Halesowen

Halesowen, a market-town of Worcestershire, on the river Stour, 7½ miles WSW. of Birmingham. Its people are nail-makers and manufacturers of small ironwares. One mile to the south-east lie the ruins of the Premonstratensian abbey founded by King John. Shenstone (1714-63), a native of the place, carried on his landscape-gardening at the Leasowes, a mile distant from Halesowen. His tomb is in the church. Pop. 3338.