The counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin Unitary Authority) and Worcestershire make up West Mercia.

The counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire are in West Mercia. The area is 2868 square miles and has a population of approximately 1.1 million. The area shares borders with the West Midlands conurbation on the east and some of the wildest parts of Wales on the west.

The name Mercia is derived from Old English as 'People of the Marches (or Boundaries)'. The area along the Welsh border known as the 'Marches' was the scene in medieval times of border struggles between the Anglo-Saxons and the Welsh.

Its rolling rural acres range from the sweeping majesty of the Malvern Hills which is Britains oldest geological feature, to the rocky outcrop of Hawkstone Park that is a 100-acre wonderland of follies and grottoes, created by Sir Rowland Hill in the 18th century. There are many attractive riverside towns and villages sitting on the River Severn and River Wye, although in recent years they have notoriously been subjected to severe flooding.

History
There are many historical sites to visit such as Offa's Dyke that is the 8th century barrier between the kingdom of Mercia and Wales. At Wroxeter are the remains of one of the most important British towns of the Roman period, Uriconium. The heritage of the area can be explored by visiting the many castles, historic houses and ancient churches.

The history of West Mercia includes significant industrial achievements. The Ironbridge Gorge of the River Severn contains a large complex of museums on the sites where the Industrial Revolution began when Abraham Darby developed, in 1709, the process of smelting iron with coke. The Ironbridge at Coalbrookdale is now a World Heritage Site and conservation area that is famously reputed as the first cast iron bridge built between 1777 and 1779.

In the 18th century when large scale carpet manufacture began, Kidderminster became the centre of the industry that was supported by a network of canals designed by James Brindley as part of an ambitious scheme to link growing industrial towns. The waterways are now a popular leisure and tourist attraction.

A 20th century amalgamation of small towns is named after the great Scottish engineer Thomas Telford who carried out many projects in the area, including the London-Holyhead road.

The historical evidence of industrial excellence continues today at Malvern. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) works with the adjacent Malvern Hills Science Park to offer world class expertise in technology and its findings can be of enormous benefit to local industrialists and business people.

West Mercia also has a cultural history and links with very famous people such as the poet, Alfred Edward (A.E.) Housman, who is best remembered for his work 'A Shropshire Lad', who was born and lived in Bromsgrove. The war poet Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry and is remembered by his poems that told of his experience in the terror and squalor of the trenches in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Darwin
Born in Shrewsbury, Charles Darwin made significant cultural and scientific history with his theory of evolution. Cultural activities continue today with arts and music festivals, theatres in Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster, and many elegant art galleries and craft centres.

There are many interesting places to visit and some of the most popular attractions include The West Midlands Safari Park and the Severn Valley Railway. The countryside attracts ramblers to areas such as the Wyre Forest and Stretton hills.

It is at the hub of the nations motorway network with the M5, the M50, M54 and the M42 providing links to the M6, M1 and M40. A dozen airports are within two hours drive including Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands and Bristol. Ferry ports serving France, Spain and Ireland are only three hours away.