Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries since 1844 where more parishes or manors changed hands with neighbouring counties, usually as 'gifts' by the monarchy, church or through conquest. By 1844; the administration of Worcestershire was carried out by the Courts of Quarter Sessions, who were responsible for law and order, civil jurisdiction and certain administrative functions in the county. These roles included the licensing of alehouses, police, weights and measures, construction/maintenance of highways and bridges, poor law disputes and setting taxes. The county was then divided into five hundreds, four separate boroughs for the larger towns (Bewdley, Kidderminster, Droitwich, and Evesham), and Worcester itself, which was a county
Tenbury Railway S&HR on behalf of the Tenbury Railway from opening. In July 1862 the S&HR (including the Tenbury Railway) was jointly leased by the LNWR, the GWR and the West Midland Railway (WMR). Working of traffic on the Tenbury Railway was taken over by the LNWR on behalf of the joint companies. Following the opening of the Tenbury and Bewdley Railway in August 1864, working of the entire line between Woofferton and Bewdley was taken over by the GWR, with the LNWR retaining running powers. Although the Tenbury and Bewdley Railway was soon absorbed by the GWR, the Tenbury Railway Company