Battle of Worcester: Scots inside the walls as city prepares for war again

 

AFTER the skirmish at Warrington, the Scottish Army was in high spirits as it entered the Midlands on its march to London.

Meanwhile Worcestershire prepared for the inevitable; another passing and plundering army.

When the Scots approached Kidderminster and Hartlebury on August 21, a Council of War met in Worcester to decide on how the County Militia and the City of Worcester was to receive this Invasion. 

The heated debate took place in Worcester Guildhall and went on into the evening.

The Mayor wanted to let the Royalists in and hoped they would continue their advance on London in a day or two.

Meanwhile Andrew Yarranton wanted his Militia to hold the Scots up and refuse them entry to the county town.

The following day, men from Worcestershire began to skirmish with the Royalists around and through the main street in Ombersley.

By nightfall the Militia began to dismantle some of the city defences and took what powder they could carry and fled to join the Parliament Army, massing to the North-east. Not quite the actions of loyal and faithful men, as we are led to believe!

Charles finally entered the city on August 23 and set himself up in the comfortable house located on the corner of New Street and Corn Market.

The Commander of the Army, the Duke of Hamilton chose the family home of the Wylde Family, the old medieval hospital called the Commandery.

No evidence exists that says whether this was the Royalist headquarters or not.

September 1992 saw the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Powick celebrated with re-enactors from the Sealed Knot, the English Civil War Society and the Worcester Militia

In the days that followed, the mayor was disheartened to watch the Scots restoring the city defences, forcing the citizens to do manual work and ordering cordwainers and seamstresses to produce shoes and hoes for this occupying force!

Memories would have flooded back to when the city was occupied in 1646.

One description of Worcester at this time says the city had an ‘old broken wall and a fort in a manner, part slighted’.

Another account described how Richard Cardwardine had his house burnt down in St John’s because he was one of many who supported the Parliament Army.

Another example of how the city was not as ‘faithful’ as its later motto suggests.

September 1992 saw the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Powick celebrated with re-enactors from the Sealed Knot, the English Civil War Society and the Worcester Militia

Charles even tried to recruit Worcester men into his ranks, but was disheartened again to see only a few men come forward.

The gaol, located in the bailey of the old castle, was also opened and men forced to serve.

As Clarendon’s History of the Civil Wars says ‘many simply chose to remain at home!’

September 1992 saw the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Powick celebrated with re-enactors from the Sealed Knot, the English Civil War Society and the Worcester Militia

As the month of August came to an end Parliament Scouts were seen on the high ground around the city.

This was a bad sign, as this showed that Cromwell was beginning to encircle Worcester and this would mean the Royalists would have to prepare for a siege or do the brave thing and come out of the city to take on the might of Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army.

 

To learn how the city was affected by the wars, book a detailed 90-minute Faithful Story walking tour.

A three-hour Battlefield Tour is also available led by Battlefield Guide Paul Harding-www.discover-history.co.uk  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Discover-History/167303316632976

Twitter: www.twitter.com/discoverhistPH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoverhistph/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6yVRYReO4IF4IUKtYzycw? view_as=subscriber