Worcester City Walls

 

Section of the City Wall.

 

  • Worcester, Worcestershire
  • OSGB – SO 852 549
  • Grade II Listed Building

 

Town defences. Included a wall and ditch.

  • Hopmarket Hotel stands on the site of Foregate, the main entrance to the city.
  • Trinity Gate was one of Worcester’s prisons.
  • St Martins Gate was on the east.
  • Sidbury Gate, also called, London Gate, was to the south.
  • Frog Gate was the smallest gate.
  • Bridge Gate was originally built of wood.
  • St Clements Gate was a small entranceway next to Bridge Gate.
  • Bar Gate.
  • Friar’s Gate/Monks Gateway.
  • Northgate.

 

872-899                      The site was first defended by Æthelred, Earl of the Mercians.

884-901                       Anglo Saxon charter records a request from Bishop Waerfirth to fortify the town. They enclosed an area of 40 acres and were built of a timber and stone revetted earth bank and a steep ditch on the outer side.

  •                           The townspeople were responsible for the upkeep of the walls.

1150                              Worcester was captured by King Stephen.

1154-1196                   The East Gate is first mentioned.

1182                             Northgate is first mentioned.

1199-1216                   The towns people paid King John not to destroy the fortifications.

1200                            Edgar Tower was built giving access only to the castle and cathedral. Earlier entrance to the Roman camp. Originally called St Mary’s Gate.

1224                            Stone wall.

1226                            Greyfriers were given permission to build a postern gate, known as Friers Gate.

1246                            The Friar’s were given permission to make Friar’s Gate, as an access way to the burial ground and church located outside of the city wall

13th C                          City surrounded by walls with approximately 5 towers and a ditch enclosing 83 acres.

1313                            Funds were raised by the Prior of Worcester to build a stone Bridge Gate.

1378                            The Water Gate was built by Walter Poer.

1459                              Stone was taken from the area of the castle to repair the city walls.

1485-1509                   Gates on the north west part of the town was moved to Angel Place.

1540-1546                  Itinerary of John Leyland – ‘reasonably well waulyd’

1610                             The walls were still complete.

1642-1651                   Civil War: Repaired.

1646                             English Civil War: The town refused to surrender to Sir Thomas Morgan, Parliament. The was a ‘skirmish’ outside of the walls but no serious fighting. Parliament erected some forts on Roger’s Hill and Wheeler’s Hill.On the 11th June they started to bombard the town with artillery. The town eventually surrendered.

1651                            Repairs were made to the walls and earthworks were erected outside of the walls. They blocked the Foregate, and across the London Road they erected more earthworks. Fort Royal was constructed and adjoined the walls with a rampart.

1651                            Charles I escaped through St Martins Gate during the Battle of Worcester.

1651                            The Sidbury Gate was stormed by Parliament during the Battle of Worcester. More than 100 Scots died at the site.

1699                            Until: A poorhouse stood on the site of Foregate.

1702                            The North Gate was demolished. Cells used below Foregate, as a prison, were finally removed.

1705                            Almshouse built by Robert Berkeley of Spetchley on the site of the wall.

1768                            The Sidbury Gate was demolished.

1773-87                       St Martins Gate was demolished.

1796                            Much of the wall had been demolished.

18th C                          End: Bridge Gate and St Clements Gate were demolished.

1820                            The Friers Gate was demolished.

1904                            Traces of the wall by the Butts could still be seen.

1913                            The Mayor of Worcester toured the city boundary with local people.

1920                            Effigy of King Edgar was copied and put on Edgar’s Gate.

1950’s                         Excavated.

1970’s                          Excavated.

1990’s                          Area investigated.

 

Worcester map 1651.

 

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