Bewdley is a small riverside community and civil parish 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 pushes 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 prominent traveler destination and is understood for the Bewdley Bridge created by Thomas Telford. The main part of Bewdley town is located on the western bank of the River Severn, consisting of the main street-- Load Street-- whose name derives from lode, an old word for ferry. Load Street is significant for its width: this is due to the fact that it once likewise served as the community's market place. A lot of Bewdley's stores and also amenities are positioned along Load Street, at the top of which exists St Anne's Church, constructed 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 road understood locally as "the switchback" as a result of its lots of undulations. Unlike in several English towns, High Street is so called not as a result of its significance, yet due to its geographical position 'high' above the river. Beyond of the church, Welch Gate (so called since it once contained a tollgate on the road in the direction of Wales) climbs considerably as much as the west, while Dowles Road, a continuation of the B4194 leads northwest to Dowles and also towards the Wyre Forest. To the northeast of the town is the wooded hill of Wassel Wood in Trimpley, the southerly terminus of Shatterford Hill. In the location in between Stourport as well as Bewdley there are a number of large lodge, among which Witley Court, Astley Hall and Swimming pool House are particularly significant.