TAXPAYING residents who could previously unlock Worcester's history for free are now faced with an annual charge.

The Commandery, in Sidbury, Worcester, used to be free for all taxpaying residents in the city.

But following the Grade 1 listed building's extensive £260,000 revamp, which included a new interactive Civil War experience that opened earlier this year, residents now face a £5 yearly charge.

Helen Large, marketing manger at Museums Worcestershire, said: "The Commandery has had significant enhancement. We now have an interactive Civil War experience - we now see a lot of people spending three or four hours here. We are now asking for a annual fee for residents of £5 - about the cost of two cappuccinos.

"Residents can visit all year and come to all the events - including the living history and Christmas events.

"Non- residents coming from outside the city pay £5.95 each time they visit.

"The money supports the work of the Commandery, helping us to put on events, fund extra staff for these events and to support the service."

The fee was added in July this year.

The building, set in the heart of historic Worcester, was originally a hospital and place of pilgrimage, and later became the Royalist Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester, the final and deciding battle of the English Civil War.