The Stuarts and The English Civil War - 17th to 18th Century (1603 - 1713)

This is perhaps Worcester's most famous period of history. Few people really know about the significance of the English Civil War and how important an effect it had on the shift of power in the country. Much of what happened then, has shaped the way our country is ruled today. I have developed a section on the civil war and the more intricate details, please have a look here for more information.

This period of time was not great fro Worcester, it was hit by plague in 1610 killing 10% of the population. It's trade was also showing decline, as Worcester became less significant throughout the Severn valley, as newer areas began to prosper and take much of the business of redistribution that had been key to Worcester's prosperity since the Romans first settled. Worcester had also been a very significant religious centre, the civil war and the events which transpired up to it were largely focused on the Catholic - Protestant split that divided the entire country. The average Worcester resident was generally sympathetic to a protestant Parliament, whilst the gentry who owned the land were sympathetic to the Catholic James I (James VI of Scotland). Worcester's present civic rule will find its roots from this time as James I installed an Alderman, Mayor Chamberlains and saw the return of a local sheriff in 1628.

In 1642, the first battle of the Civil War took place in Powick, the Royalists defeated the Parliamentarians, Worcester later became a royal garrison. Worcester's continuing loyalty to the Royalists earnt its name as the Faithful City. In 1651, the Royalists were defeated in the battle of Worcester. The civil war was over.

Following the end of the protectorate rule of Cromwell (1660), Worcester got back to what it did best, trading and prospering. By the end of the Stuart era, Worcester's population was in excess of 10,000. Worcester even had it's own newspaper; The Berrows Worcester Journal (Originally the Worcester Post-Man when it was established in 1690), which still exists today and is the longest running newspaper in the world.

The image below shows the Powick Bridge where the first engagement of the Civil War took place in 1642.