PERSHORE, a market-town, partly in the parish of
ST-ANDREW, and partly in that of HOLY-CROSS, upper
division of the hundred of PERSHORE, county of WORCESTER,
9 miles (S. E.) from Worcester, and 102 (N.W. byW.)
from. London, containing, exclusively of those portions
of the parishes which are without the town, 2328 inhabitants.
The name of this place, variously spelt Persore,
Pearshore, and Pershore, is supposed by Camden to
be derived from Periscoran, in allusion to the numerous
pear-trees which grew in the vicinity: a convent was
founded here, according to William of Malmesbury, by
Egelward, Duke of Dorset, or, according to others, by
Oswald, nephew of Etheldred, King of Mercia, about
689, for Secular clerks. It was remodelled by Edgar,
as a monastery for Benedictine monks, about 984, and
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, and St. Paul,
and afterwards to Edburga, eighth daughter of Edward
the Elder. The buildings suffered repeatedly from fire
especially in 1287, when a considerable part of the
town was also destroyed: at the dissolution its revenue
was valued at £666. 13. The only remains are
the church of the Holy Cross, and the Abbey house,
the latter having undergone such alterations that every
vestige of its ancient character has been removed. The
town is pleasantly situated on the lower road from
Worcester to London, and on the western bank of
the river Avon, which is here navigable, and is crossed
by a bridge on the south. The principal street is about
three quarters of a mile in length; it is well paved,-
and the houses are of respectable appearance. There is
a manufactory for stockings, and two for watch mainsprings.
The market is on Tuesday; fairs are held on
Easter-Tuesday, June 26th, first Monday in August,
and on the Tuesday before November 1st. This town
returned two burgesses to parliament in the reign of
Edward I., since which period the privilege has been
discontinued. As to all civil jurisdiction the parishes
of St. Andrew and Holy Cross are absolutely distinct;
each having its own officers: the former includes the
chapelries of Bricklehampton, Defford, Penvin, and
Wick, and the hamlet of Pensham; and the latter the
hamlets of Wadhorough and Walcott.
The living of St. Andrew's is a discharged vicarage;
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in
the king's books at £ 8.19. 2., and in the patronage of the
Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The church consists
of a choir and south transept, the remains of a noble
cruciform church, and is partly in the Norman, but principally
in the early English, style of architecture. The
church of the Holy Cross is in the later English style,
and was formerly conventual, having belonged to the
abbey: the living is held as a curacy, with the vicarage
of St. Andrew's; both are subject to the jurisdiction of
the Archdeacon of Worcester. There is a place of -worship
for Baptists.