Worcester, England, is a little known city with a complex heritage. Known for its sauce (Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce) and as Elgar's birthplace, the city’s industrial history is grounded in gloves, and in china. In the late 18th century Worcester also enjoyed a brief period as a minor spa town, before Malvern took over.
Today, Worcester offers much to visitors, with its rural aspect and ideal location, not far from Cheltenham and the delights of the Cotswolds. Within Worcester itself, there is much to see. And visitors will be in good company. The region boasts connections to Vesta Tilley, Sir Charles Hastings (founder of the BMA) and Mrs Henry (Ellen) Wood.
Worcester Cathedral
One of the most interesting of England’s cathedrals, Worcester Cathedral includes a crypt, tower (open, summer season only), 12th century Chapter house and attractive medieval cloisters. Entry is free and tours are available. The cathedral also includes its own medieval library (tours by arrangement) which contains almost 300 medieval manuscripts along with post-medieval books and archive material. The music collection contains works by several well known composers including Thomas Tomkins, and not surprisingly, Elgar.
The Commandery
Travel through time in one of England’s oldest buildings, a Grade 1 listed site, dating back to the 12th century. Here it’s possible to explore the building in a variety of incarnations including a Monastic Hospital, Civil War HQ and Georgian home. Wander around the panelled rooms, see the Great Hall and examine the Victorian working quarters.
The Greyfriars
(not open from late December to mid-February)
A 15th century timber-framed house in the heart of Worcester, The Greyfriars boasts an oak-panelled Great Hall and library and some eclectic furnishings. Built in the 1480s and almost demolished in the 1940s, it includes a beautiful courtyard garden and has been home to a number of the city’s merchants. Tours are available.
The Greyfriars is located on Friar Street, one of the city’s most historic streets. When the Franciscan (or Grey) Friars came to Worcester in the early 13th century they were given a plot of land in this area.
Tudor House
Also on Friar Street is the Tudor House, a 500-year old building with a fascinating history. With sandstone foundations dating back to the thirteenth century, the building itself was previously divided into separate units used for different purposes. Uses include a home and workshop for weavers, the Cross Keys Inn, Cadbury's Tudor Coffee House and a World War II ARP (air raid precautions) billet and office.
Walks
Worcester boasts a variety of walks from traditional tours covering themes such as medieval Worcester and Secrets of the Old Town to ghost walks and children’s ghost walks. One ghost walk includes a visit to the cells beneath Worcester’s guildhall, which is said to be haunted by at least two ghosts…
Printed guides enabling people to go on their own walking tours are also available from Tourist Information.
Worcester Porcelain Museum
Telling the story of Royal Worcester from when the factory was established in 1751, the museum holds the world’s largest collection of Worcester porcelain. The Royal in the title dates from George III’s visit in 1788, the warrant being granted soon after. Worcester then became the first Royal porcelain works in England. Production moved to the Severn street site in 1840, and visitors can see various galleries illustrating the beautiful work produced.
The museum website provides a wealth of information on porcelain and the factory’s origins including a series of fascinating facts. After the Battle of Waterloo, for example, sufficient teeth were collected from the dead to make dentures for half of Europe. These however, were very expensive and porcelain teeth were a suitable alternative. These however, were definitely considered second best (fact 12).
The museum is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre
This annual event in the city centre gets people into the spirit of Christmas, with around 100,000 visitors over four days. The Fayre is usually held in late November/early December. Stalls include local crafts and food and drink, and stallholders wear Victorian costume. A series of events coincide with the Fayre, and there’s also a fun fair for the young at heart.
Worcester Library and History Centre
The above are just some of Worcester’s historic highlights. A plaque near the Commandery tells of another, Worcester’s connection to the English Civil War. Worcester has several civil war landmarks, but a different kind of landmark is due to open in July 2012. The Hive, Europe’s first integrated public and university library, will also house 12 miles of archive collections, containing many original historical records.
The site of the Hive was once an archaeological dig and finds included a Charles II coin of 1672. Here, as in other renewed historic sites, the past and the present have come together to create the future. Watch this space.
Further Information
- Worcester's Tourist Information Centre can be found in the (Grade 1 listed) Guildhall on the High Street.
- The Worcester Story: additional walking tours
Sources
- Days Out in & Around Worcester 2010. VisitWorcester, 2010.
- Worcestershire Attractions 2008. VisitWorcester 2008.
- Worcester City Museums website
- Worcester Industrial Archaeology and Local History Society, Worcester Industrial Heritage Trail
- Worcester Porcelain Museum website
Ellie Stevenson - Ellie writes on history, travel, careers & the arts. Her novel, Ship of Haunts (http://tinyurl.com/cyryp2m) is on Amazon as an ebook.
