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Historical Studies Articles

Barbourne Park- Gheluvelt

Barbourne Park- Gheluvelt

Gheluvelt Park in Worcester commemorates the 1914 Battle of Gheluvelt, where the Worcestershire Regiment halted a German advance. Opened in 1922...


The Plough  Fishing Club Outing - A recollection of the 1920s Bill Gwilliam recalled

The Plough Fishing Club Outing - A recollection of the 1920s Bill Gwilliam recalled

Bill recalls when he was about 12 years old, he had a school friend called George, who lived in a house built on the foundations of the old City Bridewell prison, at the bottom of Copenhagen Street, and through this connection, he saw much of the life in that part of the City. George's father, Mr. Blissett, was secretary of the Plough Inn Fishing Club, and Bill and his friend had privileged positions, they took part in the activities of the club, though strangely, when Bill reflected back he came to the conclusion that there was not a thing to do with fishing....


The Hunt Ball of 1896

The Hunt Ball of 1896

The hunt ball at the Shirehall was the high point of social life in Worcestershire at the turn of the 19th century. All the county nobility were there, and the company included 'all who was anyone', and numbered 4378. It was the fashionable function of the year and no money was spared to create a setting to show off the brilliant jewels and dresses, and the scarlet uniforms of the hunt. The Worcester Herald of January 18, 1896 reported the scene at some length.....  


Food & Drink - Official Eating & Drinking In Worcester

Food & Drink - Official Eating & Drinking In Worcester

In olden times, the High Bailiff and the Low Bailiff alike, were expected to give an annual feast, and when the Mayors came into existence nearly four centuries ago they improved upon the ancient traditions. On every occasion they made merry, no matter whether it was a Coronation, or the death of the King, whether it was a funeral or the discussion of bye-laws about the size of quart pots (946 ml). The feast was officially recognized as part of the long tradition.....


Dr Barnardo's Boys Who Came To Canada - Extract from the book & Bill Gwilliams b1888 Father connection

Dr Barnardo's Boys Who Came To Canada - Extract from the book & Bill Gwilliams b1888 Father connection

It is known that a building on the Shelsley Side of Woodbury Hill existed in the late 19th and early 20th Centurys, which was owned by Dr Barnardo's. On old maps it is shown as the reformatory, but the locals always spoke of it as 'The Home'..... 


The Founding of Worcester, Mass

The Founding of Worcester, Mass

Two English settlers, Daniel Gookin and John Eliot, settled among the native Indians on Packachoag Hill (which is now more or less in the middle of Worcester), and in 1674, Gookin ought bfrom the Indians a tact of land eight miles square, and paid for it 12 pounds of the lawful money of New England. In token of good faith, two Indians who...


Worcester Quakers to America

Worcester Quakers to America

Worcester City and County contributed 14 persons to the founding of Pennsylvania, plus an unspecified number of children and servants. There were five Finchers, three Beardsleys, R.Toomer, George Mares, John Price, Seemerry Adams, Hannah Smith, and William Bronton of Dudley. This note deals mainly with Francis Fincher.

There were four branches of the Fincher family in the county, at Shell, Himbleton (where the name is still known of the historic family), Worcester City, and Upton Snodsbury. Francis Fincher, who was a glover and skinner, is the one who dominates. He is described in the American documents as being at 'Kinton', but he is thought to have been born at Himbleton, and to have spent the latter part of his life in Kington....  


The Town Crier's Calls at Worcester

The Town Crier's Calls at Worcester

Worcester City employed a Crier who carries a silver topped staff, and walks a pace or two ahead of the mace-bearers when the Mayor and Corporation process. However, it is many a day since his traditional cries were last heard in the streets of Worcester...


The Holy Well & Comer Gardens

The Holy Well & Comer Gardens

The Holy Well at Henwick was an exceptionally fine spring which in medieval times had been piped to the cathedral and which the prior had used in the baths he had erected for the monks on Holywell Hill (in return for the transference of St. John's tolls to the Worcester bailiff in 1461) The water was credited with possessing curative properties for the eyes, and was extensively used for that purpose. The lead pipes which conveyed the water to the cathedral were pulled up by the Parliamentary troops during the siege of Worcester and used for bullets....... 


Barbourne Terrace

Barbourne Terrace

In the 1850's, Barbourne Terrace was a medley of Georgian villas and gravel pits. In the late 1850's one especially good house was built in Barbourne Terrace for Thomas Chalk by Henry Day. Henry Day loved towers, and this particular building is of ........... 


The Blanquets

The Blanquets

The area west of Bilford Road belonged to the Blanket family until the close of the War of the Roses, when for five generations it was in possession of the Freres. After the late Elizabethan period it was passed through .........


Joseph Berwick & Timberdine

Joseph Berwick & Timberdine

The manor house of Timberdine, a half-timbered building erected by the Mitton's over 300 years ago, lies almost opposite the Ketch Inn. The building today is partially late 19th century, and has been converted into a restaurant.  The ancient priory manor had been a key position at the battle of Worcester, extending from Duck Brook as far as the Ketch Ford....