Stourbridge

Stourbridge, a market-town of Worcestershire, on the Stour, at the border of Staffordshire and the Black Country, $4\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles S. by W. of Dudley and 12 W. by S. of Birmingham. The famous Fireclay (q.v.) is said to have been discovered about 1555 by wandering glassmakers from Lorraine; and Stourbridge now has glass, earthenware, and firebrick works, besides manufactures of iron, nails, chains, leather, &c. The grammar-school (1552), at which Samuel Johnson passed a twelvemonth, was rebuilt in 1862; and there are also a corn exchange (1854), county court (1864), and mechanics' institute. Pop. (1851) 7847; (1881) 9737; (1891) 9386.