The battle that changed the course of history forever and sowed in blood-soaked soil the seeds of democracy and liberty is being commemorated this weekend.

The Battle of Worcester, fought on September 3, 1651, was the last Battle of the English Civil War which saw the Royalist forces routed by the Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell.

Worcester News: CUSTODIAN: Daniel Daniels, chairman of The Battle of Worcester Society, holding a cannonball which would have been used by field artillery at the time of the Battle of Worcester in 1651 CUSTODIAN: Daniel Daniels, chairman of The Battle of Worcester Society, holding a cannonball which would have been used by field artillery at the time of the Battle of Worcester in 1651 (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

On Saturday, the Battle of Worcester Society organised a series of events to commemorate the 372nd anniversary of an engagement that claimed the lives of 3,000 soldiers and an unknown number of civilians.

Charles Stuart - later Charles II - was forced to flee the city, running for his life. Though the monarchy was later restored, it was a battle that sounded the death knell of the Divine Right of Kings and paved the way for a constitutional monarchy.

 

 

On Sunday, the Drumhead Service will take place at around 3.45pm, beginning at the Cornmarket before heading to the Guildhall at 4pm where it be will joined by the Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Louis Stephen.

The procession will make its way to Fort Royal, where a short commemorative ceremony will unfold which will include musket fire, honouring the lives lost on both sides of the Civil War and the impact of the battle on England’s history.

Worcester News: ILLUMINATION: Anthony Rich opens his cabinet of curiosities to shed light on the Battle of Worcester and the English Civil War at Worcester Guildhall. Here he holds two types of spurs from the era of the battle in 1651ILLUMINATION: Anthony Rich opens his cabinet of curiosities to shed light on the Battle of Worcester and the English Civil War at Worcester Guildhall. Here he holds two types of spurs from the era of the battle in 1651 (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Daniel Daniels, chairman of the Battle of Worcester City Society, welcomed visitors to Worcester Guildhall where there were a series of displays and artefacts from the time of the English Civil War and living history demonstrations by re-enactors who vivified the brutality of the battle. 

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Mr Daniels said: "It's hugely significant - I can't overstress the significance of the Battle of Worcester. It ended the civil wars and led to a non-hereditary head of state.

"The Civil War started in Worcester - at Powick - and ended in Worcester which is unique. Worcester is a Civil War city. It's important to keep heritage alive. If you don't, heritage dies, by definition. It led to the foundation of modern democracy. It is the final nail in the coffin of the Divine Right of Kings. It is the means by which Parliament became sovereign in terms of law."

 

Also present was sculptor Ken Potts who created Worcester's Elgar Statue and who has created a dramatic sculpture showing the skirmish at Powick, the first real engagement of the Civil War.

Worcester News: CRAFTSMAN: Ken Potts - who created Worcester's Elgar Statue - here captures the pathos and pandemonium of the Battle of Powick Bridge CRAFTSMAN: Ken Potts - who created Worcester's Elgar Statue - here captures the pathos and pandemonium of the Battle of Powick Bridge (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Anthony Rich, regional chairman for the West Midlands and Welsh Marches region of The Battlefields Trust, also brought along his own collection of historic artefacts including real (and some forged) coins from the era of the English Civil Wars and some cannonballs that would have been used by field artillery, including the heaviest (a Saker cannonball).

He said: "The Battle of Worcester finally brings an end to the period of warfare that used to be called the Civil Wars, sometimes of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It does lead to a military dictatorship, the experience of which has been so repugnant that constitutional monarchy was restored by broad popular demand. We are standing on a site of international importance in history."

Mr Rich, also a trustee at the trust at a national level, said the battle helped create a model of government copied by most liberal democracies ever since.