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Worcestershire 1840

Worcester is reckoned among the middle counties of England: and is bounded on the north by Staffordshire, on the north-west by Shropshire, on the west by Herefordshire, on the east and north-east by Warwickshire, and on the south by the county of Gloucester. The shape of this county is extremely irregular, having upon almost every side small portions detached and insulated by the adjoining counties; and the boundaries form numberless indentures, resembling bays, promontories and penisulas. The principal detached districts are those locally situate in the counties of Gloucester, Warwick and Stafford, the latter county surrounding the town of Dudley. Without taking into account such separated portions, the length of the county, from about Stourbridge on the north to Bredon on the south, is thirty miles; and in breadth from east to west, at its widest part, is about twenty-eight miles. From the numerous abrupt angles which present themselves on the borders of this county, some difficulty has arisen in computing its circumference; it may, however, be stated at two hundred and fifty miles including the projecting points, and exclusive of them at about one hundred and twenty-five: the area of the county is stated by Government to comprise 729 square miles, - which, it is presumed, does not take in those parts before referred to as situated in other counties.

Source: Pigot & Co.’s British Atlas comprising the counties of England with additional Maps of England and Wales, and London. 1840.