Welcome to Worcester Museums and Art Galleries
A Potted History of Worcester
 
 
 
 
Beneath Worcester's Streets by Helen Flooke

This part of our site offers a brief and very general history of the settlement at Worcester. As the site develops, more links and images will be added to this section, while the text will be modified and updated to take account of recent archaeological discoveries and historical research.

To dig deeper into Worcester's past, have a look at some of the recommended titles in our Suggested Reading List, and the links in our Web Links section.

The City of Worcester from the West by S. & N. Buck, 1750s


The city of Worcester from the west in the 1750s by S. & N. Buck.


The medieval bridge spans the River Severn to the north (left). Boats are grouped by the Quay (centre) and a 'trow' lowers its sail to pass underneath the bridge. Inside the old walled city, the cathedral dominates the south end next to sloping gardens of the Old Palace (right), and the smoking kilns of Dr. Wall's porcelain manufactory. Beyond rise the hills which were later to be developed as Regency and Victorian suburbs. The motte of Worcester Castle can be seen on the extreme right of the print. The motte and bailey castle was built by Urse d'Abitot, Sheriff of Worcester in 1069. During the 13th century it ceased to be a significant military centre, though the buildings were used as a prison until 1814, when a new gaol was built in Castle Street. The motte was steadily dismantled between 1823 and 1846.