Pershore Worcestershire – Universal Directory 1791

Is nine miles from Worcester, thirty-five from Birmingham, and 102 from London. It is a neat town on the north side of the Avon, near its junction with the river Bow, being a considerable thoroughfare in the lower road from Worcester to London. It is said to derive its name from the great number of pear-trees which thrive plentifully here. A religious house was founded here in 604, a small part of which now remains, and is used as the parish church of Holy Cross, the whole of which contained above ten acres; the abbey church was 250 feet long and 120 broad. The parish is of great extent, and hath within its limits many manors and chapelries. At present it has only two churches, Holy Cross and All Saints. Holy Cross has a lofty square tower, with right good bells, and a clock; and in the church are several very antique monuments. All Saints is a small church, with a square tower and six bells. – The main street is about three-quarters of a mile long, and in the direct road from London; it contains about 300 houses. Its chief manufacture is for stockings. – Market-day, Thursday; fairs Easter Tuesday, June 26, first Monday in August, and the Tuesday before the 1st of November. – The post comes in at eleven in the morning; and goes out at four in the afternoon.

Purser’s and Waine’s waggons to Worcester Wednesday and Saturday; return the same day. Ditto to Evesham Monday and Friday; return the same day.
The following is a list of the principal inhabitants:

GENTRY.

Batchelor Mr. James
Bennett George, Gent.
Bradshaw Mr. George
Crompton Lady
Cruthers Mr. George
Drew Mr. John
Hackett Mr. Samuel
Hornby Mr.
Hunter Mr.
Langley John, Gent.
Marriott Mr. William
Noatsy Mr. Samuel
Perrin Mr. William
Slater Mr. Robert
Smith Mr. John
Wilson Mr. John

CLERGY.

Mogrige Rev. John, Vicar
Smith Rev. John, Anabaptist Minister
Timbrel Rev. John

PHYSIC.

Burn John, Surgeon
Rackster Martin, Surgeon

LAW.

Bedford John, Attorney
Best George, Attorney
Howell William, Attorney
Woodward Thomas, Attorney

TRADERS, &C.

Adams John, Taylor
Andrews James, Huckster
Andrews Samuel, Flax-dresser
Allcock Plaxton William, Coal-merchant
Ashmad William, Hatter
Baker Joseph, Ironmonger
Ballenger Thomas, Staymaker
Barnes John, Planemaker
Batt John, Farmer
Baugh Joseph, Ironmonger
Baylis John, Hair-dresser
Bell Richard, Shoemaker
Best Thomas, Hair-dresser
Best William, Maltster
Blissit Edward, Mason
Blissit John, Gardener
Blissell Mary, Linen-draper
Bourn George, Plough Inn
Bradstock George, Smith
Bromfield John, Turner
Broomhill Samuel, Linen-draper
Brown Walker, Plumber
Bunn James, Victualler
Burch Thomas, Shoemaker
Bushell William, Builder
Cape Lot, Taylor
Chambers Joseph, Baker
Clee John, Bell Inn
Collins James, Weaver
Collins Robert, Grocer
Cooper George, Staffordshireware-house
Cosnett William, Gardener
Cottrell John, Pig-dealer
Cowell John, King’s Head Inn
Crutch Thomas, Farmer
Cull Henry, Grocer
Duffield Jonathan, Gardener
Dufty John, Gardener
Ederidge Susannah, Grocer
Edwards Thomas, Baker
Farley John, Breeches-maker
Faulkner Thomas, Victualler, (Quiet Woman)
Foster William, Builder
Ganterton William, Wool-stapler
George Miss, Postmistress
Giles John, Angel Inn
Goodhall James, Glazier
Goodhall Ralph, Chandler
Goodhall Thomas, Fellmonger
Grove John, Wool-stapler
Harris James, Shoemaker
Hay Miss, Milliner
Henley – , Baker
Hill – , Brazier
Hope Henry, Grocer
Hope Joseph, Three Tuns Inn
House John, Baker
House William, Baker
Hunter John, Linen-draper
Jew William, Butcher
Lee William, Woolcomber
Linley John, Staymaker
Lorton William, Mason
Loveridge George, Smith
Lyer William, Taylor
Marfield John, Shoemaker
Martin John, Victualler, (Coach and Horses)
Mason George, horse-dealer
Mason Jane, Clothes-shop
Millard William, Sadler
Millington Joseph, Butcher
Nichols Richard, Linen-draper
Nichols Thomas, Taylor
Nixon John, Gardener
Paget William, Joiner
Paine Giles, Vict. (Rose and Crown)
Poole Robert, Springmaker
Prickett – , Shoemaker
Prickett John, Victualler
Prickett William, Butcher
Pugh William, Carpenter
Purser William, New Inn
Reading John, Butcher
Rickard Elizabeth, Gardener
Roberts Thomas, Schoolmaster
Saunders Samuel, Gardener
Shelton John, Hair-dresser
Smith John, Baker
Smith Susannah, Bookseller
Spenser Simon, Horse-dealer
Stevens George, Butcher
Stevens Robert, Cooper
Stiles Thomas, Butcher
Street Henry, Grocer
Taylor Francis, Fisherman
Taylor John, Grocer
Taylor William, Wheelwright and Chandler
Thackwell Richard, Watchmaker
Wade Stephen, Woolstapler
Wagstaff Edward, Baker
Wainer Robert, Watchmaker
Ward Thomas, Weaver
Weshbourne John, Sadler
Weshbourne John, Tea-dealer
Wilson Robert, Tanner
Withers Francis, Huckster
Woodward Francis, Maltster
Woodward John, Farmer
Wright William, Gardener
Excise Office, Angel Inn
Mr. Weeks, Collector
Mr. Smith, Supervisor
Mr. Houston, Officer
Defford is a chapelry to Pershore, eight miles in circuit; wherein are some salt springs. Near it is Coppins-court, which formerly had a magnificent edifice, now razed.
Strensham, is south-west of Pershore, not far from the influx of the Avon into the Severn. Here are an hospital for six poor widows, and a charity-school. This parish contains 2000 acres, and was the birth place of Samuel Butler, author of Hudibras. The church has several fine monuments of the Russel family.
Wolborough or Wadborough, is three miles north-west of Pershore, where the abbots of that monastery had a park. – Walcot is about two miles north-east. – Stowton is to the north-west.
Naunton is north of Pershore, a parish whose church bears evident marks of great antiquity. – Sherriff’s Naunton is a hamlet is the parish of Naunton.
Breedon is a healthy pleasant village near Pershore; the parish, dedicated to St. Giles, contains three chapelries, viz. Norton, Mitton, and Cutsdean; and three hamlets, viz. Westmancot, Kelmesham, and Hardwick; is one of the most valuable rectories in the diocese of Worcester. Here was formerly a monastery. The porch and west end of the church are Saxon buildings, said to have been built by the grandfather of King Offa. To the north-east of it is Brendon-hill, on which is a Roman encampment, with a double ditch; and it boasts one of the finest prospects in the county; on the top is a lofty summer-house, from which may be viewed the cities of Worcester and Gloucester; Cheltenham, &c.

Source: Universal British Directory 1791.