Worcester England ~ history and crockery

Worcester, (pronouned w-oar-ster)why add it to your tour itinerary? For us it was an accident as the motorway to Liverpool became part of a blizzard and we turned back to get out of the storm. Trying to turn back on the M6 is an adventure in itself if you don't know the area, and provided us with the one of those travel stories you tell when you get to safety! All the direction and signs on the welcome stops and side roads were snowed over, the road edges invisible under snow and we had no chains. Our advice if you find yourself in the same conditions? Follow a truck and keep in it's tracks and don't get off the motorway unless you know exactly where you are. The motorways have enough traffic to keep the road ahead clearer but the side roads disappear very quickly.

Worcester was blizzard free and the brochure we had in the car showed it had some interesting indoor attractions. The road into the city is well signposted and all the attractions are within a block of each other, making it easy to park and walk to see them all. The footpaths have numerous signposts for walkers and this makes it easy to find your way around.

We found parking at the Worcester Porcelain Factory, free and close. It was a Sunday in December, so parking may be harder to find in summer. The factory is open 7 days a week, from 11.00am on Sundays and includes a choice of tours. These include the factory tour during the week only, the museum, static displays and a film.

The static display tour, will cost you £2.25, and it is very interesting. You will see how computers are now used to make the designs into transfers, an original copperplate, and a movie on the history of the factory

For an extra charge you get the chance to paint a plate using watercolour .This is a great thing for kids to do too, and they are very welcome. The factory is even happy to accommodate birthday parties. These plates are then sealed, but not able

to be used .
The three retail outlets are Bestware with all the beautiful and expensive quality pieces, the seconds shop which has a large selection of crockery at much reduced prices, and a third selling end of the line items. It's a bargain hunters paradise! . On the site there is also a souvenir shop, a good quality, good value tearooms and a series of other independent outlets selling top quality glassware, designer ware, and linen.

Mike enters the wonderful side door into the Cathedral

The collection of huge bells.

The ceiling

Within easy walking distance you will find Worcester Cathedral. It dominates the skyline and you may think, "Oh no" not another Cathedral!" as every city in England has one, all with stunning stained glass windows and all with a deep sense of history. If you are not all "Cathedralled out" do call in to this one.

Walk through Elgar's Gate and then you enter through a side door, we did but it may have been the back entrance! The door itself is something we wanted to bring home, with big iron studs and the arched shape favoured by the ancient builders.
You then walk past a collection of huge bells and they are all different tones and notes. Long corridors with a cafe, souvenir shop and atrium courtyard, lead you into the main area.

The tomb of King John is in front of the altar . He was the son of Edward II and tried to take the throne when Richard II was at the crusades. This was in the time of the legendary Robin Hood. The tomb of Prince Arthur is in a carved wooden crypt beside the altar. He was the brother of Henry 8th, he married Catherine of Aragon but died at 15 while they were on their honeymoon!

You will see lovely stone beams and stunning ceilings near the altar, and intricate wooden carvings around the choir stalls.

There is a £3 donation asked for when entering the cathedral (the right way) but this is not insisted upon. Perhaps that is what makes this cathedral special. It isn't commercial as is St Paul's in London, it is still a place of worship, it is unique in many ways and it is off the tourist track enough to enjoy without the crowds!

Worcester Cathedral.

The altar

The Commandary,
Open 7 days , from 1.30pm on Sundays.

The Commandary is a lovely building very close to the Cathedral and well signposted if you are walking. Entrance fee is £3.60 each and the self guided tour takes you through the complex to the Great Hall, in the house. This started as a monastery hospital but Henry 8th took it off the monks and it was sold to a wealthy local family. It eventually was used by troops in the war between Cromwell and Charles I and II. Cromwell spearheaded the rebellion against King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649, and led his soldiers into the last battle against the Royalists and King Charles II at Worcester, ending the civil war in 1651
This is the theme of the rest of the exhibition and the part we were very impressed with. You can sit in on the trial of Charles I, try on some particularly unflattering army hats from that period, read the history and view a film with light effects on a tableau describing the effects of the battle which went on just outside the city walls of Worcester. There is a place for children to dress up, and as much information as you want on the history of that period.

The trial of Charles I as a tableau with sound effects, and you get to vote on the possible outcome.

The hats of Cromwell's army may have been what scared the royalist army away!
Teacherstravelweb.com owner Mike Legg tried one on at the Commandary and we have been laughing ever since!
December 2001

Worcester is a great place to see, off the main tourist route, genuine, interesting and well worth some time if you are in the area.

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