View source for Worcestershire

{{short description|County of England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox English county
| official_name = Worcestershire
| other_name = 
| image_main = {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=1 2 |total_width=270
  | image1 = River Severn, Central Worcester - geograph.org.uk - 3185511 (cropped).jpg
  | image2 = Broadway Tower (cropped).jpg
  | image3 = Malvern Hills in June 2005.JPG
}}
| image_caption = [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]; [[Broadway Tower, Worcestershire|Broadway Tower]] in the [[Cotswolds]], and the [[Malvern Hills]] on the Worcestershire–[[Herefordshire]] border
| locator_map = Worcestershire UK locator map 2010.svg
| map_caption = Worcestershire within England
| coordinates = 
| region = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
| established_date = 1 April 1998
| established_by = [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|Local Government Commission for England]]
| preceded_by = [[Hereford and Worcester]]
| origin = [[Historic counties of England|Ancient]]
| lord_lieutenant_office = Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
| lord_lieutenant_name = Beatrice Grant<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-lord-lieutenant-of-worcestershire-15-december-2022 Number 10 website Accessed 2-3-2024].</ref>
| high_sheriff_office = High Sheriff of Worcestershire
| high_sheriff_name = Edward Holloway<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3222638|title=Privy Council Office-APPOINTMENT OF SHERIFFS|newspaper=London Gazette|access-date= 17 April 2019}}</ref> (2019–2020)
| area_total_km2 = 1741
| area_total_rank = 34th
| ethnicity = {{ubl|92.4% White British|3.4% White Other|2.4% Asian|0.4% Black|1.4% Other/Mixed<ref name="C2011">{{cite web |title=Census 2011:KS201EW Ethnic group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/2011censuskeystatisticsforlocalauthoritiesinenglandandwales/r21ewrttableks201ewladv1_tcm77-290595.xls |website=ons.gov.uk |publisher=Office of National Statistics |access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref>}}
| county_council = [[Worcestershire County Council]]
| unitary_council = 
| unitary_council1 = 
| government = 
| joint_committees = 
| admin_hq = [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
| area_council_km2 = 1,741
| area_council_rank = 23rd
| iso_code = GB-WOR
| gss_code = E10000034
| nuts_code = TLG12
| districts_map = [[File:Worcestershire numbered districts.svg|200px]]
| districts_list = # [[City of Worcester|Worcester]]
# [[Malvern Hills District|Malvern Hills]]
# [[Wyre Forest District|Wyre Forest]]
# [[Bromsgrove District|Bromsgrove]]
# [[Redditch]]
# [[Wychavon]]
| MPs = [[List of parliamentary constituencies in Herefordshire and Worcestershire|6 MPs]]
| police = [[West Mercia Police]]
| website = {{URL|https://worcestershire.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Worcestershire''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-worcestershire.ogg|ˈ|w|ʊ|s|t|ər|ʃ|ər}} {{respell|WUUST|ər|shər}}, {{IPAc-en|-|ʃ|ɪə}} {{respell|-sheer}}; written abbreviation: '''Worcs''') is a [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] of England. It is bordered by [[Shropshire]], [[Staffordshire]], and the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] county to the north, [[Warwickshire]] to the east, [[Gloucestershire]] to the south, and [[Herefordshire]] to the west. The city of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] is the largest settlement. 

The county is largely rural, and has an area of {{Convert|1741|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and an estimated population of {{English cerem counties|POP=Worcestershire}} in {{English cerem counties|TXT=Year}}. Worcester is located on the [[River Severn]] near the centre; [[Kidderminster]] lies in the north, [[Redditch]] and [[Bromsgrove]] in the north-east, [[Evesham]] in the south-east, and the spa town of [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]] in the south-west. For local government purposes Worcestershire is a [[non-metropolitan county]] with six [[Non-metropolitan district|districts]]. The county [[Historic counties of England|historically]] had [[Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries since 1844|complex boundaries]], and included [[Dudley]] and the southwestern suburbs of [[Birmingham]]. 

The River Severn flows through the centre of the county from north to south, forming a wide plain. The southwest of the county contains part of the [[Malvern Hills]], a [[National Landscape]] which contains [[Worcestershire Beacon]], at {{Convert|425|m|ft|abbr=on}} the county's highest point. The southeast contains a small part of the [[Cotswolds]], and in the northwest is part of the [[Wyre Forest]], a [[National nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]]. 

There is some evidence of [[Roman Britain|Roman]] occupation in Worcestershire; the area later became part of the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom of [[Hwicce]], and then [[Mercia]].  Worcestershire was constituted as a county around 927, as the [[Kingdom of England]] formed. During the [[High Middle Ages]] the county was the site of the [[Battle of Evesham]], in which [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]] was defeated, and in 1651 the [[Battle of Worcester]] was the last major engagement of the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]]. During the [[Industrial Revolution]] the north of the county was part of the [[Black Country]], a major manufacturing centre, Kidderminster became famous for carpet production, and Worcester for [[Royal Worcester|porcelain]].

==Location==
The county borders [[Herefordshire]] to the west, [[Shropshire]] to the north-west, [[Staffordshire]] only just to the north, [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] to the north and north-east, [[Warwickshire]] to the east and [[Gloucestershire]] to the south. The western border with Herefordshire includes a stretch along the top of the [[Malvern Hills]]. At the southern border with Gloucestershire, Worcestershire meets the northern edge of the [[Cotswolds]]. Two major rivers flow through the county: the [[River Severn|Severn]] and the [[River Avon, Warwickshire|Avon]].

==History==
{{main|History of Worcestershire|History of Worcester}}
[[File:Hallow Handaxe, early middle Palaeolithic.png|thumb|left|The hand axe discovered in 1970s in [[Hallow, Worcestershire|Hallow]]. Potentially the first Early Middle Palaeolithic artefact from the West Midlands.{{sfn|Russell|Daffern|Hancox|Nash|2018}}]]
The geographical area now known as Worcestershire was first populated at least 700,000 years ago.{{sfn|Russell|Daffern|Hancox|Nash|2018}} The area became predominantly agricultural in the [[History of Worcestershire#Bronze Age|Bronze Age]], leading to population growth and more evidence of settlement. By the [[History of Worcestershire#Iron Age|Iron Age]], hill forts dominated the landscape. Settlement of these swiftly ended with the [[Roman Britain|Roman occupation of Britain.]]{{sfn|MacDonald|1969|pp=2–4}}

The [[History of Worcestershire#Roman|Roman]] period saw establishment of the villa system in the Cotswolds and Vale of Evesham. [[Droitwich]] (Salinae) was probably the most important settlement in the county in this period, due to its product of salt. There is also evidence for Roman settlement and industrial activity around Worcester and King's Norton.{{sfn|Brookes|Pevsner|2007|p=14}}

===Anglo-Saxon Worcestershire===
{{main|History of Worcestershire#Anglo-Saxon}}

The area which became Worcestershire formed the heartland of the [[Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom of the [[Hwicce]]. It was absorbed by the [[Kingdom of Mercia]] during the 7th century and became part of the unified [[Kingdom of England]] in 927. Worcestershire was established as an administrative and defensive unit in the early tenth century.<ref>Brooks N, Cubitt C (1996). "St. Oswald of Worcester - Life and Influence". The administrative landscape of the Diocese of Worcester in the tenth century. p147</ref> Its purpose was to take into account and defend the estates within the northern area of the historic [[Anglican Diocese of Worcester|See of Worcester]], held by the [[Bishop of Worcester|Episcopus Hwicciorum]] and [[Worcester Cathedral|Worcester Priory]], along with the Abbots of [[Pershore Abbey|Pershore]], [[Westminster Abbey|Westminster]] and [[Evesham Abbey|Evesham]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Worcestershire|last1=Brooks|first1=Alan|last2=Pevsner|first2=Nikolaus|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2007|isbn=9780300112986|location=New Haven and London|pages=2}}</ref> The [[Non-metropolitan county|shires]] and its sub-divisions known as [[Hundred (county division)|hundreds]], formed a framework for administering the resources of each [[burh]]s' outlying estates.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stourbridgewesternboundary.kjdocs.co.uk/Stourbridge%20Western%20Boundary.pdf|title=Stourbridge's Western Boundary: A cornerstone of the historical landscape|last=James BSc(Hons) MSc PhD FIAP|first=K|date=11 April 2018|website=Stourbridge's Western Boundary|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> It was a separate [[ealdorman]]ship briefly in the 10th century before forming part of the [[Earldom of Mercia]] in the 11th century. The last known [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[Sheriff of Worcestershire]] was [[Cyneweard of Laughern]].

===Norman Conquest===
{{main|History of Worcestershire#Medieval}}

During the [[Middle Ages]], much of the county's economy was based on the wool trade. Many areas of its dense forests, such as [[Feckenham Forest]], [[Horewell Forest]] and [[Malvern Chase]], were [[Royal forest|royal hunting grounds]] subject to forest law.

After the [[Norman conquest of England]]; the [[Domesday Book]] noted in 1086 that in seven of the twelve [[Hundred (county division)|hundreds]] covering Worcestershire, the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom#English monarchy|Crown]] had no authority. The Crown's authority was replaced by the Bishop of Worcester and the Abbots at Pershore, Westminster and Evesham.<ref>Tinti F.(2010) Sustaining Belief: The Church of Worcester from c.870 to c.1100</ref>

[[William the Conqueror]] gave to his allies and friends [[Manorialism|manors]] and [[parishes]] captured from the Anglo-Saxons.<ref name="Carter">{{Cite book |last=Carter |first=W.F |title=Additions to Grazebrook's 'The Barons of Dudley' |publisher=Chetwynd Papers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Domesday Book Online - Worcestershire E-L |url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/worcestershire2.html#halesowen |access-date=11 April 2018 |website=www.domesdaybook.co.uk}}</ref>{{sfn|Mason|1979|p=124}} Despite the Norman Conquest, the rest of the county was still held by the Abbeys of Pershore and Evesham, the [[Bishop of Worcester]] and [[Worcester Cathedral|Priory]].

The first [[Norman conquest of England|Norman]] Sheriff [[Urse d'Abetot]], built the castle of Worcester and seized much church land, some of which became part of the Crown's hundreds in Worcestershire.<ref>Laird, "A Topographical and Historical Description of the County of Worcester" c. 1814; http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol3/pp1-4 British History Online: ''The hundred of Halfshire: Introduction and map'', Pages 1-4. A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1913.</ref> and was in dispute with the Bishop of Worcester over the rights of the sheriff.<ref name="Intro3">Brooks "Introduction" ''St Wulfstan and His World'' p. 3; Williams "Cunning of the Dove" ''St Wulfstan and His World'' pp. 33–35</ref>

[[Wulfstan (died 1095)|Bishop Wulfstan]] was the last Anglo-Saxon bishop in England, and remained in post until his death in 1095. Under his tenure [[Worcester Cathedral]] began major reconstruction, and he opposed political interventions against William and the Normans. He was later made a saint.

===High Medieval===
During [[Henry III of England|Henry III]]'s disputes and wars with his Barons, in 1263 [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]'s Jewish residents were attacked by a baronial force led by [[Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby|Robert Earl Ferrers]] and [[Henry de Montfort]]. Most were killed.{{sfn|Willis-Bund|Page|1924|pp=376–390}} The massacre in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] was part of a wider campaign by the De Montforts and their allies in the run-up to the [[Second Barons' War]], aimed at undermining Henry III.  Worcestershire was the site of the [[Battle of Evesham]] in which [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]] was killed on 4 August 1265.{{refn|group=note|[[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]] had previously been engaged in a [[History of the Jews in England (1066–1290)#Increasing persecution, 13th century|campaign]] of persecution of Jewish communities in [[Leicester]].}} A few years later, in 1275, the Jews that were still living in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] were forced to move to [[Hereford]],{{sfn|Willis-Bund|Page|1924|pp=376–390}} as they were expelled from all towns under the jurisdiction of the queen mother.<ref>{{harvnb|Mundill|2002|p=23}}</ref>

[[File:Wigornia Atlas.jpg|thumb|168x168px|Hand-drawn map of Worcestershire by Christopher Saxton from 1577.]]

===Civil War===
{{main|Worcestershire in the English Civil War|History of Worcestershire#Civil War|History of Worcester#Civil War}}

[[File:Old Powick Bridge over the River Teme - geograph.org.uk - 795873.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Powick Bridge]] on the [[River Teme]] on 23 September 1642 began the [[English Civil War]].]]
In 1642, the [[Battle of Powick Bridge]] was the first major skirmish of the [[English Civil War]]. The county suffered from being on the Royalist front line, as it was subject to heavy taxation and the pressing of men into the Royalist army, which also reduced its productive capacity. The northern part of the county, which was already a centre of iron production, was important for military supplies. Parliamentarian raids and Royalist requisitioning both placed a great strain on the county.

There were tensions from the participation of prominent Catholic recusants in the military and civilian organisation of the county. Combined with the opposition to requisitioning from both sides, bands of [[Clubmen]] formed to keep the war away from their localities.

The [[Battle of Worcester]] in 1651 effectively ended the third civil war. There was little enthusiasm or local participation in the mostly Scottish Royalist army, whose defeat was widely welcomed. Nevertheless, Parliamentarian forces ransacked the city of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], causing heavy damage, looting and destruction of property. Around 10,000 mostly Scottish prisoners were sent into forced labour in the New World or fen drainage schemes. The small bands of Scots that fled into Worcestershire's countryside were attacked by local forces and killed.

===Nineteenth century===
{{main|History of Worcestershire#Victorian and Edwardian Worcestershire: 1830–1914}}

[[File:Worcestershire flag.svg|thumb|The flag of the historic county of Worcestershire]]
In the 19th century, [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] was a centre for the manufacture of gloves; the town of [[Kidderminster]] became a centre for carpet manufacture, and [[Redditch]] specialised in the manufacture of needles, springs and hooks. [[Droitwich Spa]], situated on large deposits of salt, was a centre of [[salt production]] from [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times, with one of the principal [[Roman road]]s running through the town. These old industries have since declined, to be replaced by other, more varied [[light industry]]. The county is also home to the world's oldest continually published newspaper, the ''[[Berrow's Worcester Journal|Berrow's Journal]]'', established in 1690. [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]] was one of the centres of the 19th-century rise in English spa towns due to [[Malvern water]] being believed to be very pure, containing "nothing at all".<ref name="Malvern Water">[http://www.finewaters.com/Water_Spas/British_Spa_Towns/Malvern.asp Bottled Waters of the World] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427001844/http://www.finewaters.com/Water_Spas/British_Spa_Towns/Malvern.asp |date=27 April 2009 }}. Retrieved 9 August 2009</ref>

==Demographics==
{{see also|List of settlements in Worcestershire by population}}

The 2011 census found the population of Worcestershire to be 566,169, an increase of 4.4% from the 2001 population of 542,107.

===Ethnicity===

Though the total number of people in every ethnic group increased between 2001 and 2011, the White British share of Worcestershire's population decreased from 95.5% to 92.4%, as did the share of White ethnic groups as whole, which went from 97.5% to 95.7%. Worcestershire is still much more ethnically homogeneous than the national average. In 2011, 79.8% of the population of England identified as White British; much lower than Worcestershire's figure of 92.4%.<ref name="C2011" />

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
!Ethnic group || 2001<br />population || 2001<br />% || 2011<br />population || 2011<br />%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | White: [[White British|British]] || 517,747 || 95.5 ||522,922 || 92.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | White: [[Irish Briton|Irish]] || 4,163 || 0.8 || 3,480 || 0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" | White: [[Irish Travellers|Irish Traveller]]/[[Romani people|Gypsy]]<ref group="note">In 2001 part of the White Other category. New category created for the 2011 census</ref> || || || 1,165 || 0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left" | White: [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other]] || 6,869 || 1.27 || 14,491 || 2.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''[[White people|White]]: Total''' || '''528,779''' || '''97.5''' || '''542,058''' ||
'''95.7'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]] || 1,640 || 0.3 || 3,634 || 0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]] || 2,917 || 0.5 || 4,984|| 0.9
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]] || 970 || 0.2 || 1,316|| 0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]|| 1,106 || 0.2 || 1,601 ||0.3
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Asian|Asian Other]] || 455 || 0.1 || 2,206 || 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''[[Asian people|Asian]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]]: Total''' || '''7,088''' || '''1.3''' || '''13,741''' || '''2.4'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]] || 1,153 || 0.2 || 1,275 || 0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[Black British|African]] || 332 || 0.1 || 767 || 0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[Other Black|Other]] || 153 || 0.03 || 330 || 0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''[[Black people|Black]] or [[Black British]]: Total''' || '''1,638''' || '''0.3''' || '''2,372''' ||
'''0.4'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]] || 1,704 || 0.3 || 3,150 || 0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[Black British|African]] || 221 || 0.04 || 592 || 0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[British Asian|Asian Other]] || 1,099 || 0.2 || 2,053 || 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Mixed: [[Multiracial|Other Mixed]] || 771 || 0.1 || 1,250 || 0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''[[British Mixed]]: Total''' || '''3,795''' || '''0.7''' || '''7,045''' ||
'''1.2'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Other: [[Arab people|Arab]]<ref group="note">In 2001 part of the 'Other' category. New category created for the 2011 census</ref> || || || 236 || 0.04
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Other: Any other ethnic group || 807 || 0.1 || 717 || 0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Other: Total''' || '''807''' || '''0.1''' || '''953''' ||
'''0.2'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total''' || '''542,107''' || '''100''' || '''566,169''' ||
'''100'''
|}
==Economy==
{{See also|Manufacturing in Worcester}}
[[File:Worcester Bosch - geograph.org.uk - 57948.jpg|thumb|right|Worcester Bosch; Bosch Thermotechnology are in [[Warndon]] ]]
In Redditch are [[Halfords]], to the south in [[Washford, Worcestershire|Washford]], and [[GKN]] (it has the second largest turnover in the West Midlands) is in [[Riverside, Worcestershire|Riverside]]. Mettis Aerospace are in Enfield, north Redditch, and make light metal components ( former [[High Duty Alloys Ltd.|High Duty Alloys]], which made most of the [[Forging|forged]] pistons for Britain's aircraft engines in WWII). [[Phoenix Group (company)|Phoenix Group]] (non-public [[Life insurance|life assurance]] schemes) is in the north-east of the county near the Warwickshire boundary, at [[Wythall]], and has a large turnover; nearby to west [[Metalrax]], headquartered in [[Alvechurch]], make (via subsidiaries) most of the [[Cookware and bakeware|bakeware]] sold in the UK.

Roger Dyson Group manufactures [[Vehicle recovery|auto-recovery]] vehicles in north Droitwich. South of Bromsgrove, L.G. Harris & Co make [[paintbrush]]es. [[Lea & Perrins]] is in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. [[Joy Mining Machinery]] are in the west of Worcester. [[Worcester, Bosch Group]] make 1,200 boilers a day. [[Yamazaki Mazak Corporation|Mazak]] UK have the parent company's European manufacturing facility (for [[Numerical control|CNC]] machine tools) in the north of Worcester. Nearby on the Blackpole Ind Est, [[Froude Hofmann]] have their world headquarters, who make [[dynamometer]]s.

[[Roxel]] UK develops [[solid-fuel rocket]]s for missiles south of Kidderminster and in [[Hartlebury]]. The [[West Midlands Safari Park]] is in [[Bewdley]], west of Kidderminster. [[Morgan Technical Ceramics]] is headquartered at Lickhill in [[Stourport-on-Severn]]. Egbert H. Taylor in [[Elmley Lovett]], near [[Hartlebury]] is a manufacturer of metal bins.

[[File:Qinetiq, Malvern - geograph.org.uk - 728922.jpg|thumb|left|Qinetiq at the [[Malvern Hills Science Park]], or Malvern Technology Centre; the integrated circuit was invented here in 1952]]
[[Liquid crystal display]]s were developed in 1972 in conjunction with the [[Royal Radar Establishment]], where [[Geoffrey Dummer]] invented the idea of the [[integrated circuit]] in 1952. It was based in [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]], and became the [[Royal Signals and Radar Establishment]], which developed [[Thermography|thermal imaging]] and [[Pyroelectricity|pyroelectric]] [[infrared detector]]s, and is now a large site owned by [[QinetiQ]]. [[Morgan Motor Company]] is in [[Malvern Link]]. Commsoft RMS is in [[Evesham]]. For many years [[Group 4 (company)|Group 4 Security]], which was the largest security company in Europe, had its headquarters in [[Broadway, Worcestershire|Broadway]], on the edge of the [[Cotswolds]]; [[G4S]] Integrated Services now has its HQ there.

==Local government==
{{main|Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries|List of Worcestershire boundary changes}}

Local government in Worcestershire has changed several times since the middle of the 19th century.

===1844–1911===
[[File:St John the Baptists Church Halesowen - geograph.org.uk - 58802.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Halesowen]] was an exclave of neighbouring [[Shropshire]] until 1844 when it was reincorporated into Worcestershire. It is now within the metropolitan county of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]].]]
Worcestershire contained numerous [[exclaves]], which were areas of land cut off from the main geographical area of Worcestershire and completely surrounded by the nearby counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and [[Oxfordshire]]. The most notable islands were Dudley,<ref>Richardson, Eric (2000) The Black Country as Seen through Antique Maps, The Black Country Society {{ISBN|0-904015-60-2}}</ref> Evenlode,<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk A Vision of Britain through Time] [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/9874 Evenlode, Worcestershire] – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Blockley<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk A Vision of Britain through Time] [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/9726 Blockley, Worcestershire] – Retrieved 7 August 2014</ref> and the area around Shipston-on-Stour.<ref>[http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ Worcester Branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry] [http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ShipstonOnStour.html Shipston-upon-Stour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810180251/http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ShipstonOnStour.html |date=10 August 2011 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and [[Shropshire]] had their own exclaves within the main part of Worcestershire at [[Rochford, Worcestershire|Rochford]],<ref>[http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ Worcester Branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry] [http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Rochford.html Rochford, Herefordshire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810183527/http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Rochford.html |date=10 August 2011}} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> [[Broome, Worcestershire|Broome]],<ref>[http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ Worcester Branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry] [http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Broom.html Broome, Staffordshire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810075025/http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Broom.html |date=10 August 2011 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Clent,<ref>Harbach M, [https://web.archive.org/web/20010417052052/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Boundaries.html Genealogy UK & Ireland] – Retrieved 29 July 2011</ref> Tardebigge ([[Tutnall and Cobley]])<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/index.jsp A Vision of Britain through Time] [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=21106 Tardebigge, Warwickshire] – Retrieved 27 May 2020</ref> and [[Halesowen]] respectively. Tardebigge's history outside the county is even more colourful, changing hands from Worcestershire to Staffordshire and Warwickshire, before returning to Worcestershire at differing times over the centuries.<ref>[http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/ Worcester Branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry] [http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Tardebigge.html Tardebigge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906140918/http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/Tardebigge.html |date=6 September 2011 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The southern boundary of the county was also complex, with parish boundaries penetrating deep into Gloucestershire and vice versa.

[[Worcestershire County Council]] came into existence following the [[Local Government Act 1888]] and covered the historic [[Association of British Counties|traditional county]],<ref name="webb">{{Cite book |last1=Webb |first1=Sidney |title=English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act |last2=Webb |first2=Beatrice |publisher=[[Longman|Longman's Green and Co.]] |year=1906 |volume=1: The Parish and the County |location=London |pages=283–287 |author-link=Sidney Webb |author-link2=Beatrice Webb}}</ref> except for two designated [[county boroughs]] at [[County Borough of Dudley|Dudley]] and Worcester.<ref name="LGA1888">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government Legislation] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/51-52/41 Local Government Act 1888] – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref>

Birmingham's continuous expansion has been a major cause of Worcestershire's fluid boundary changes and associated housing issues.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/index.jsp A Vision of Britain through Time] [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10101001&c_id=10001043 Birmingham Municipal Borough/County Borough, Warwickshire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201127/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10101001 |date=30 September 2007 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The district of [[Balsall Heath]], which had originally constituted the most northerly part of the parish of [[King's Norton]], was the first area of the county to be added to the [[County Borough of Birmingham]], on 1 October 1891. This was followed by [[Quinton, Birmingham|Quinton]] [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]], which was ceded to Birmingham in November 1909, and then by the [[Rural District]] of [[Yardley, Birmingham|Yardley]] and the greater part of the [[Urban District of King's Norton and Northfield]], which were absorbed into Birmingham under the Greater Birmingham Scheme on 9 November 1911.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk British History Online] [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22958 A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7: The City of Birmingham] – Retrieved 27 May 2020</ref> Thus these areas were transferred from Worcestershire to Warwickshire. Dudley's historical status within the [[Anglican Diocese of Worcester|Diocese of Worcester]] and through its [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocratic]] links ensured that the exclave was governed on a largely autonomous basis.<ref name="Carter"/><ref>[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/ British History Online] [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol3 The hundred of Halfshire: Introduction and map] - Retrieved 7 May 2020; Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), clxv, 192.; {{Cite web |title=celtic-casimir.com |url=http://www.celtic-casimir.com/webtree/3/29136.htm |access-date=11 April 2018 |website=www.celtic-casimir.com |language=en}}</ref> Worcester was designated a [[county corporate]], and thus became separate from the rest of Worcestershire.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Worcester (England)|display=Worcester|volume=28|pages=821–822}}</ref>

===1926 boundary changes===
In 1926, [[Dudley County Borough]] council purchased several square miles of land to the north of the town centre, mostly in [[Sedgley]] ([[Staffordshire]]), including [[Dudley Castle]]. This was to build the [[Priory Estate]], a large new [[Council house|council estate]] on which construction began in 1929. The boundaries of Worcestershire were altered to include all of the proposed new housing estate in Dudley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/dudley.html |title=A History of Dudley |publisher=Localhistories.org |access-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210150324/http://www.localhistories.org/dudley.html |archive-date=10 December 2012  }}</ref>

===1966–1974===
[[File:Broadway Tower 2012.jpg|thumbnail|[[Broadway Tower, Worcestershire|Broadway Tower]], one of several Worcestershire [[folly|follies]]]]During the Local Government reorganisation of April 1966, Dudley expanded beyond its historical boundaries and took in the bulk of [[Sedgley]],<ref name="Sedgley">[[Staffordshire County Council]] [http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGSedgley.aspx Staffordshire Place Guide – Sedgley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405163807/https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGSedgley.aspx |date=5 April 2019 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> [[Brierley Hill]] and the south of [[Coseley]] as well as a small section of [[Amblecote]].<ref name="Amblecote">[[Staffordshire County Council]] [http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGAmblecote.aspx Staffordshire Place Guide – Amblecote] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405163810/https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGAmblecote.aspx |date=5 April 2019 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The Local Government Act redefined its status and the [[County Borough of Dudley]] became part of Staffordshire, the county of which all of these areas had been part. At the same time, Worcestershire gained a new [[county borough]] named [[County Borough of Warley|Warley]], which was an amalgamation of [[Oldbury Urban District]], [[Rowley Regis Urban District]], the [[County Borough of Smethwick]] and parts of Dudley and [[Tipton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warley County Borough |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10206236&c_id=10001043 |access-date=29 July 2014 |publisher=Vision of Britain}}; West Midlands Order 1965, S.I. 1965, no. 2139, pp. 5–7, 85–6, 120, 122–3.</ref> During this reorganisation, the area of the administrative county grew only where [[Stourbridge]] took in the majority of [[Amblecote Urban District]]<ref>HM Government Legislation – The West Midland Counties Order 1965</ref> from Staffordshire and the designation of Redditch in 1964 as a [[New town|New Town]]. This in turn saw expansion into the area in and around the villages of [[Ipsley]] and [[Matchborough]] in Warwickshire. The Redditch New Town designation coincided with a considerable programme of social and private house building in [[Droitwich]], Worcester, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster and along the Birmingham boundary at [[Frankley]], [[Rubery]] and [[Rednal]].<ref>[http://www.legislation.co.uk HM Government Legislation] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1952/54/pdfs/ukpga_19520054_en.pdf Town Development Act 1952] – Retrieved 15 August 2014</ref> Frankley parish was later split into two: [[New Frankley]] and the area around [[Bartley Reservoir]] transferred from Bromsgrove District to Birmingham in April 1995; but the small village of Frankley remained in Worcestershire and became a new [[civil parish]] under the same name.

===1974–1998===
From 1974, the central and southern parts of the county were amalgamated with Herefordshire and with Worcester County Borough to form a single [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[Hereford and Worcester]].<ref>Local Government in England: Government Proposals for Reorganisation (Cmnd. 4584) Circular 8/71 map</ref> The County Boroughs of Dudley and Warley, along with Stourbridge and Halesowen, were incorporated into the new West Midlands [[Metropolitan county]].<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk H.M. Government] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/70 Local Government Act 1972] – Retrieved 7 May 2020; [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/index.html Hansard 1803–2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801185005/https://hansard.millbanksystems.com/ |date=1 August 2023 }} [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1965/dec/02/local-government-west-midlands-order Local Government (West Midlands Order) Debate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928092416/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1965/dec/02/local-government-west-midlands-order |date=28 September 2020 }} – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The [[West Midlands County Council]] existed for only a few years before abolition in April 1986, although the West Midlands still exists as a [[ceremonial county]].<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk HM Government Legislation] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/51/contents Local Government Act 1985] – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref>

===1998–present===
[[File:Arms of Worcestershire County Council.svg|thumb|253x253px|The coat of arms of Worcestershire County Council]]
In the [[1990s UK local government reform]], the county of Hereford & Worcester was abolished, and the non-metropolitan county or [[shire county]] of Worcestershire regained its historic border with Herefordshire.<ref name="HM Government Legislation">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government Legislation] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1867/contents/made The Hereford and Worcester (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996] – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The recreated County of Worcestershire came into existence on 1 April 1998 as an administrative and ceremonial county, although this excluded the [[Black Country]] towns of Dudley, Halesowen, Oldbury and Stourbridge (which remained part of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]).<ref>[[Hansard|House of Commons Debates]] – [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199596/cmhansrd/vo960402/text/60402w22.htm Parliamentary Business] – Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> [[Worcestershire County Council]] was reformed, although some services are shared with the newly formed [[Herefordshire Council]],<ref name="Hereford-Worcester">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150721204542/https://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/9079/str-hereford-and-worcester-final-recs-dec1994.pdf Final Recommendations for the Future Local Government of Hereford and Worcester. December 1994] – Retrieved 16 May 2013</ref> including waste management and the youth offending service.

The former Hereford and Worcester districts of Redditch, Worcester, Bromsgrove, [[Wychavon]] and [[Wyre Forest District|Wyre Forest]] were retained with little or no change. However the former Hereford and Worcester districts of [[Leominster]] and Malvern Hills straddled the reinstated border with Herefordshire, so a new Malvern Hills district was constituted which aligned with the Worcestershire's boundary to the west, south-west and north-west. The remaining parts of the former  districts of Leominster and Malvern Hills returned to Herefordshire.

===Summary of main changes===
These settlements were historically part of the county as noted above, that now fall under the counties of [[Warwickshire]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] or [[Gloucestershire]].

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; border:0; text-align:left; line-height:150%;"
|-
! scope="row" | Warwickshire
| {{flatlist|
* [[Shipston-on-Stour]]
}}
|-
! scope="row" | West Midlands (County)
| {{flatlist|* Certain areas of [[Birmingham]] (such as [[Bournville]], [[Quinton, Birmingham|Quinton]] and [[Yardley, Birmingham|Yardley]])
* [[Dudley, West Midlands|Dudley]]
* [[Dudley Wood, West Midlands|Dudley Wood]]
* [[Halesowen]]
* [[Lye, West Midlands|Lye]]
* [[Netherton, West Midlands|Netherton]]
* [[Oldbury, West Midlands|Oldbury]]
* [[Quarry Bank#History|Quarry Bank]] (''partially in [[County Borough of Warley|Warley Borough]] from 1966–1974'')
* [[Rowley Regis]] (1966–74, ''constitutes Rowley, [[Blackheath, West Midlands|Blackheath]], [[Cradley Heath]], [[Tividale]] and [[Old Hill, West Midlands|Old Hill]]''<ref name="Research Sandwell: Rowley Regis Town Profile">[https://www.sandwelltrends.info/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/09/Rowley-Regis-Town-Profile-September-2022.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawIoXYBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYp9i-BmM4tb5zStMH-Q55nKbkoGedrWHpQpD9dY2WvQJ3uMfjXB7nLQCg_aem_iyF1MG2LvNe69QCZEO1r0g] – Retrieved 23 February 2025</ref>)
* [[Smethwick]] (1966–74)
* [[Stourbridge]]
* Parts of [[West Bromwich#20th century|West Bromwich]] (''within Warley Borough from 1966–1974'')}}
|-
! scope="row" | Gloucestershire
| {{flatlist|
* [[Tewkesbury#Expansion|Tewkesbury]] (''Mitton area only'')
}}
|-
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| title            = Large Settlements
| caption          = (Cities appear in bold. Civil parishes used for population reference where applicable, otherwise the source with boundaries as accurate to the locality as possible has been chosen.)<br />[[File:Red pog.svg|12px]] As of the 2021 UK census, the five largest settlements in Worcestershire. &nbsp;– Red.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63003490-worcester |title = Worcester Built Up Area - Population 107,545 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63003268-redditch |title = Redditch Built Up Area - Population 85,277 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04012638-kidderminster |title = Kidderminster Civil Parish - Population 57,414 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref> <br /><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63003192-bromsgrove |title = Bromsgrove Built Up Area - Population 36,537 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04010325-malvern |title = Malvern Civil Parish - Population 30,472 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref> <br />[[File:Orange pog.svg|12px]] Settlements which were historically in (or partially in) Worcestershire at any point before 1974 boundary changes to the county,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol8/pp110-118?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwckJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaKr8-dIOMOS8zhin_-fng_Ow_tAftkC-jE_HP4rA2CmhdkLYGmsG18tQA_aem_gkgUlOqxZjN7XZNfJoAVgQ |title = The borough of Tewkesbury: Introduction |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = British History Online }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/stourbridge.html |title = Stourbridge Registration District, Worcestershire (including Stourbridge, Halesowen, Quinton area of Birmingham) |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = UKBMD }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/warley%20east.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwc9JleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaKr8-dIOMOS8zhin_-fng_Ow_tAftkC-jE_HP4rA2CmhdkLYGmsG18tQA_aem_gkgUlOqxZjN7XZNfJoAVgQ |title = Warley East, Worcestershire (including Oldbury, Smethwick, West Bromwich, areas of Birmingham Registration District) |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = UKBMD }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/warley%20west.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwdE5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYNdA5PYH547qIC2X_sn8ncQBmGiRWwvuUgmp-flO-XOmIwXtxvR8ObGog_aem_9Khy54uZ7F6V5v33mFeWzw |title = Warley West, Worcestershire (including Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Dudley) |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = UKBMD }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10206236?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwdl1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHatisGKJVZkUStTxPCVGxqHkMUGj7mfNNnOk9yh8wpLje2YObQG1g2WtZg_aem_AC9k257-70XMzxGTjYlP7Q |title = Warley County Borough through time: 1 acre of Brierly Hill Urban District granted to Warley Borough, 1st April 1966 |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = Vision of Britain }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/20378?fbclid=IwY2xjawIwcjxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYIXOj3rggmrz2KQE3wEMnFxOZ8BQe5dkOQCgbpugjwJxBY2xAGA4cQDbA_aem_DDy2aSmPoUVXVmK4vEXGuA |title = Netherton, Worcestershire |access-date = 1 March 2025 |website = Vision of Britain }}</ref> which as of the 2021 UK census had a population of 9000 or more. &nbsp;– Orange.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002904-birmingham |title = Birmingham Built Up Area - Population 1,091,741 excluding Chelmsley Wood, Castle Bromwich, Smith's Wood, Fordbridge, Kingshurst, Bickenhill and Marston Green (see next sources) |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000150-chelmsley-wood |title = Chelmsley Wood Civil Parish - Population 13,734 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000149-castle-bromwich |title = Castle Bromwich Civil Parish - Population 11,459 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000156-smiths-wood |title = Smith's Wood Civil Parish - Population 10,637 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000151-fordbridge |title = Fordbridge Civil Parish - Population 8,690 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000154-kingshurst |title = Kingshurst Civil Parish - Population 8,350 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04000148-bickenhill-and-marston-green |title = Bickenhill and Marston Green Civil Parish - Population 7,438 |access-date = 25 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002828-west-bromwich |title = West Bromwich Built Up Area - Population 111,959 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002889-smethwick |title = Smethwick Built Up Area - Population 65,644 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002941-halesowen |title = Halesowen Built Up Area - Population 64,414 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002887-rowley-regis |title = Rowley Regis Built Up Area (excludes Cradley Heath, Old Hill, see next source) - Population 45,865 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e05001264-cradley-heath-and-old-hill |title = Cradley Heath and Old Hill (Rowley Regis) Electoral Ward - Population 14,965 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002862-dudley-dudley |title = Dudley Built Up Area - Population 57,932 excluding Netherton, Dudley Wood (see next sources) |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002017-netherton |title = Netherton Middle layer Super Output Area - Population 8,071 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002019-dudley-wood--saltwells |title = Netherton Middle layer Super Output Area 2 (Dudley Wood & Saltwells) - Total population 7,798. No individual population count for the Saltwells suburb of Netherton excluding Dudley Wood village available, but confirms that Netherton's population was between 8,071-15,869. |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002880-oldbury-sandwell |title = Oldbury Built Up Area - Population 54,766 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e63002944-stourbridge |title = Stourbridge Built Up Area - Population approximately 47,000 excluding Amblecote, Lye (see next sources) |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002036-lye--wynall |title = Lye & Wynall Middle layer Super Output Area - No individual population count for Lye available, but confirms that its population was somewhere below 6,670. |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002030-amblecote-west--stambermill |title = Amblecote West & Stambermill Middle layer Super Output Area - Population 6,814 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002024-quarry-bank |title = Quarry Bank Middle layer Super Output Area - Population 8,738 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e02002026-amblecote-east |title = Amblecote East - Despite its name is a combination of areas of Quarry Bank and Withymoor Village. No individual population count for the Quarry Bank part available, but confirms that its total population was between 8,738-15,521. |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://censusdata.uk/e04004426-tewkesbury |title = Tewkesbury Civil Parish - Population 10,662 |access-date = 23 February 2025 |website = Census Data UK }}</ref>
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| label9           = West Bromwich (part)
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| mark-coord9     = {{coord|52.5172655|-1.990242}}
| mark-title9      = [[West Bromwich#20th century]]
| label-pos9     = northeast|ldx9=-3

| label10           = Oldbury
| shape-color10     = orange
| mark-coord10     = {{coord|52.5039644|-2.0185232}}
| mark-title10      = [[Oldbury, West Midlands|Oldbury]]
| label-pos10     = top, with-line,2|ldy10=-12| ldx10=-20

| label11           = Stourbridge
| shape-color11     = orange
| mark-coord11     = {{coord|52.4563559|-2.1447158}}
| mark-title11      = [[Stourbridge]]
| label-pos11     = left|ldy11=4

| label12           = Rowley Regis
| shape-color12     = orange
| mark-coord12     = {{coord|52.4773829|-2.0559669}}
| mark-title12      = [[Rowley Regis]]
| label-pos12     = right,with-line,2|ldx12=8|ldy12=14

| label13           = Halesowen
| shape-color13     = orange
| mark-coord13     = {{coord|52.447954|-2.0528769}}
| mark-title13      = [[Halesowen]]
| label-pos13     = southeast |ldy13=4

| label14           = Smethwick
| shape-color14     = orange
| mark-coord14     = {{coord|52.4970217|-1.9716811}}
| mark-title14      = [[Smethwick]]
| label-pos14     = right|ldy14=-7|ldx14=1

| label15           = Netherton
| shape-color15     = orange
| mark-coord15     = {{coord|52.4899669|-2.0847416}}
| mark-title15      = [[Netherton, West Midlands|Netherton]]
| label-pos15     = left

| label16           = Quarry Bank (part)
| shape-color16     = orange
| mark-coord16     = {{coord|52.4731875|-2.0996761}}
| mark-title16      = [[Quarry Bank#History]]
| label-pos16     = left
}}

== Physical geography ==
[[File:Worcestershire Beacon.jpg|thumb|right|Summit of the [[Worcestershire Beacon]] in the [[Malvern Hills]], the county's highest point]]
The [[Malvern Hills]], which run from the south of the county into Herefordshire, are made up mainly of [[volcanic]] [[igneous rock]]s and [[metamorphic rock]]s, some of which date from more than 1,200&nbsp;million years ago. They are designated as an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB). The [[Worcestershire Beacon]], which at {{convert|425|metres|feet}} is the highest point in the county, lies in this range.<ref name=Bathurst_2012>{{cite book |last= Bathurst |first= David |year= 2012 |title= Walking the county high points of England |location= Chichester |publisher= Summersdale |isbn= 978-1-84-953239-6 |pages= 167–173}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/CountyTops.php |title=County Tops |publisher=Hill-bagging.co.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225850/http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/CountyTops.php |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

The rest of the county consists of undulating hills and farmland stretching either side of the [[Severn]] valley. The Severn is the United Kingdom's longest river and flows through [[Bewdley]], [[Stourport-on-Severn]] and [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-course-of-the-river-severn-from-source-to-sea/340.html |title=Learning Zone Class Clips - The course of the River Severn - from source to sea - Geography Video |publisher=BBC |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505090512/http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-course-of-the-river-severn-from-source-to-sea/340.html |archive-date=5 May 2013  }}</ref> The [[River Avon (Warwickshire)|River Avon]] flows through the Worcestershire town of [[Evesham]] and joins the Severn at [[Tewkesbury]], [[Gloucestershire]].

Several coniferous and deciduous woodlands are located in the north of the county. The [[Vale of Evesham]] runs through the south of the county and to its south are the [[Cotswolds]] AONB.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aonb.org.uk/wba/naaonb/naaonbpreview.nsf/Web%20Default%20Frameset?OpenFrameSet&Frame=Main&Src=%2Fwba%2Fnaaonb%2Fnaaonbpreview.nsf%2F%24LU.WebHomePage%2F%24first!OpenDocument%26AutoFramed |title=NAAONB Website |publisher=Aonb.org.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624084952/http://www.aonb.org.uk/wba/naaonb/naaonbpreview.nsf/Web%20Default%20Frameset?OpenFrameSet&Frame=Main&Src=%2Fwba%2Fnaaonb%2Fnaaonbpreview.nsf%2F%24LU.WebHomePage%2F%24first!OpenDocument%26AutoFramed |archive-date=24 June 2013  }}</ref>
[[File:Honeybourne station-Geograph-3549213-by-Rob-Newman.jpg|thumb|[[Honeybourne railway station]] on the [[Cotswold Line]] and the potential [[Honeybourne Line]]]]

===Green belt===
{{further|West Midlands Green Belt}}
Worcestershire contains a broad expanse of [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] area, widening to over {{convert|16|km}} in places. It is part of the larger belt surrounding the West Midlands county, and first drawn up from the 1950s. All of the county's districts other than Malvern Hills contain some portion of the belt.

==Sport==
[[File:New Road Worcester - 3 - geograph-891443.jpg|thumb|right|[[New Road, Worcester|New Road]] is the home of [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club]], across the River Severn from [[Worcester Cathedral]].]]
The largest and most successful football club in the county is [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]. Founded in 1877 as a running club and doubling as a rugby club from 1880, the football club was founded in 1886. In 1987, the club won the [[FA Trophy]] for the first time, and seven years later reached the fifth round of the [[FA Cup]], also winning the [[Football Conference|GM Vauxhall Conference]] title in 1994 but being denied [[English Football League|Football League]] status as their [[Aggborough Stadium]] did not meet capacity requirements. However, when the club next won the Conference title six years later, their stadium had been upgraded and promotion was granted, giving the county its first (and thus far only) Football League members. However, the club's Football League membership was short-lived, as Harriers were relegated back to the Conference in 2005 after just five years in the Football League, and have yet to reclaim their status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harriers.co.uk/page/ClubStadiumHistory/0,,10438~1036388,00.html |title=Kidderminster Harriers Home Page |access-date=30 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810151944/http://www.harriers.co.uk/page/ClubStadiumHistory/0,,10438~1036388,00.html |archive-date=10 August 2012  }}</ref>

The county is also represented by [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]], [[Bromsgrove Sporting F.C.|Bromsgrove Sporting]] and [[Redditch United F.C.|Redditch United]] of the [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]], and [[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] of the [[Northern Premier League]].

The county is home to [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club]], traditionally the first stop on any touring national side's schedule in England.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worcesterporcelainmuseum.org.uk/uploaded/documents/36-Cricketing-Commemoratives.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524182858/http://www.worcesterporcelainmuseum.org.uk/uploaded/documents/36-Cricketing-Commemoratives.pdf |archive-date=24 May 2010  }}</ref> Formed officially in 1865, the Club initially played in Boughton Park, before moving to its current [[New Road, Worcester|New Road]] ground, which today can host 5,500 spectators, in 1895. The club has won five County Championships in its history, most recently in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wccc.co.uk/assets/cricket/images/pdf/clubHistory-July-2013.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302113611/http://www.wccc.co.uk/assets/cricket/images/pdf/clubHistory-July-2013.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2014  }}</ref>

Worcester Rugby Football Club, the [[Worcester Warriors]], are the county's largest and most successful Rugby Union team, having been promoted to the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Premiership]] in 2004. The Warriors were relegated to the [[RFU Championship]] in 2010 but rebounded back to the Premiership in 2011. Worcester Warriors play at the [[Sixways Stadium]] on the outskirts of Worcester, holding over 12,000 spectators, thus making it the largest stadium in the county. Sixways has hosted the final of the [[LV= Cup|LV Cup]] on three occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warriors.co.uk/club/wrfc/club_history.php|title=Worcester Warriors - Official website of Worcester Warriors Rugby Club|website=www.warriors.co.uk|access-date=2 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227023700/http://www.warriors.co.uk/club/wrfc/club_history.php|archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Elgar's birthplace.JPG|thumb|right|Classical composer Sir [[Edward Elgar]] was born in this house in [[Broadheath, Worcestershire]], currently used as the [[Elgar Birthplace Museum]].]]
The village of [[Broadheath, Worcestershire|Broadheath]], about {{convert|10|km|order=flip}} northwest of the city of Worcester, is the birthplace of the composer [[Edward Elgar]].

It is claimed that the county was the inspiration for [[the Shire]], a region of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s fictional [[Middle-earth]], described in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Tolkien was thought to have named [[Bilbo Baggins]]' house "[[Bag End#Westfarthing|Bag End]]" after his Aunt Jane's Worcestershire farm. Tolkien wrote of Worcestershire, "Any corner of that county (however fair or squalid) is in an indefinable way 'home' to me, as no other part of the world is."<ref>
Humphrey, C. 1977 ''[[J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography|Tolkien: A Biography]]'' New York: Ballantine Books. {{ISBN|0-04-928037-6}}</ref>

Worcestershire is one of the three counties associated with the [[Border Morris]] style of English folk dancing. Worcestershire Monkey is a popular Border Morris dance; although normally performed as a group of eight, it is sometimes danced ''en masse'' with multiple Border Morris sides performing the dance together.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wicketbrood.org.uk/?page_id=20 |title=Worcestershire Monkey &#124; Wicket Brood Border Morris |access-date=5 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106032903/http://wicketbrood.org.uk/?page_id=20 |archive-date=6 January 2014  }} Worcestershire Monkey
, Wicket Brood website</ref>

Worcestershire appeared as one of the main settings in the [[DreamWorks Animation]] animated film ''[[Shrek the Third]]''. The director [[Chris Miller (animator)|Chris Miller]] said they chose Worcestershire because it is always being mispronounced. "It just made us laugh. Plus we love the sauce, it's hugely popular in the States." The film makes multiple references to the real Worcestershire in the film, even commenting on the famous [[Worcestershire sauce|Worcestershire Sauce]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Worcester News, Worcestershire in Shrek 3|date=29 June 2007 |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/1507723.why-worcestershire-proves-a-sauce-of-humour-for-shrek/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515130553/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/1507723.why-worcestershire-proves-a-sauce-of-humour-for-shrek/|archive-date=May 15, 2023}}</ref>

==Media==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Droitwichtransmitter.jpg
| caption1          = Masts at the [[Droitwich transmitting station]]
| image2            = BBC Hereford And Worcester.jpg
| caption2          = The Worcester offices of [[BBC Hereford & Worcester]]
}}

Worcestershire has a long history in radio broadcasting. The county is home to the [[Droitwich Transmitting Station]] near [[Wychbold]], currently broadcasting [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and commercial radio services - [[Absolute Radio]] and [[Talksport]] on [[AM broadcasting|Medium Wave/AM]] and [[BBC Radio 4]] on [[Long Wave]]. The site is the location of the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]]'s most powerful long-wave transmitter, which during [[World War II]], coded messages read during normal programme broadcasts, were received by the [[French Resistance]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2005/10/21/droitwich_transmitter_feature.shtml BBC Feature] Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref><ref>[http://www.bbceng.info/ BBC Engineering] [http://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Droitwich/droitwich_calling.htm Droitwich Calling (Archive)] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Lying close to the county's north western border is the [[Woofferton transmitting station|Woofferton Transmitting Station]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Video Content Delivery Solutions|url=https://www.encompass.tv/encompass-woofferton/|access-date=31 January 2021|website=Encompass|language=en-US}}</ref> which was used during the [[Cold War]] to broadcast the [[Voice of America|Voice of America's]] [[Shortwave radio|Short Wave]] transmissions into the [[Eastern Bloc]] countries of Europe. These sets of transmitters are still in use today.

In 1939, the BBC bought the historic [[Wood Norton, Worcestershire|Wood Norton]] site near Evesham, and equipped the premises with a dozen temporary studios. These were to be used in the event of an evacuation of the BBC's operations in London and other urban areas. By 1940; Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 radio programmes a week.<ref>Pawley, E. (1972), Cutmore, N. (Ed.), Laven, P (Ed.) [https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/buildings/wood-norton History of the BBC - Wood Norton]</ref> The [[BBC Monitoring|BBC monitoring service]] were also based at Wood Norton, where linguists, many of them foreign nationals, were hired to listen in to broadcasts from Europe until they were relocated to [[Caversham Park]] in early 1943. The move was made to release space at Wood Norton so that it could become the BBC's main broadcasting centre, should London have to be evacuated because of the threat from Nazi Germany's [[V-weapons]]. The site was also prepared for use during the Cold War, as an emergency broadcast centre.<ref>[https://www.subbrit.org.uk/ Subterranea Britannica] [https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/bbc-wood-norton/ Wood Norton] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The site is still in use for the BBC's engineering and technical training.
===Television===
The county's television news is covered by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]] from its studios in [[Birmingham]]. Television signals are received from either the [[Ridge Hill transmitting station|Ridge Hill]] or [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ridge_Hill|title=Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=28 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=28 September 2023}}</ref>

===Radio ===
[[BBC Hereford & Worcester]] and [[Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]] broadcast to both Herefordshire and Worcestershire on analogue and [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|digital radio platforms]],<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/96191/BBC000022WT.pdf BBC Hereford & Worcester licence] - Retrieved 7 May 2020; [http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom]  [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000061ba5freeradio.htm Free Radio (Hereford/Worcester)] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> whilst [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands]] broadcasts to Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn, Bewdley and Droitwich.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000294ba1signal107.htm Signal 107]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> A [[Community radio in the United Kingdom|community radio station]] - [[Radio Wyvern]], is licensed to serve the Worcester area.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000053ba2youthcommradio.htm Youthcomm Radio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531164355/http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000053ba2youthcommradio.htm |date=31 May 2020 }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Meanwhile, [[Capital Mid-Counties]], [[Sunshine 855|Sunshine Radio]] and Like Radio, broadcast to the county on [[FM broadcasting|VHF/FM]] and/or [[DAB Digital Radio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ofcom &#124; Analogue Radio Stations |url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000326ba2sunshineradio.htm |website=static.ofcom.org.uk}}; [https://radiotoday.co.uk Radio Today] [https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/11/global-confirms-capital-fm-to-replace-quidem-stations/ Global confirms Capital FM to replace Quidem stations] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Historically; [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands-based]] radio stations such as [[BBC Radio WM]], [[Hits Radio Birmingham]] and [[Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire|Beacon Radio]] have considered parts of Worcestershire as their broadcast areas.<ref>Allen, D.P. (2011) [https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/1430/1/Independent_Local_Radio_%28ILR%29_in_the_West_Midlands%2C_1972-198.pdf Independent Local Radio (ILR) in the West Midlands, 1972-1984: a comparative study of BRMB Radio and Beacon Radio.]- Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> However what were known as Wyvern, Beacon, BRMB along with Mercia are now known collectively as 'Hits Radio' and under the same [[Bauer Radio]] ownership.<ref>[https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/ Bauer Media] [https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/free-radio Free Radio Brand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218092610/https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/free-radio |date=18 February 2020 }} Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Other regional stations, such as [[Heart West Midlands]] and [[Smooth West Midlands]] also cover the county.
 
In 2007 the [[Office of Communications]] (Ofcom) awarded a DAB Digital Radio [[Multiplex (television)|multiplex]] licence for Herefordshire & Worcestershire to [[MuxCo]] Ltd.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2007/ofcom-awards-new-local-digital-radio-multiplex-licence-for-herefordshire-and-worcestershire Ofcom awards new local digital radio multiplex licence for Herefordshire and Worcestershire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930023553/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2007/ofcom-awards-new-local-digital-radio-multiplex-licence-for-herefordshire-and-worcestershire |date=30 September 2020 }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> MuxCo proposed new stations and a digital radio platform for [[Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire|Wyvern FM]], Sunshine Radio and BBC Hereford & Worcester, who were initially licensed to broadcast on VHF/FM and/or [[AM broadcasting|AM]]. MuxCo eventually launched in December 2013 following changes in legislation through the [[Digital Economy Act 2010]],<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk HM Government] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/24/section/35 Digital Economy Act - Section 35] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> and utilises existing transmitter locations at Great Malvern, [[Ridge Hill]] and Bromsgrove.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/digital/dl000050ba3herefordshireandworcestershire.htm Herefordshire and Worcestershire DAB Multiplex Ownership] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The multiplex continues to uses the same transmission sites, albeit with an additional transmitter at Kidderminster<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/dl000050.pdf Herefordshire and Worcestershire] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> and broadcasts a combination of local and national services.<ref>[http://www.muxco.com/ MuxCo] [http://www.muxco.com/multiplexes/herefordshireandworcestershire/ Digital Broadcast Radio Predicted On-Air Coverage Herefordshire & Worcestershire Block 12A Local DAB Multiplex] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> In 2008, [[MXR West Midlands|MXR]], who owned and operated the West Midlands regional DAB multiplex licence, improved coverage of DAB Digital Radio across other parts of the county to include Worcester and Malvern. This regional multiplex closed on 27 August 2013, partially replaced by [[CE Digital]]'s Birmingham DAB Multiplex, who opened new transmitters at [[Lickey Hills]] and [[Headless Cross (district)|Headless Cross]].<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/dl000001.pdf Digital Broadcast Radio Predicted On-Air Coverage Birmingham Block 11C Local DAB Multiplex] - retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Ofcom has earmarked two potential 'Small Scale DAB' digital radio multiplexes within Worcestershire<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ Ofcom] [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/licensing-small-scale-dab-new-powers-and-duties-proposed-by-government under new licensing guidelines Licensing small-scale DAB New powers and duties proposed by government under new licensing guidelines] - Retrieved 8 May 2020</ref> - one at Worcester, and the other within Bromsgrove, Kidderminster and Redditch.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ Ofcom] [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/193662/statement-licensing-small-scale-dab.pdf Statement licensing Small-Scale DAB] - Retrieved 6 May 2020</ref> The legal framework for the potential new multiplexes come under 'The Small-Scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019'.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government] [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/contents The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 - Contents] - Retrieved 8 May 2020; [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780111187784_en.pdf The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 - Explanation Guide] - Retrieved 8 May 2020</ref>

==Economy==
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Worcestershire at current basic prices [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091019/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.&nbsp;240–253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''5,047''' || 225 || 1,623 || 3,200
|-
| 2000 || '''6,679''' || 159 || 2,002 || 4,518
|-
| 2003 || '''7,514''' || 182 || 1,952 || 5,380
|}

===Industry and agriculture===
[[File:Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce 150ml.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|[[Lea & Perrins]] [[Worcestershire sauce]] — the invention of two Worcester chemists]]

Fruit farming and the cultivation of [[Humulus lupulus|hops]] were traditional agricultural activities in much of the county. During the latter half of the 20th century, this has largely declined with the exception southern area of the county around the [[Vale of Evesham]], where orchards are still worked on a commercial scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Worcestershire County Council {{!}} Worcestershire County Council |url=https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.worcestershire.gov.uk}}</ref> Worcester City's [[coat of arms]] includes three black pears, representing a now rare local pear variety, the [[Black worcester pear|Worcester Black Pear]]. The county's coat of arms follows this theme, having a pear tree with black pears. The [[apple]] variety known as [[Worcester Pearmain]] originates from Worcestershire, and the [[Pershore]] plum comes from the small Worcestershire town of that name, and is widely grown in that area.

Worcestershire is also famous for a number of its non-agricultural products. The original [[Worcestershire sauce]], a savoury condiment made by [[Lea & Perrins]], is made in Worcester, and the now-closed Royal Porcelain works was based in the city. The town of Malvern is the home of the [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]] traditional [[sports car]].

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Worcestershire}}
Worcestershire has a [[comprehensive school]] system with over thirty-five independent schools including the [[RGS Worcester]], [[The King's School, Worcester]], [[Malvern St James]] and [[Malvern College]]. State schools in Worcester, the Wyre Forest District, and the Malvern Hills District are two-tier [[primary school]]s and [[secondary school]]s whilst Redditch and Bromsgrove have a [[three-tier education|three-tier system]] of [[first school|first]], [[middle school|middle]] and [[High school (upper secondary)|high school]]s. Several schools in the county provide [[Sixth-form]] education including two in the city of Worcester. Several vocational colleges provide [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]] and [[GCE Advanced Level|A-level]] courses and adult education, such as [[South Worcestershire College]], and an agricultural campus of [[Warwickshire College]] in [[Pershore]]. There is also the [[University of Worcester]], which is located in the city itself and is home to the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit and five other national research centres.

==Towns and villages==
[[File:Worcester Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 706524.jpg|thumb|right|Due to its cathedral (pictured), the county town of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] is the only settlement in the county with city status.]]
The [[county town]] and only city is Worcester. The other major settlements are [[Kidderminster]], [[Bromsgrove]] and [[Redditch]]. There are also several [[market town]]s: [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]], [[Bewdley]], [[Evesham]], [[Droitwich Spa]], [[Pershore]], [[Tenbury Wells]], [[Stourport-on-Severn]] and [[Upton-upon-Severn]]. The village of [[Hartlebury]] housed the [[Bishop of Worcester]] from the 13th century until 2007.

{{For|a full list of settlements|list of places in Worcestershire}}
{{see also|List of settlements in Worcestershire by population}}

==Places of interest==
{{EngPlacesKey|align=right}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* Almonry Museum - Evesham
* [[Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[Bewdley]] – riverside historic Tudor town
* [[Broadway, Worcestershire|Broadway]] – a picturesque Cotswold village
* [[Croome Court]] [[File:HH icon.svg]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[Elgar Birthplace Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* Evesham Bell Tower
* [[Forge Mill Needle Museum]] at Redditch, the only remaining working needle mill in the world. [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[Great Malvern Priory]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
* [[Greyfriars, Worcester|Greyfriars' House and Garden]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[Hanbury Hall]] [[File:HH icon.svg]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[Hartlebury Castle]] [[File:HH icon.svg]] 
* [[Harvington Hall]] [[File:HH icon.svg]]
* [[Kemerton Court]] [[File:HH icon.svg]]
* [[Malvern Hills AONB|Malvern Hills]] – [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
* [[North and Middle Littleton|Middle Littleton Tithe Barn]] – a restored 13th-century tithe barn [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan Cars]] – visitors centre and museum [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[Pershore Abbey]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
* [[River Severn]] at Worcester and Bewdley, River Avon at Pershore or Evesham
* [[River Teme]] and valley [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
* [[Severn Valley Railway]] at Kidderminster. [[File:HR icon.svg]]
* [[Tenbury Wells]] with its unique [[Pump Rooms, Tenbury Wells|Pump Rooms]].
* [[The Commandery]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[The Fleece Inn]] – an ancient public house, now owned by the National Trust[[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[The Hive, Worcester]] – the new University and public library (opened in 2012)
* [[Wadborough]]
* [[Walton Hill]] and the [[Clent Hills]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
* [[West Midlands Safari Park]] near Bewdley.
* [[Witley Court]] at [[Great Witley]] – a burnt-out shell of a large English [[stately home]], famous for its gigantic fountain, now restored to working order. Currently run by [[English Heritage]]. [[File:HH icon.svg]] [[File:EH icon.svg]]
* [[Worcester and Birmingham Canal]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
* [[Worcester Cathedral]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
* [[Worcestershire County Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
* [[Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum]]
* [[Worcester Porcelain Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg]]
}}

==Local groups==
* [[Worcestershire Wildlife Trust]]
* [[29th Regiment of Foot]]
* [[West Midland Bird Club]]

==See also==
* [[Custos Rotulorum of Worcestershire]] - List of Keepers of the Rolls
* [[Healthcare in Worcestershire]]
* [[High Sheriff of Worcestershire]]
* [[List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)#Worcestershire]]
* [[Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire]]
* [[Worcestershire (UK Parliament constituency)]] - Historical list of MPs for Worcestershire constituency

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* [http://www.finewaters.com/Water_Wellness/British_Spa_Towns/Malvern.asp "Spa Towns: Malvern"] 27 October, retrieved 24 June 2006
*{{Citation |last1=Brookes |first1=Alan |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |author-link2=Nikolaus Pevsner |date=2007  |title=Worcestershire |edition=Revised |series=The Buildings of England |location=London |publisher=Yale University Press |ol=10319229M |isbn=9780300112986}}
*{{Citation |last1=MacDonald |first1=Alec |date=1969 |title=Worcestershire in English History |publisher=SR Publishers |location=London |isbn=978-0854095759 |orig-year=1943 |edition=Reprint}}
*{{cite book |chapter=Magnates, curiales, and the Wheel of Fortune |first=Emma |last=Mason |title=Proceedings of the Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman Studies: 1979. |volume=II |editor-first=Reginald Allen |editor-last=Brown |publisher=The Boydell Press |year=1979 }}
* {{Citation |last1=Mundill |first1=Robin R |date=2002 |title=England's Jewish Solution: Experiment and Expulsion, 1262-1290 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rD7KpxEhRu8C&dq=%22domus+conversorum%22&pg=PA100 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-52026-3}}
*{{Citation |last1=Russell |first1=O |date=2018 |last2=Daffern |first2=N |last3=Hancox |first3=E |last4=Nash |first4=A |title=Putting the Palaeolithic into Worcestershire's HER: An evidence base for development management |journal=Internet Archaeology |volume=47 |issue=47 |doi=10.11141/ia.47.3|doi-access=free }}
* {{Citation |editor1-last=Willis-Bund |editor1-first=J.W. |date=1924 |chapter=The city of Worcester: Introduction and borough |editor2-last=Page |editor2-first=William |title=A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4 |publisher=British History Online |location=London |pages=376–390 |chapter-url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp376-390 |access-date=20 May 2018}}

==External links==
{{EB9 Poster|Worcester (county)|Worcestershire}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Worcestershire}}
* [http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ Worcestershire County Council main site]

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{{Worcestershire}}
{{West Midlands}}
{{England counties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Worcestershire| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan counties]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ceremonial counties of England]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in antiquity]]
[[Category:Counties of England disestablished in 1974]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in 1998]]
[[Category:West Midlands (region)]]