Worcester Castle: Edgar Tower: Castra Weogernensis: Weogornaceaster: Weogernaceaster: Weogorna.

  • Worcester, Worcestershire
  • OSGB – SO 8493 5431
  • Scheduled Monument
  • Listed Building.

 

Iron Age site, Roman fort and viscus, Medieval motte and bailey castle covering 20 acres and defended by banks and ditches.

Finds on the site include a Bronze Age axe, Roman coins, an urn, and Saxon and Medieval coins.

John Wintour (Winter) one of the conspirators of the gunpowder Plot, was held at the gaol for a short time before being moved to the Tower of London.

 

150 BC – 43                Dating from: A horse burial was found under the Crowngate Centre.

40’s-50’s                     Late – early: Roman road ran from Kingsholm to Wroxeter.

1st C                             Mid: Built.

2nd C                            Early: Structures date from.

2nd-3rd C                      Dating from: Pottery found.

3rd – 4th C                     Timber civilian buildings and iron workings and slag.

5th – 6th C                    St Helens church built.

628                              King Peda of Mercia amalgamated small Anglian and Saxon kingdoms, including Worcester, under the control of Hwicce.

680                              Archbishop Theodore created the See of Worcester.

680                              After: St Peters church was built within the earthworks near the site of the present cathedral.

736-737                       Known as Castra Weogernensis.

960’s-980’s                 Cathedral was built.

691                              Known as Weogornaceaster,  Weogernaceaster or Weogorna.

1041                            The Danish King, Harthacnut, tried to raise taxes, but the locals killed the tax collector. The King retaliated  and the locals fled, so the Danish raiders sacked the town.

1062                            Bishop Wulstan (later St. Wulfstan) was appointed Bishop.

1069                            Before September: Motte, tower and oval bailey built by Urse d’Abitot, Sheriff of Worcester.

1087-1100                   Bishop Wulstan defended the castle and bridge form William II.

1113                            Burnt down.

1139                            Besieged. The castle held out against Matilda’s supporters.

1150                            Besieged. King Stephen took and burnt the city but did not take the castle.

1151                            Besieged by King Stephen.

1152                            The castle fell to the Earl of Hereford. William Beauchamp was the Constable.

1155                            Refortified by Hugh Mortimer.

1204                            King John ordered the gateway to be built of stone. Edgar Tower built.

1216                            The city backed the French Dauphin, Louis, and King John took the castle and gave it to John Marshall.

1216                            King John was buried in the cathedral and the northern part of the bailey including the cathedral were given back to the church

1217                            Lands north of the bailey given back to the church.

1221                            Used as a prison.

1232                            By: Northern part of the bailey given back to the cathedral from whom the land had been taken when it was first built.

1263                            Taken during the Baron’s War.

1265                            The castle and town were taken by Prince Edward.

1459                            In need of repair.

1540                            Ruined.

1540-1546                   Itinerary of John Leland: In ruins.

1646                            22nd July: A detachment from Fairfax’s army secured the castle.

1814                            Until: Was still used as a prison.

1823                            The Dean and Chapter held the land.

1826                            The gaol was demolished.

1826-1846                   Motte demolished.

1830                            Mound levelled.

1840’s                         Footings from a circular sandstone building were uncovered which may have been from a Roman Temple.

20th C                          Part of Kings School.

 

 

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