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Places to Visit

Broadway (SP 09 37)

Lygon Arms Tradition holds that Cromwell stayed here during the campaign of 1651. Civil War period armour is mounted on the walls of the Dining Room.

Evesham (SO 03 43)

site of Twyford Bridge,

crossing the River Avon on the old London Road, was partially demolished by the retreating Royalist army in June 1644. This was to hinder the advance of Waller and Essex. The citizens quickly repaired the bridge in order to allow Waller's army to follow. This was much to the fury of the King who fined the town and again broke down the bridge. The bridge has now been demolished. Its site was to the east of the town at Offenham.

Langston's House, 13 Bridge Street

reputedly where Charles I stayed during July 1644.

Abbey Bell Tower

has marks on the south face, reputedly the result of damage from gunfire during the Civil War.
Defences

The line of the Civil War defences of the town survives on the north side as a watercourse and sunken way leading towards the railway station.

Hartlebury (SO 836 712)

Hartlebury Castle

The present 'castle' is the result of late seventeenth and eighteenth century rebuilding. The original castle was fortified in the Civil War and served as a mint from 1644. Part of the possible Civil War ditches survive. Now the Bishop's Palace.

County Museum

Beside the 'castle'. Houses some material from the period including a buff coat.

Pershore (SO 952 462)

Pershore Bridge.



Like Twyford Bridge at Evesham, this bridge was also ordered by the King to be destroyed in June 1644. Unfortunately, the job was rushed so that around 40 of the soldiers and workmen fell into the river with the collapsing masonry and were killed. Some reports say that Waller had a similar experience a short while later when 'The great stone bridge being pulled down by the inhabitants, after they had demolished the arches the rest suddenly tumbled down, whereby about sixty of the workmen were knocked on the head or drowned.' This may, however, be a confused report of the earlier incident. The post-Civil War red sandstone replacement of the central arch is still visible.



Powick (SO 835 524)

Powick Church

Marks on the church tower are reputed to be the result of gun shot from the fierce battle of 1651 when the Parliamentary troops tried to dislodge the Scots.

Powick Bridge

The fifteenth century bridge was the centre of the first major action in the Civil War. The two northern spans, across the mill race, have clearly been repaired and were possibly those demolished during the battle of 1651.

Powick Ham

The open land to the south of the bridge, with its narrow lane and hedged fields is where the Parliamentary troops drew up their forces in 1642 and the site of fierce close-quarter combat during the battle of 1651. Despite the close proximity of new roadworks, it still preserves much of its character. Two shallow depressions on Powick Ham, which were visible in the 1900s, are reputed to mark the sites of burials from the 1651 battle.

Ripple (SO 86 37)

The site of the battle of Ripple, north of the village, in 1643 is still open farmland.

Strensham Castle (SO 91 40)

The overgrown earthworks of the fortified moated manor house (belonging to Sir William Russell, Governor of Worcester) still survive, on the slope below the church. The protrusions at the corners of the medieval moated site to provide artillery platforms are typical of works of this period.

Upton-upon-Severn (SO 85 40)

Upton Bridge

Scene of the critical skirmish prior to the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Abutments from the original bridge demolished in the Civil War still visible just downstream of present bridge.

Church of St Peter and St Paul

The church was occupied by a Parliamentary advance guard in 1651, and held until the main force could cross the river. Only the fourteenth century tower of the church still survives.

Upton Heritage Centre

Contains a display on Upton in the Civil War.

Pool Brook

Part of a rectangular emplacement dug by Colonel Massey to protect the road to Worcester in 1651 is still visible from the road, adjacent to the stream.

Worcester (SO 85 55)

Fort Royal

Fort Royal Park contains the remains of the 1651 sconce. As viewed today, this now dominates the city, but the fort was really intended to face eastwards and defend Worcester against attack from the high ground to the east. The outline of the rectangular fort, with three of its four corner bastions, can still be easily made out on the ground, although the outlines have been softened by landscaping. The fort was built to help defend the city, but its capture during the battle of 1651 allowed Cromwell's army to pound the city with cannon from close range.

The Commandery, Sidbury Street

The Royalist HQ during the battle of 1651. The Royalist general, the Duke of Hamilton, died here of his wounds. Now a Civil War museum.

The Cathedral

Suffered from both Parliamentary and Royalist armies. It was used as a Royalist ammunition magazine and was then desecrated by Essex's army in 1642. Subsequently, Royalist troops stripped the lead off the roof to make into musket balls! Then the Bell-tower, with its 50yd-high lead-covered steeple was demolished in 1647. The Royalist general, the Duke of Hamilton (killed in the battle of 1651), is buried in front of the High Altar.

St Helen's Church and Records Office

Collections of original documents of the period. Memorial to Colonel Dud Dudley (d. 1684) on the south side of the chancel. He was an ironmaster by trade and served as Royalist general of artillery during the siege of 1646. On the north side is the memorial to Alderman John Nash, a Parliamentary captain.

Guildhall, High Street

The Georgian building has statues of Charles I and II in front, and a carving of Cromwell's head above the doorway - nailed to the wall by his ears! Cromwell is shown as a horned devil. On the morning of the Battle of Worcester in 1651 he is said to have met with the devil in Nunnery Wood and sold his soul to him in return for victory and seven more years good fortune - he died on 3 September 1658!

King Charles' House, New Street

Built in 1577, and owned during the Civil War by Edward Durrant, King Charles took refuge here before escaping the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

Nos 4-5 New Street

Built in 1605, it was occupied by Alderman John Nash. He was a captain in the Parliamentary army, local MP and JP, and is buried in St Helen's Church.

City Walls, City Walls Road

Remains of the city walls and footings of St Martin's Gate are still visible. King Charles escaped through St Martin's Gate after the battle of 1651.

The Viewpoint, A38 Tewkesbury Road (off the Malvern/Worcester roundabout)

Overlooks the site of the bridge of boats built by Cromwell's men to cross the Severn and attack the flank of the Scots during the battle of 1651. Despite the presence of modern roadworks, it is still possible to appreciate the character of the open countryside beside the Teme and Severn over which the battle was fought. Includes a panoramic display of the battlefield.

City Library, Foregate Street

Collections of original documents of the period in the Stuart Collection.

Perry Wood

Part of Worcester Woods Country Park, Spetchley. This was the scene of bitter fighting in 1651 as the gun positions on top of Perry Hill were stormed by the Earl of Hamilton. What are popularly described as 'Cromwell's Trenches' off Peterborough Close are actually part of a natural former watercourse but the feature was important in allowing an access on to the hill from the city. The view from the top of Perry Hill gives a good impression of the commanding position that Cromwell's artillery had over the city.

Tamar Close, off Ronkswood Crescent

Rectangular earthwork, 73m x 82m, probably an artillery emplacement of Cromwell's army at the battle of 1651. The surrounding ditch is clearly visible on three sides. That on the city side has probably been ploughed flat.

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