THIS week we’re taking a look at a much-loved building, Worcester’s historic Commandery, a site with a fascinating and varied past.

Whilst the building can trace its origins back over 1,000 years to its time as a medieval monastic hospital, through the centuries it famously performed a key role as a Royalist headquarters during the Civil War, and for a time in the 19th century as a college catering to the ‘blind sons of gentlemen’.

Even within living memory this fascinating timber-framed building has seen a number of uses. Many will recall its life as the Littlebury Printworks, producing local trade directories among many other publications.

One former employee remembered the odd occasion when workers would have a cheeky game of cricket in the print warehouse alongside the canal, when the boss wasn’t around!

During the 20th century, the site was made up of several addresses, including 1 Commandery Drive, which was a private family home, and two small shops facing on to Sidbury (now the main entrance), one a wool shop, and the other a sweet shop, which several local people have recalled as a favourite stopping point en route from school.

Littlebury’s closed its doors in 1973, citing the introduction of Value Added Tax for the loss of more than 50 jobs. 

The company had been careful custodians of the historic building and were keen to see it enter public ownership.

After several months of negotiation it was finally sold to Worcester City Council in October 1973, and a scheme to restore and convert the building to use as a ‘cultural and leisure centre’ put forward.  Initial restoration works took place prior to The Commandery museum opening in 1977 and over the years major works have been necessary, perhaps one of the most memorable being works to the frontage building in the late 1980s, when it was found to be structurally unsafe.

Indeed former local councillor Geoff Carpenter later commented that “the whole building was resting on a jar of dolly mixtures in a sweet shop”. 

More information about the history of The Commandery can be found as part of the Worcester City Historic Environment Record via Know Your Place Worcester at kypworcester.org.uk.

We’d love to hear your memories of The Commandery over the years – do get in touch, or even add them to the community layer on the website!

Worcester Life Stories is a collaborative project bringing local people together through shared stories of the city of Worcester.

It is co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council and funded thanks to National Lottery players.

For further information or to share your stories, visit worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Facebook page or Twitter @worlifestories.

You can also email worcesterlifestories@gmail.com or call 01905 721133. And why not visit the We grew up in Worcester page on Facebook?