The Seal of the City of Worcester - The Seal was used to approve documents produced by the City. The impression made by the seal shows a city surrounded by a wall with a large gate, symbolising the city’s independence from the surrounding countryside.

The very design of the seal which was used on documents produced by the city marked the city’s aspirations to be distinct from the surrounding countryside. These were also marked by ordinances regulating trade and other activity within the city. While the seal symbolised Worcester’s corporate identity, the castle remained an emblem of external (royal) power until the bailey was handed over to the priory in 1217, and even after that date it served as the King’s prison. Power in the city also resided with the various organisations (guilds or gilds) which represented the traders and manufacturers. The most important of these in the 13th century was the Guild Merchant, founded through a royal grant in 1227. At the same time the city became independent from the county. Other more specialised gilds followed later in the medieval period.