Oxford to Worcester and Wolverhampton

West Midland Section

Oxford to Chipping Norton Junction

Handborough

A government grant of half a million of money was expended in the erection of a magnificent palace at this place for the Duke of Marlborough in the reign of Queen Anne.

Thence crossing the Evenlode several times in our course, and skirting the park rails of the Duke of Beaufort’s princely domain, Blandford Park, we arrive at

Charlbury

Ditchley (2 miles), Lord Dillon, was the birthplace of the notorious Lord Rochester. Near it is Kiddington, with an old church, of which Wharton was rector.

Still passing along the valley of the Evenlode, we pass Ascott station, arriving at

Shipton

4 miles south is the old town of Burford, full of quaint houses, with paneled gables and tracery work.

Three miles beyond Shipton we arrive at the junction of the

Chipping Norton Branch

And at a distance of four miles further, at the ancient town of

Chipping Norton

An old Market town situated on the rise of a hill. There is a Free Grammar School, and a venerable church with an embattled tower, and an ancient rood loft.

Another branch line turns off to the left from this junction to Bourton-on-the-Water, a small village on the side of a Roman Foss-way, leading from Cirencester to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Returning to the junction of the Main line, we pursue our journey onwards to

Addlestrop and Stow Road

Daylesford House, the seat of the celebrated Warren Hastings, and Addlestrop House, of the Leigh family, are close by.

Again proceeding on our way, we soon arrive at

Moreton-in-the-Marsh

A small town on the old Foss Way; an old building once the Market House stands in the centre.

Blockley, Campden, and Honeybourne stations, the last of which is the junction of the branch to the classic town of Stratford.

Stratford-upon-Avon Branch

The stations en route are Long Marston, and Milcote.

Stratford-upon-Avon

This interesting part, of Warwickshire is directly accessible by a branch of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, by which means it is within, about 100 miles journey by rail from London.

Honeybourne to Worcester and Wolverhampton

Again on the Main Line, we next pay a visit to the small town of

Evesham

This place has a population of 4,680, engaged chiefly in agriculture, with a little stocking and ribbon manufacture.

Another branch, belonging to the Midland Company, here interrupts our course.

Pershore

The staple manufacture here is stockings. At this place the nuns of the Abbey House, the only relics of a large monastic establishment, may be seen.

Worcester

Worcester, the capital of Worcestershire, in a fine part of the Severn, is a parliamentary borough, and seat of a diocese, with a population of 31,227.

Worcester and Hereford Railway

Worcester to Hereford

Henlip or Hindlip, the seat of Viscount Southwell, stands on the site of an old building in which Thomas Abingdon lived when he hid away some of the Powder Plotters in the secret passages which abounded in it.

Droitwich

Droitwich is built on the banks of the river Salwarpe. It possesses a canal six miles in length, and capable of admitting vessels of 600 tons burden, and communicates with the river Severn.

Hartlebury

Here is situated Hartlebury Castle, for many centuries the residence of the Bishops of Worcester, which was reduced in the time of the Commonwealth, and rebuilt by Bishop Hough.

Severn Valley Railway

Hartlebury to Shrewsbury

West Midland Main Line continued

Kidderminster

Kidderminster stands on both banks of the river Stour, which divides it into two unequal parts and the buildings extend in a continued range from north to south-east.

Churchill station.

Hagley. – Here is the splendid mansion of the first Lord Lyttleton; its picture gallery is attractive and the scenery afforded by the situation of the hall itself beautiful and extensive. The family tomb may be seen in the church.

Stourbridge

A handsome town, noted for its glass manufacture Population 8,166. The surrounding districts abound in iron, coal. &c.

A line of 2¼ miles diverges from here to the right, via the station of Lye to the village of Cradley, in the vicinity of which some hops are grown.

Brettel Lane, Brierley Hill, Round Oak, and Netherton stations.