VIRTUAL "Civil War" raged again in the Faithful City of Worcester at this time half-a-century ago with a tussle in words and actions between Royalists and "Parliamentarians".

In this week of 1953, supporters of the Royalist cause gathered in New Street to unveil a plaque in honour of Charles II on the front of "King Charles House", the half-timbered property from which the monarch began his famous escape to France after the 1651 Battle of Worcester.

The Journal reported that the official ceremony was led by the Mayor of Worcester, Alderman Dr F.L. Spalding, accompanied by the Town Clerk, Mr Bertram Webster.

The much publicised and staged event was an obvious rebuff to the nation's Cromwell Association who had earlier gathered in Sidbury to unveil a plaque in homage to Oliver Cromwell and the victory of his Parliamentary troops at the Battle of Worcester.

By coincidence, the Journal for this week 100 years ago carried details of what Charles II was wearing as he escaped from Worcester in 1651: "A leather doublet with pewter buttons, a pair of old green breeches and a jump coat of the same colour, an old greasy hat without a lining, a pair of his own stockings with the tops cut off, and a pair of old shoes, cut and slashed to give ease to his feet."