Birlingham

"BIRLINGHAM, a parish in the upper division of the hundred of Pershore, in the county of Worcester, 3 miles to the S. of Pershore, its post town, and 11 S.E. from Worcester. It is situated on the banks of the river Avon, which nearly surrounds it. The Gloucester and Birmingham railway passes near the village, and has stations at Difford and Eckington, about 2 miles distant. The living is a rectory* [the asterisk denotes that there is a parsonage and glebe belonging to the living] in the diocese of Worcester, of the value of £235, in the patronage of the Rev. R. E. Landor, incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. James, is modern, with the exception of the tower and a very ancient Saxon arch. There is a school-house, recently built and amply endowed by private charity, also eight almshouses. The Earl of Coventry is lord of the manor."
[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]