Kidderminster

Kidderminster, a parliamentary and municipal borough and market-town of Worcestershire, situated on the Stour 4 miles above its junction with the Severn, and 14½ miles by rail N. of Worcester, 121 NW. of London. It is a busy, thriving-looking place, chiefly noteworthy on account of its carpet-manufacture (see CARPETS), which was first established here in 1735. Worsted spinning and dyeing are also carried on. Richard Baxter was for fourteen years vicar of the parish, and there is a statue of him (1875). An illustrious native was Sir Rowland Hill; a marble statue of him was erected in 1881 at a cost of £1700. Among the public buildings are the parish church, Early English to Perpendicular in style, with a noble pinnacled tower; a Renaissance town-hall (1877), a corn exchange (1855), a free library, and a free grammar-school, founded in 1637. Kidderminster was incorporated as a municipal borough by Charles I., and since 1832 returns one member to parliament. Pop. of the entire parish, which includes Lower Mitton or Stourport, (1801) 9639; (1881) 31,033; (1891) 33,326, of whom 24,803 were within the municipal limits.