The Middle Ages - 12th to 15th Century (1216 - 1484)

This was the time that famous Kings such as King John and King Henry III became associated with Worcester. It is the period of time that saw great change for Worcester and particularly it's castle and it is also a time of great unrest not only for the country but for Worcester. Worcester continued to grow in every direction (St Johns, Sidbury and Lowesmoor) despite the unsettling nature of the day .

1113 - Fire in the city

1139 - Castle defended against Matilda's forces (Henry I's heir), during civil war between Matilda and King Stephen

1150 - King Stephen attacked Worcester, capturing the city but not the castle

1151 - King Stephen failed to defeat the castle once more

1152 - Earl of Hereford makes a deal with a descendant of Urse d'Abitot (former Sheriff of Worcester) and gains ownership of Worcester Castle

1155 - Castle re-fortified (Hugh Mortimer)

1175 - The Cathedral Tower collapses

1189 - Fire takes hold again. Worcester decal red independent from Sheriff's by Richard I, foreign merchant's could no longer trade in the city without express permissions, giving greater control over tolls and taxes

1202 - Another fire sweeps the city!

1216 - Worcester taken by King John from the French supporters (William Marshall), castle control give to John Marshal. King John was later buried in Worcester Cathedral that year. Henry III returned the part of the castle grounds to the Priory which had been taken by Urse (the Sheriff) in 1069

1218 - Work on the new cathedral tower and two western bays of the original Wulfstan Structure were rebuilt, Wulfstan's resting place is made into a shrine, probably to encourage pilgrimage to the city and cathedral

1221 - Due to its failing military significance, Worcester castle became a gaol for the King

1224 - Work begins rebuilding the eastern part of the Cathedral

1225 - Whiteladies (Cistercian Monks) established Whitstones Priory in the North of the City

1226 - Greyfriars (living in Friar Street at the time) built a gate in the wall to allow them to collect firewood

1263 - Castle taken by the Earl of Derby in the Baron's War due to a weakness in the defence's, that being the now decrepit castle

1265 - Castle and City retaken by Prince Edward

1290 - Worcester's Jewish community disappeared from the area following expulsion, until this time there was a Jewish Quarter in the city

1299 - Another devastating fire hits the city

1300 - 1386 - major reworking and rebuilding of the cathedral including a new tower in 1374.

1347 - The Dominicans establish the Blackfriars

1371 - Control of the maintenance of the walls and bridge given to the Guild of the Holy Trinity&