The 20th Century

Worcester has continued to develop from the end of the Victorian era. By the end of the 20th Century Worcester had a population of over 90000, nearly 5 times the population of Worcester in 1801. Worcester continued to develop trade in its now highly sought after Porcelain and Kays saw its best times.

The 20th Century saw Worcester's most famous local character (Edward Elgar) produce his best work. Testaments to the Bromyard composer can be seen all over the county.

During World War I and II, Worcester mucked in and did its bit like any other city of its size. The most impressive help came from Malvern a few miles away where radar was developed and helped with the 2nd world war efforts.

The story of the 20th Century was not without regret, during the 1960's the "Blitz of Worcester" (as it was known at the time to the population), saw local developers moving in and destroying many old historical buildings in the city. Many old churches were also demolished, including a beautiful church in pump street and the main part of the church on Deansway (St. Andrews). Worcester also had a theatre, where a run down supermarket now stands, although the dressing rooms still exists underground. Perhaps the most prominent example of 1960's construction was the NCP car park in Friar Street, which towers as a gray concrete eyesore over the beautiful medieval and tudor buildings opposite. The rest of that complex (called the Lychgate) was built over old historical buildings and now stands as a constant reminder of the mistakes that planners made during the time. Fortunately for Worcester, the damage caused was limited and most of Worcester's history still remains on show. Towards the end of the century a great deal of construction has seen the removal of some of these concrete buildings and replaced them with structures that are sympathetic to the style of the surrounding architecture.

Towards the end of the 20th Century Worcester saw a lot of development and a resurgence of population. The Warndon Villages housing development attracted young families and new industry to the area. Worcester's City Centre saw a huge investment with the development of the Crowngate shopping area (built over the old Blackfriars). The pedestrianisation of the high street made Worcester a pleasant place to shop and eat out. The Cathedral has also seen huge investment in restoration.

Above: The Crowngate Shopping Centre