Stourport-on-Severn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stourport-on-Severn |
|
|---|---|
 High Street |
|
 Stourport-on-Severn
|
|
| Population | 20,653 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SO812715 |
| • London | 135.4m |
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN |
| Postcode district | DY13 |
| Dialling code | 01299 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
|
Stourport-on-Severn, often called Stourport, is a lively town in North Worcestershire, England. It's located a few miles south of Kidderminster. The town sits right on the River Severn, a famous river in England.
In 2021, about 20,653 people lived in Stourport. It's known for its history linked to canals and rivers.
Contents
How Stourport Began
Stourport started thanks to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This canal was finished in 1768. It connected to the River Severn here.
In 1772, another important canal, the Birmingham Canal, joined up. This made Stourport a very busy place. Goods could now travel easily by water to and from the whole West Midlands area.
The canal's end point was built on open fields. It was first called Stourmouth, then Newport. By 1771, everyone agreed on the name Stourport.
Growing Pains and Changes
Stourport grew very quickly. In the 1760s, only about 12 people lived there. By 1795, the population had jumped to 1,300!
A famous person named John Wesley visited the town. In 1771, he called Stourport a "well built village." Just 17 years later, in 1788, he saw a big change. He wrote that where there was only one house before, now there were "two or three streets." He believed it would become a "considerable town." By 1790, he noted it was "twice as large as two years ago."
However, things changed again. In 1816, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal was completed. This new canal took away a lot of business from Stourport's canal. Because of this, Stourport's population didn't grow much after 1812. Many workers even left the town to find jobs elsewhere.
Famous Buildings and Landmarks
Around Stourport, you can find several large and historic homes. These include places like Witley Court and Abberley Hall. Abberley Hall is famous for its tall clock tower.
Hartlebury Castle was the home of the Bishops of Worcester for many centuries. They lived there from the early 1200s until 2007.
Astley Hall was the home of Stanley Baldwin. He was a Prime Minister of the UK. He lived there from 1902 until he passed away in 1947.
St. Michael's Church
.jpg)
The main church in Stourport is St. Michael's Church. It was designed by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott.
Before this church, there was an older brick church built in 1782. But it was never fully finished. It was also damaged by a storm and had to be partly taken down. The current St. Michael's church sits partly within the ruins of that old building. The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was saved from the old church. It is still used today in the new building.
Modern Stourport
In 1944, a famous general, George S. Patton, gave a speech to US army troops in Stourport.
The Stourport Civic Centre was built in 1966. Today, it's a popular place for events and gatherings in the town.
In 1968, a law called the Transport Act was passed. It said that the canal in Stourport should be used for fun and pleasure trips. This helped the town become a place for tourism.
Stourport is also the birthplace of the singer-songwriter Clifford T. Ward.
See also
In Spanish: Stourport-on-Severn para niños
