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Chronology of Worcester 55BC to 1827AD

a traditional and unreliable account from an old directory

Chronological Recapitulation of Events illustrative of the History of the City of Worcester.

"Worcester first saw't and trembled at the view,
Too well the ills of civil war she knew.
Twice did the flames of old her towers invade,
Twice did she call in vain for her own Severn's aid". COWLEY

B.C.

55. Julius Caesar lands in Britain – It is probable, that at this time, the native Britons had a fastness, or rude fortified town, on the woody hills round Worcester.

A.D.

41. Claudius Caesar invades Britain, and sends Ostorius Scapula to the banks of the Severn, where, according the Tacitus, he constructed several fortifications. The Britons retire, but Ostorius follows, at length defeats Caractacus, and sends him in chains to Rome. Dr. Card, Vicar of Great Malvern, in a "Disquisition on the Herefordshire-Beacon," thinks that Caractacus encamped with his army, on that gigantic fortress of the Malvern Hills. Supposed formation of a Roman camp at Worcester about this time.
78. Agricola completes the subjection of Britain to the Romans.
287. Britain an independent kingdom under the Emperor Carausius, who maintains his dominion for seven years. "Under his command, Britain, destined in a future age to obtain the empire of the sea, already assumed its natural and respectable station of a maritime power." GIBBON.
296. Constantius Chlorus recovers Britain from Allectus, who had murdered Carausius, he either founded or improved Worcester, under its Roman name Brangonum.
306. Constantius dies at York, and his son Constantine the Great, assumes the purple in Britain.
368. The Picts and Scots having overrun Britain, are slaughtered and driven back by Theodosius.
383. Maximus emigrates from Britain to Gaul, with 30,000 soldiers, and 100,000 plebeians.
409. Britain becomes independent of the tottering Roman Empire. See Gibbon, on the British cities at this time.
449. Descent of the Saxons.
561. Ceaulin, grandson of Cerdic, King of the West Saxons, carries his victorious arms to the banks of the Severn.
585. Crida establishes the kingdom of Mercia, within which Worcester was situated.
628. Penda, King of Mercia, about this time, becomes possessed of Worcester, and appoints Osric, Viceroy of the Wiccii.
655. Peada, first Christian King of Mercia, and father of Wolfere, who granted the first charter to Worcester.
679. Bosel, consecrated first Saxon bishop of Worcester.
827. Egbert, sole monarch of the Heptarchy, leaving Mercia a tributary king.
878. Mercia occupied by the Danes.
885. Bishop Werefrid having fled to France from terror of the Danes, is recalled to his see of Worcester, by Alfred the Great.
894. Worcester having been destroyed by the Danes, is rebuilt by Duke Ethelred and his consort Ethelfleda.
969. St Peter's cathedral surrendered to the monks of St Mary's.
983. Bishop Oswald completes his new cathedral.
1041. Worcester destroyed by the forces of Hardicanute.
1074. Bishop Wulstan, Urso the sheriff, and the Abbot of Evesham, guard the passes of the Severn, and frustrate the conspiracy of the Earl of Hereford against Will. I.
1088. Wulstan defeats Roger de Lacy, & c.
1089. Wulstan finishes his cathedral.
1113. Worcester consumed by fire. The Welsh suspected to be the incendiarics
1129. Henry I kept his Christmas at Worcester.
1133. Great part of the city again consumed by fire.
1139. Stephen visits Worcester, offers his ring at the high alter, and displaces William de Beauchamp from the government of the castle. The same year, Nov 7, Milo, Earl of Hereford, attacks and plunders Worcester, being in the interest of Queen Maud.
11.49 Stephen burns Worcester, but attacks the castle in vain, having offended Count de Meulant whom he had formerly appointed governor. Eustace, the son of Stephen again attacks it, but is repulsed by Count Meulant.
1151. Stephen returns to the attack of Worcester castle, but being again repulsed, raises fortified earthworks to blockade it, which he garrisons, and retires. He appears to have left three fortifications to blockade the garrison; two commanding the London and Bristol roads, stiled 'castelles', in the old chronicles, the other a more extensive work on Henwick hill, fronting the Severn, almost opposite the old water works. The earthworks are stormed and overthrown by the Earl of Leicester. William de Beauchamp again Lord of Worcester.
1157. Hugh Mortimer fortifies Worcester against Henry II but on the king's approach, submits.
1159. Henry II and his queen offered their crowns at Worcester, and a parliament held here.
1189. Another destructive fire.
1207. King John visited Worcester, and performed his devotions at Wulstan's tomb.
1214. John keeps his Christmas here.
1216. Worcester declares for the Dauphin against John, but is taken and plundered by Ranulph, Earl of Chester. The same year King John was buried in the cathedral, being brought hither by the Regent Earl Pembroke.
1218. The Cathedral consecrated in the presence of Henry III and a great concourse of nobility.
1225. A great tournament at Worcester, the actors in which were excommunicated by Bishop Blois.
1202. The cathedral much damaged by fire.
1232. Henry III kept his Christmas here.
1234. The same monarch here at Whitsuntide.
1263. The barons besiege and storm the city.
1264. Henry III, conducted here a prisoner.
1265. Prince Edward, son of Henry, escapes to Worcester from Hereford, marches with an army to Kenilworth, defeats young Montfort there, returns to Worcester and again marches to Evesham, where he entirely vanquishes the Earl of Leicester, and returns triumphant, with his father, to Worcester.
1276. Edward I, at Worcester.
1278. Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, meets the king at Worcester, and marries the daughter of Leicester.
1281. Edward I keeps his Christmas here, holds a parliament here the next year, and visits the city again in 1283, 1289, 1291, 1294, 1295 and in 1301, with his queen.
1342. A plague in Worcester, and another in 1349.
1397. The office of hereditary sheriff of the county, and keeper of the castle of Worcester, suppressed by Richard II, who creates Sir Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester.
1401. The suburbs burned by Owen Glwndour, who is, however, forced to retire, by Henry IV.
1403. The Earl of Worcester beheaded at Shrewsbury, for taking part with Hotspur.
1407. Henry IV visits the city twice this year.
1420. Richard Beauchamp, son of Lord Abergavenny, created Earl of Worcester by Henry V but in 1422 killed at the siege of Meaux, in France.
1450. John Tiptoft created Earl of Worcester.
1459. Henry IV at Worcester.
1461. Edward IV raises forces from Worcester, Gloucester, &c and gains the battle of Mortimer's Cross.
1470. Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, beheaded on Tower Hill, by the Lancastrian party.
1471. Edward IV enters Worcester after the battle of Tewkesbury, and the unfortunate Queen Margaret brought before him.
1484. An extraordinary flood of the Severn prevents the Duke of Buckingham from crossing to attack Richard III, the duke's army disperses, he is taken, and beheaded.
1485. Battle of Bosworth Field fought, and Worcester saves itself from plunder at the price of 500 marks.
1486. Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother rebel against Henry VII, and prepare to storm Worcester, but dismayed by the news of the defeat of their associates in Yorkshire, retire.
1496. Henry VII, his queen, his mother, and Price Arthur, visited the city about this time.
1502. Prince Arthur buried in the cathedral.
1514. Charles Somerset, created Earl of Worcester by Henry VIII.
1534. An earthquake at Worcester.
1540. The Priory dissolved.
1570. A barge load of coal first brought here.
1575. Queen Elizabeth visited Worcester. While in the city, she made a grant of free bench to widows, whose husbands die possessed of freehold lands in Worcester, by which they can retain them during their lives, notwithstanding any claims of creditors.
1637. A destructive pestilence, to which 1551 persons fell a prey.
1642. A skirmish at Worcester between Prince Rupert and the Parliamentarians. The Earl of Essex plunders the city. Henry Somerset created Marquis of Worcester by Charles I. The title still remains in his family.
1645 Charles I and his army passed through Worcester, from Shipston-on-Stour.
1646. Siege and capitulation of Worcester.
1651. Battle of Worcester.
1652. The great Lord Somers born in this city.
1672. A great flood, the height of which is recorded by a brass plate, on the water gate.
1687. James II visited Worcester.
1688. Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and the principal gentlemen of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, met at Worcester, and declared for the prince of Orange, and Sir Walter Blount, and the catholic sheriff of Worcestershire, were sent prisoners to Ludlow Castle.
1723. The summer assizes of this year were the first held in the present Guildhall.
1733. St Andrew's spire damaged by lightning, and taken down and rebuilt.
1751. The china manufactory introduced.
1757. A violent wind blew down a stack of chimnies upon the Guildhall. While Judge Wilmot was presiding at the Nisi Prius Court, and six men were killed on the spot.
1762. Three barrels of gunpowder accidentally exploded in New Street, doing much damage.
1768. An earthquake felt, but no injury sustained.
1770. A very great flood, 10 inches higher than the flood in 1672.
1788. George III, and family honoured the city with their presence for several days, and were honourably entertained by Bishop Hurd, at the palace.
1791. An alarming flood of the Severn.
1795. Severn frozen over. A dreadful flood ensued, when the ice choaking up the arches of the bridge, threatened its destruction. The event is recorded on a stone in the wall of the north parade.
1807. His present Majesty, then Prince of Wales, visited the city; the volunteers lined the streets, & c.
1809. The toll on foot passengers taken off at the bridge.
1810. Lucien Buonaparte came to reside near Worcester.
1811. The tremendous hail storm, when damage was sustained to a great amount.
1817. Riots in Pitchcroft, respecting the rights of the citizens.
1827. Dec 31. The Bridge made entirely free, and the toll gates taken down.