WORCESTER Cathedral’s library has been researching King John’s visits to the city, in preparation for the anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015.

This work has revealed some interesting facts about the monarch’s Christmas celebrations in Worcester over the festive period 800 years ago.

In 1214 King John, who possessed restless energy and was travelling incessantly at the time, resolved to hold his Christmas court in Worcester.

Ancient patent rolls reveal the King was in Worcester from Thursday, December 25, to Saturday, December 27, keeping his Christmas festival in the city prior to moving onto Hereford and Tewkesbury.

Before leaving Worcester however he sent an order to the head man of Wilton to purchase 1,000 ells of linen or flaxen material and to send the same to Worcester without delay.

The sheriff of Gloucester was also ordered to “send to us at Worcester by Christmas” 20 ells of russet cloth, likewise a bay horse which was at Bristol in the custody of R Marescall and a black horse which Hugh de Boves had given to the King.

Documentary evidence from 2015 can be used to guess what other provisions were prepared, as King John placed an order on the Exchequer to pay for oxen, hogs, silver cups and drinking vessels.

He placed another order at the same time to pay for flaxen and linen material for tablecloths, which were all to be sent to Worcester for the feast of Christmas.

The 1215 Christmas court was the King’s last in Worcester because by then his difficulties had severely constrained him.

In that year the barons pressed King John for reforms and eventually achieved his acquiescence leading to the acceptance of Magna Carta.

For more information about King John and his Christmas time in Worcester visit the cathedral’s library blog at worcestercathedrallibrary.wordpress.com