Bewdley is a small riverside town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire on the Shropshire boundary in England, along the Severn Valley 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) west of Kidderminster and 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Birmingham. [1] It pushes the River Severn, at the entrance of the Wyre Forest national nature reserve, and also at the time of the 2011 census had a population of 9,470. Bewdley is a prominent tourist location and also is known for the Bewdley Bridge created by Thomas Telford. The main part of Bewdley community is situated on the western bank of the River Severn, consisting of the major street-- Load Street-- whose name originates from lode, an old word for ferryboat. Load Street is notable for its width: this is due to the fact that it once likewise worked as the community's market area. A lot of Bewdley's stores as well as facilities are positioned along Load Street, at the top of which lies St Anne's Church, constructed in between 1745 and also 1748 by Doctor Thomas Woodward of Chipping Campden. Past the church, High Street leads off to the south in the direction of Stourport along the B4194, a roadway recognized locally as "the switchback" as a result of its many undulations. Unlike in numerous English communities, High Street is so called not due to its value, however due to its geographical placement 'high' over the river. On the other side of the church, Welch Gate (so called due to the fact that it once consisted of a tollgate when driving towards Wales) climbs up considerably up to the west, while Dowles Road, an extension of the B4194 leads northwest to Dowles as well as in the direction of the Wyre Forest. To the northeast of the town is the woody hilltop of Wassel Wood in Trimpley, the southerly terminus of Shatterford Hill. In the location between Stourport and also Bewdley there are several huge lodge, amongst which Witley Court, Astley Hall and Pool House are especially considerable.