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Alcester or Aulcester, originally Alncester, is a market-town, and a great place of antiquity, 20 miles from Birmingham; 16 from Warwick; 8 from Stratford-on-Avon; 10 from Evesham, Worcestershire; 13 from Bromsgrove; 13 from Droitwich; and 20 from Worcester; to all which places there are excellent turnpike roads; 8 miles from Henley in Arden; and 102 miles from London. It is situated in a pleasant and fertile vale, near the conflux of the Alne and Arrow; from the first of which rivers and its having been a city, or fortified place, in the times of the Saxons, the name is probably, derived. The Roman Way, called Ykenil-street, passed through or near this place; and many coins, Roman bricks, &c. continue to be found. There is a very considerable market for corn, &c. on Tuesdays; and three fairs, on the Tuesday before Lady-day; the 18th of May; and the 17th of October, for horses, cattle, sheep, &c. The earl of Warwick is lord of the manor, and patron of the rectory; and, in the year 1765, generously surrendered the tolls of the market and fairs for the benefit of the town and country. It is governed by a steward, deputy steward, two bailiffs, and constables, who are elected annually at the court leet, &c. of the lord of the manor. The present magistrates are, Mr. Thomas Greenway, steward; Mr. Walter Jones, deputy steward; Mr. Thomas Heming, and Mr. Joseph Brandish, bailiffs. In the parish were formerly two chantries, and an abbey erected on a piece of ground encompassed with the river Arrow, and a moat, which made it a kind of island. The church is a neat edifice, situate near the centre of the town, and the present incumbent is the Rev. James Wilmot, D. D. who is also rector of Barton on the Heath, in this county, where he resides. Here is also three meeting-houses, viz. presbyterians, anabaptists, and quakers. Walter Newport, of Holdenby, in the county of Northampton, Gent. 34 Eliz. gave the sum of 400l to buy lands, or an annuity of the value of 20l a year, to found and endow a school: here are also 8 alms-houses for aged men and women, with suitable allowances; and many other charities to the poor of this parish. The principal manufactory carried on here is needle-making, which affords employment to many families. The chief inns are the Angel, Red Horse, Swan, and Bear.
Post through Stratford to and from London every day; and through Worcester to the West of England three times a week. Three stage wagons pass through this town every week, from Mr. Rufford’s warehouse in Stourbridge, to the Bull and Mouth inn, London.
Principal seat in the neighbourhood are Ragley, the seat of lord Beauchamp, a mile; Hewell, seat of the earl of Plymouth, 8 miles; Coughton Court, seat of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 2 miles; and Cookhill, seat of John Fortescue, Esq. 2 miles. The principal inhabitants are as follow:

Gentlemen, &c.

Arnway John, Esq.
Brandish Samuel, Esq. (F.)
Cheston John, Esq. (F.)
Bartham, Mrs. Anne

Clergy

Rev. Matthew Booker, Curate, and Master of the Grammar School
Rev. Joseph Gill
Rev. Joseph Evans
Rev. –, Maurice, Dissenting Minister

Physic

Brandish Joseph, (F.) Surgeon, &c.
Bloxam Richard, (F.) Druggist and Apothecary
Oldham – , Surgeon & Man Midwife

Law

Jones Walter, (F.) Attorney, and Master in Chancery
Showel John, Attorney, and Master in Chancery

Traders, &c.

Adkins William, Blacksmith
Allen Thomas, Victualler, Red Horse
Ashmead H. Mantua-maker & Milliner
Archer and Mascall, Needle-makers
Archer James, Needle-maker
Avorill Thomas, Flax-dresser

Briggs Dimmok, Collar-maker
Brain John, Victualler & Salt Dealer
Bristow Francis, Shoe-maker
Bristow John, Baker
Bourne James, Excise Officer
Biddle George, Taylor
Brandis Anne, Ironmonger
Brandis John, Chandler
Butler Ed. Breeches-maker & Fellmonger
Bruton John, Victualler & Blacksmith

Crukshanks John, Book-keeper to London Carrier
Cheston and Morralls, Needle-makers
Clarson Thomas, (F.) Dyer
Clarson Robert and John, Hosiers
Cheston Thomas, (F.) Tanner
Corfield William, Victualler & Dealer
Clarke R. Maria, Brazier
Clarke Elizabeth, Shopkeeper
Clark Wm. Mercer & Liquor Merchant
Cox John, (F.) Grazier

Davis Charles, Clock & Watch-maker
Denton – , Mantua-maker
Davis James, Victualler
Doncaster Mary, Mantua-maker
Draper James, Blacksmith

Edkins John, Butcher
Edkins Margaret, Butcher
Edkins Rd. (F.) Butcher & Grazier
Edwards John, Farmer

Franklin Thomas, Joiner
Field Edward, Mercer & Draper
Fisher Richard, Farmer

Garfield Wm. Victualler, Rose & Crown
Gardner Thomas, Taylor
Greaves John, Farmer

Hicken Elizabeth, Mantua-maker
Higgins Henry, Breeches-maker
Haines William, Baker
Haines Margaret & Henry, (F.) Curriers and Maltsters
Haines Elizabeth, Milliner
Hands W. (F.) Victualler & Shopkeeper
Harbridge Thomas, (F.) Timber Merchant and Victualler
Harbridge Thomas, jun. Maltster
Hughes Benjamin, Gardener
Hodgets Lovel, Schoolmaster
Harris William, (F.) Sadler & Collar-maker, Ironmonger, &c.
Higgins Anthony, Peruke-maker
Hopkins Joshua, (F.) Grocer & Chandler
Hooper Philip, Wool Comber
Heming Thomas, (F.) Mercer, Draper, and Bookseller
Heming Thomas, jun. Maltster, Dealer in Cheese and Horse Corn
Heming Elizabeth, Milliner
Hobbins S. Mercer, Draper, & Grocer
Hemming John, Butcher and Victualler
Hemming Thomas, Taylor
Hemming Sarah, Mantua-maker
Haines John, (F.) Mercer and Grocer
Harbone Thomas, (F.) Maltster
Hall Elizabeth, School Mistress
Harman W. (F.) Gardener & Seedsman
Huband R. Victualler, Cat & Bagpipes
Huband William, Baker & Maltster
Hart Thomas, Butcher
Hobbins John, Victualler, Mughoue [sic]

Jones Abel, Excise Officer
Johnson William, Schoolmaster, Boarding School for young Gentlemen
Jorns Thomas, Clock & Watch-maker
Jorns William, (F.) Victualler & Miller

Langston John, (F.) Baker & Miller

Murrell Mary, Victualler, Dog
Middleton Thomas, Victualler, Bear Inn
Millward Esther, Baker & Victualler
Morrall Abel, (F.) Peruke-maker and Victualler
Mascall Hannah, Milliner
Mills Anthony, (F.) Gardener
Morrell John, Baker
Morton Mary, Milliner

Nicholls Anne, Confectioner
Niblet Robert, Alcester, Evesham, and Birmingham, Carrier

Osborn Thomas, Hatter
Osborn Thomas, Whitesmith

Pumphrey Thomas, (F.) Cooper
Pumphrey Anne, Mantua-maker
Phillips William, Butcher
Perks George, Mercer, Draper, &c.
Padgett William, (F.) Joiner
Pritchett Richard, Victualler & Grazier
Pettypher James, Blacksmith, and Dealer in Bar Iron
Petford Robert, Farmer
Powell James, Alcester, Evesham, and Birmingham, Carrier
Patterson James, Shoe-maker & Broker

Smith Joseph, Glazier and Plumber
Skillet Frances, Victualler, Farrier’s Arms
Scriven Joseph & Tho. Needle-makers
Simes – , Widow, Ironmonger
Sarsons William, (F.) Stay-maker
Shakell Thomas, Maltster
Scriven John, Factor
Scambler John, Turner
Scriven – , Widow, Grocer
Scriven Joshua, (F.) Baker & Maltster
Scambler Edmund, turner, Chair-maker, and Parish Clerk
Stephens John, Victualler, Swan
Spooner Jerem. Sieve & Basket-maker
Stiles Arthur, (F.) Joiner
Smith William, Mason
Savage Thomas, Shoe-maker
Smith Ralph, Farmer

Tovey Joseph, Shoe-maker
Tidmarsh Richard, Wheelwright
Timms John, (F.) Shoe-maker
Timms Charles, (F.) Shoe-maker
Terrill Th. Nail-maker & Shopkeeper
Townsend Samuel, (F.) Mason
Terrill Margaret, (F.) Baker & Maltster

Vyse Edward, Shoe-maker

Wakefield William, Cooper
Watts M. Victualler, Buck & Breeches
Watts Joseph, Breeches-maker
Watton – , Widow, (F.) White Lion
Whissell Brandon, (F.) Mason
Whissell James, Toyman
Whissell Elizabeth, Post Office
Whissell George, Victualler & Mason
Wilks Joseph, Heel-maker
Warner Henry, Maltster
Whitford Thomas, Peruke-maker
Wall John, (F.) Victualler, White Lion
Warner Mary, (F.) Shopkeeper
Watson Wm. (F.) Plumber & Glazier

Source: Universal British Directory 1791

Note: Photos of Alcester can be seen in the Gallery.