When Worcester hosted a 'Christmas fit for a King'

You may wish to invite a neighbour in or even an old friend and serve them a traditional Mince Pie and a glass of Sherry.

After all, its good luck to eat one mince pie at a different person’s home for each of the 12 days of Christmas.

In 1214, Worcester prepared to host King John. He knew Worcester well and visited it regularly in his lifetime. You could say he fell in love with the City and hunted in the area or relaxed away from the politics and arguments that plagued his reign.

He was also a firm follower of our two local Saints. His 'Will’, which is the oldest of any Monarchs in England, instructed that his body was to be carried to Worcester Priory and buried between the holy relics of Saint Oswald and Saint Wulfstan.

King John arrived on Christmas Day and left on the December 27 1214. He was in need of cheering up after losing land in France, arguing with many of his Barons and trying to raise more money through crippling taxes! You can see why he is often seen as ‘Bad King John!’

During this time he enjoyed the Christmas period with visits to the Priory for prayers and great feasting.

He was to dine on Venison, Pork, Salmon (from the nearby Monastic fish ponds) and other delicacies fit for a Medieval King.

He was joined by several people including the famous Knight, William Marshall.

He carried out some important tasks including putting his Seal to charters pertaining to land ownership and possessions, and called people to pay their debts to him.

He also ordered the Praepositus or Head man of Wilton to purchase 1,000 Ells of linen or Flaxen Cloth to be used for table linen.

An Ell is the equivalent of 6 hand breadths (about 45") at a cost of 3 ½ Pence an Ell.

The Sheriff of Gloucester was also instructed to send 20 Ells of Russett Cloth, a Bay Horse currently held at Bristol owned by R.Marescall and a Black Horse which Hugh de Boves had gifted to him.

The feasting may have taken place in Bishop’s Palace or even inside the lodgings of Worcester Castle, within the shadow of the Monastery and its adjoining Priory.

Both would have been comfortable residences with large kitchens capable of roasting a whole pig and multiple smaller dishes at the same time.

Very little remains of the Castle today and King John had overseen the modernisation of the castle at the start of the 13th Century.

New stables and substantial repairs were made in 1203, costing £6.3s. In 1204 he had ordered a new Gatehouse to be constructed in place of the existing and weakened Timber one.

This would cost £25 and the work described as being made ‘with good and fine stone’.

The site of this Gatehouse would have spanned what is now called Castle Place and is the main entrance into the King's School.

The following year we see King John spent Christmas again at Worcester. This was a little more subdued due to the fact arguments were escalating with the powerful Barons.

However Oxen, Hogs, silver cups and a further 366 Ells of linen were purchased, for the King to spend another Christmas in Worcester.

1215 was the year of the Magna Carta and was the last time King John would visit the City alive.

The King would die a painful death at Newark Castle in 1216 and would go on to be buried in front of the High Altar.

Unfortunately the two saints who he wished to be buried between were moved during the Reformation in the 16th Century.