The Civil War Headquarters

On the 22nd August 1651, Charles II entered the City of Worcester at the head of 18,000 men, and the King set up his Headquarters in a house within the city walls. The Duke of Hamilton and other Scottish officers were billeted with the Wylde family in The Commandery.

William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton was the Royalist Commander in Chief and used the Commandery as his own personal Headquarters. With soldiers being billeted around the Commandery, and preparations for battle and repairs to the City's defences taking place around the building the scene around the Commandery in the run up to the battle would have been one of much activity.

Cromwell volunteered his own surgeon to perform the grisly task, but Hamilton refused and insisted that only a Royalist surgeon would undertake the operation. Cromwell refused. On the 8th September The Duke wrote to his wife from the Commandery.

"Dear Heart, You know I have long been labouring, though in great weakness to be prepared against this expected change, and I thank God I find comfort in it, this my day of Tryal; for my Body is not more weakned by my sounds, than I find my Spirit Comforted and Supported by the infinite Mercies and great Love of my Blessed Redeemer, who will be with me to the end and in the end. I am not able to say much more to you, the Lord preserve you under your Tryals, and Sanctifie the use of them to the comfort of your Soul. I will not so much as in a Letter divide my dear Nieces and you; the Lord grant you may be contants Comforts to one another in this life and send you all Eternal Happiness with your Saviour in the life to come; to both of your Cares I recommend my poor Children, let your great Work be to make them early aquanted with God, and their Duties to Him: and though they may suffer wants here before their removal from hence, yet they will find an inexhaustible Treasure in the Love of Christ. May the Comforts of the Blessed Spirits be ever near you in all your Straits and Difficulties, and suffer not the least repinning to enter into your Hearts for His Dispensations towards me, for His Mercies have been infinilely above His Justice in the whole Pilgrimage of,

ye Commanderie
Dear Heart
Worcester, Sept.8, 1651
Your Own
 Hamilton."

On 12th September 1651, in the Commandery, The Duke of Hamilton died of gangrene and blood poisoning, he is buried under the Alter in Worcester Cathedral, where a brass plaque marks his grave.

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