Chris Bennett

Worcester has a long and interesting history that can be tracked back to Neolithic times. Of course in those days Worcester would have been a much smaller village and evidence of this has been found next to the River Severn.
As with much of the rest of Britain, Worcester was occupied by the Romans, the Romans remained here until the 4th century. In the time they were in residence they built many industries and roads that led to other important settlements such as Gloucester.
After the Romans left, Worcester settled into a normal existence until the arrival of the Saxons in the 7th century. In those days this settlement was known as Weogoran Ceaster but a reference in the Domesday Book, names the then settlement, as Wirecestre.
Around the year 1080 Worcester probably had a population of around 2000 which in those days would have been a good sized Town.
Worcester in around the year 1060 to 1070 had its first castle of wooden construction but this was later in 1113 burnt down. After the castle was rebuilt and in the year 1204 King John made orders that the wooden gate was rebuilt in stone.
King John who died in 1216 is buried in Worcester Cathedral.
During the early part of the 1200's Worcester started to settle and had weekly markets and a very popular annual fair. The residence of Worcester was permitted to elect two bailiffs who basically run and controlled the town.
As with other towns during the mid-1300's Worcester was ravaged by the terrible Black Death. Throughout Europe the Black Death wiped out half of the population. Worcester would have been no different and it is thought that half the population of Worcester would have been killed by this devastating pandemic.
In the latter part of 1200's the Jewish community was evident in Worcester but in 1290 Edward I drove out all Jews from England.
The first reference to a school in Worcester was in 1265 and it appears that this was a church run school. This school now is known as the royal grammar school Worcester.
During this period the main Worcester industry would have been the process of making woollen cloth. Of course farming and land work would have been very significant during this time. However, in the area, the industry of cloth was the main employment.
It appears that in the 15th and 16th century there was a problem with overstocking of pasture land and that livestock would have been plentiful. The overstocking of sheep could easily been appreciated because of the wool industry. The people of Worcester would have realised that because of the expanding wool industry, money was to be made.
In these times fire was a common occurrence with houses being of wooden construction, wattle and daub and the roofs mostly straw. Although on some dwellings in this period moss and turf would have been used on the roof.
Although it was and still is an important river crossing Worcester has over the years flourished with trade. The river crossing of course, not only brought trade but unwanted armies and aggressors to Worcester.
In 1642 after all hell let loose between parliament and the king Civil War began. At first a parliamentary army occupied Worcester and the cathedral of all places was used for stabling of their horses. After a brief stay, it was the royalists turn to inhabit Worcester. A battle ensued in 1643 when the parliamentary army attempted to re-capture Worcester.
Eventually after a second attempt the parliamentary army did defeat the royalists and they surrendered in Worcester. In 1651 again another battle in Worcester, this time the beheaded king's son raised his army against Cromwell. The famous battle of Worcester then began with again the parliamentary army the victor. All of this done little for the people of Worcester and it was also a difficult time with the declining wool industry.
In the 18th century Worcester was looking forward to new industries following the further decline of the wool trade. Among new industries to the area were, carpet manufacturers, tile makers, brick makers and vinegar makers. With this new century came another popular flourishing industry for Worcester namely glove making.
By 1850 the population of Worcester exploded to more than 45,000 and Worcester's boundaries had to be extended. With this increased population came more crime and then in 1824 the Gaol was built on Union Street, in 1867 the facility was then made the county jail.
Of course Worcester produced the world famous Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce although it has been produced from 1897 in Midland Street. It was first produced and distributed from Broad Street and Bank Street.
This was a brief history of the early years of Worcester.