, tanning, brass and pewter. The importance of Bewdley as an inland port declined in the late 18th century when the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal linked the River Severn at Stourport –on-Severn with Birmingham and the Black Country. The quayside was restored during the recent flood defence project. This shows Severnside South (the south west bank below the bridge)

Below is the downstream side of the bridge from Severnside South The first Bewdley Bridge was built in 1447. The beautiful stone arched bridge which spans the river now was built by Thomas Telford in 1798.

Just off Severnside South is a hidden gem – The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Gardens

A view of the magnificent buildings along the north east side of Load Street just after the bridge

St Anne’s Church – the church dates from 1745-48