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Visiting Worcester Castle
Can You visit Worcester Castle?
Worcester Castle is no longer standing and has been destroyed. However, sections of the castle do exist as does much of the history around the town. Other historic museums and places of interest are available if you wish to learn more about the long history of both Worcester and the castle.
Parking
Ample Parking around the Town
Price
The Commandery - £7
Worcester Cathedral - Free
Opening
The Commandery - Tues - Sat 10am to 5pm or Sun 11am - 3 pm
Worcester Cathedral - Monday to Saturday: 11am to 3pm and Sunday: 1pm to 3pm
History of Worcester Castle (Time Line)
The following dates are rough and may have been a couple of years out as different sources report slightly different dates.
-1069 (Construction)
First version of Worcester castle is built as a Norman Castle by the Sheriff of Worcester Urse d'Abitot. The castle was a timber and earth Motte-and-Bailey fortification. It is believed it was built over an older Saxon structure adjacent to The River Severn. William The Conquer ordered the construction of many castles at this time in many former Anglo-Saxon towns and cities after the famous victory at the battle of Hasting in 1066.
-1088 ( 1st Battle)
A small army of rebel fighters is reported to have plundered the surrounding areas, but Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester marched his forces from the castle and quickly quelled the minor rebellion.
-1113 (Fire)
A fire is reported to have destroyed many of timber frame buildings in Worcester (may have include much of the fortifications), the then Sheriff of Worcester (members of the Beauchamp family) was tasked with re-building what was destroyed.
-1139 (1st Siege)
An Angevin army from Gloucestershire assaulted the city and tried to take the castle on the south side. The castle ended up in the hands of Stephen's forces and a number of skirmishes went back and forth for a short period until King Henry II would reclaim in 1152.
-1152 (Civil War and Siege)
During the Civil War the castle and town of Worcester changed hands several time due to loyalty shifts of the Beauchamp's. In 1152 King Henry II sieged the town and castle himself.
-1189 - 1202 (Continuing fires)
Fires continued to rage at the timber fortifications for years meaning it was rebuilt multiple times.
-1204 (A Royal Gatehouse)
King John visits the castle and builds the first stone gatehouse.
-1215 - 1216 (War and Siege)
At the start of the first Baron's war the castle was held by rebel forces but was sieged and captured by Royalist forces in 1216.
-1263 (Castle Captured)
The town of Worcester was captured by Robert de Ferrers, Earl of Derby during the second Baron's war. It is thought by this time the fortifications/castle was not an effective defence and may have been mostly destroyed by this point. It was around about this time the castle was used mostly as a goal (jail). By the end of the war Henry III was held prisoner at the goal.
-1487
It was in the late 15th century that the Beauchamp family finally ended their occupants of the castle and the town of Worcester, the castle fell to the crown. Nothing happened to the castle for the following centuries.
-1848
The remaining motte was flattened and to this day only fragments of the outer walls exist.
Worcester Castle Occupants
The official residents for most of the castles life were the Beauchamp's family (Also known as The Earls of Warwick) who were the ones that the monarch recognised as the rightful owners of the castle. Although the castle went through many sieges through the centuries it always ended up with the Beauchamp's right up until it was handed back to the Monarch and eventually destroyed.
Castle Occupancy/Control...
- 11th century - Urse d'Abetot (monarch control/ William The Conqueror)
- 12th centaury - Beauchamp's Family (monarch control)
- Short period in 12th century - King Stephen's Forces during the Civil War
- 12th - 15th century - Beauchamp's Family (monarch control)
- 15th century - Richard Neville (kingmaker) (monarch control)
- Mid 17th century - Giles Clutterbuck after being given to him by the crown (monarch control)
- Early 19th century - the remaining goal was acquired by the cathedral dean (monarch control)
Worcester Castle Q&A
Feel free to ask and answer any further questions in the comments section at the bottom of the page and I will do my best to ensure useful answers are shown here.
What Type of castle was Worcester Castle?
Originally it was a Timber framed Motte-and-Bailey Norman fortification. Over the centuries it was upgraded in parts and rebuilt to included stone fortifications and additional ring walls.
How Big Was Worcester Castle?
From the evidence I have seen the original Motte section would have been no bigger than a Large house or church (5.5m/18 feet at the top) where as the Bailey walls would have surrounded the Kings school grounds and the surrounding roads. The larger city walls would have been large enough to have gone well around the current day Cathedral, even as far as the modern day college and up to Worcester Bridge and back round all on the east side of the river.
What was the main use of Worcester Castle?
For most of its life the castle was used as the county goal (jail). It was never the greatest defensive building given the evidence and lack of information about the castle.
Does any of Worcester Castle still Exist?
The original castle was timber and what remained of the stone Motte-and-Bailey was demolished in the 19th century. However remains of the wall are still visible in some parts of the town. Edgars tower is also standing where one of the old Gatehouses use to be (I like to see this as a small monument to the old structures).
When Was the First Worcester Castle Built?
As shown on the timeline the castle was one of many built by William the Conqueror in 1069 after the battle of Hastings in 1066.
Location of Worcester Castle
The main fort of the castle would have been located close to the River Severn now known as Fort Hill. The first inner walls would have stretched around several modern day residential buildings (Castles Place) and surrounding Kings School up to the modern day Commandery Museum. Further defensive walls, some of which can still be seen around Worcester would have stretched around a much larger section of the town.