Malvern

Malvern watches over Worcestershire with its hills. An absolute must in the summer months is to take a walk across the Malvern Hills to take in the amazing views of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Malvern is full of green countryside, old buildings and specialist shops and restaurants, boasting some of the most spectacular views of the county. Every summer at the Three Counties Showground they hold their agricultural show, normally held in the middle of June. This show is renowned all over the country.

Malvern is also well known for its love of theatre.

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Witley Court

Only a hundred years ago and Witley Court was one of England's finest country houses. Unfortunately today it is a spectacular ruin. A visit to Witley Court gives the visitor a glance into a bygone age of prosperity. This house would have played host to many social events and royal weekend parties.

It was built by Thomas Foley in 1655 on the site of a former manor house near Great Witley. Subsequent additions were designed by John Nash in the early 1800s and the Court was subsequently bought by the Dudley family in 1837.

In the 1850s, the Earl of Dudley engaged the architect Samuel Daukes, who had already altered his London house and the church at Great Witley, to remodel the house in Italianate style using ashlar stone. He also commissioned the garden designer W. A. Nesfield to transform the gardens. This was Nesfield's 'Monster Work'.

In 1920 Witley Court was sold by the 2nd Earl to Sir Herbert Smith, a Kidderminster carpet manufacturer. The property was sold again following an accidental fire in 1938. Thereafter the estate was broken up and, with the exception of the church, allowed to fall into ruin.

In 1972 the remnants of the house and garden were acquired by the government. Almost 70 years after the devastation, its ruins are still spectacular, and today the property is in the care of English Heritage. Great Witley Church, which is attached to the ruins, survived the fire, and so visitors can still view the paintings.

The immense fountains created by Nesfield have survived. The largest, the Poseidon Fountain has been restored to working order by English Heritage. The grounds are extensive and ideal for picnics and leisurely walks around the beautiful gardens, lake and woodlands. The ornate parish church of Great Witney and the tea rooms are definately worth a visit.

Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT. Tel: 01299 896636

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Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire Sauce was brought back from India by Lord Marcus Sandys, ex-Governor of Bengal, who gave it to two local chemists, John Lea and William Perrins, with an order for a large batch to be made up from his recipe. A few weeks later he returned to pick up the sauce, only to proclaim upon sampling some that it tasted filthy and was nothing like how it should be, and left in disgust.

Nothing more was thought of this until the chemists discovered it at the back of their stores a few months later, and they decided to give it just one more try before tipping it down the drain. To their surprise, the foul-tasting anchovy broth, after being left to ferment, had matured into an interesting spicy condiment, and they immediately purchased the recipe from Lord Marcus. So thanks to this chance retasting, 1838 saw the UK's best-known sauce launched, and the name of Worcestershire Sauce (originally called just Worcester Sauce), has spread to be mispronounced by many a foreigner in every corner of this spherical world.

In the UK, Worcestershire is pronounced 'woost-ur-shire' and Worcestershire Sauce is referred to as 'Worcester Sauce', pronounced 'woos-tah'. In many other parts of the world, however, it is referred to as 'War-sest-uh-shire' Sauce.

Worcestershire

Once the county of Hereford and Worcester, the name Worcester comes from being a roman fort town which is why it has the -cester suffix attached to it. However, the first part of the name is probably attributed to an ancient tribal name such as Wigora, meaning winding such as a winding river. The Domesday records show the town as being called Wirecestre.

Worcester is one of the old cathedral cities and the splendid norman cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions to the area. Worcester countryside is like that of its neighbour, Gloucestershire, and the town of Evesham in Worcestershire is the gateway to the Cotswolds.

Every year at the beginning of December Worcester comes alive with the excitement of the Victorian Christmas Fayre, the Midlands most prestigious Victorian themed street market. It boasts funfair rides, street performers, period costume, roast chesnuts, mulled wine and offers a truely memorable festive experience right in the heart of Worcester City Centre.

Evesham

Evesham is a bustling market town on the banks of the river Avon. Although attractive at any time of the year, Evesham and the surrounding rural area are at their best in Spring when the sights of fruit trees in blossom are evident wherever you journey. A scenic route known as the Blossom Trail has been routed around Evesham for the motorist to admire the most scenic and advantageous views of the blossom at its best.

The Avon at Evesham offers, fishing, boating holidays and much of the Avon is used for dinghy sailing and canoeing.

The town centre has many interesting buildings. In the market place stands the Round House, a 15th century timbered building and the Town Hall dating from 1586. The 14th century timbered building is the Almonry Museum, once part of the Abbey and now a museum of local history. The old town stocks with their roof is still preserved outside.

Evesham is approx 15 miles from Worcester, and if travelling from Birmingham the easiest way to get to Evesham is to exit the M5 motorway at Junction 7 and follow the A44 this road takes you all the way to Evesham.

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