Bewdley is a small riverside community as well as civil church in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire on the Shropshire border in England, along the Severn Valley 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) west of Kidderminster as well as 22 miles (35 kilometres) southwest of Birmingham. [1] It lies on the River Severn, at the entrance of the Wyre Forest national nature reserve, as well as at the time of the 2011 census had a population of 9,470. Bewdley is a preferred vacationer location and is known for the Bewdley Bridge developed by Thomas Telford. The main part of Bewdley community is situated on the western bank of the River Severn, including the major road-- Load Street-- whose name stems from lode, an old word for ferry. Load Street is significant for its size: this is since it once additionally worked as the community's market location. The majority of Bewdley's stores and features are situated along Load Street, at the top of which lies St Anne's Church, built in between 1745 and 1748 by Doctor Thomas Woodward of Chipping Campden. Past the church, High Street leads off to the south towards Stourport along the B4194, a road recognized locally as "the switchback" due to its numerous undulations. Unlike in many English towns, High Street is so called not due to its importance, yet because of its geographical position 'high' over the river. On the other side of the church, Welch Gate (so called because it as soon as had a tollgate when traveling towards Wales) climbs up steeply up to the west, while Dowles Road, an extension of the B4194 leads northwest to Dowles and towards the Wyre Forest. To the northeast of the town is the woody hill of Wassel Wood in Trimpley, the southerly terminus of Shatterford Hill. In the area between Stourport as well as Bewdley there are a number of large lodge, among which Witley Court, Astley Hall and also Pool Residence are especially substantial.
