Saxon Times - A.D. 680 to 1065

In 680, as part of an amalgamation of various areas throughout the Severn valley, Worcester came under the control of Hwicce. The church was also reorganised in England, Archbishop Theodore created the see of Worcester, it is likely that Worcester was chosen due to it's strong Christian roots and largely Christian based community.

Close to the site of the current cathedral, Worcester's first Anglo Saxon bishop constructed St Peters, there were a number of other churches built throughout Worcester during this time, suggesting that the parish was indeed large. Much of community life would have been developed and focused on the church and as a result the church would have become wealthy. Evidence suggests that the bishop's wealth extended across the West Midlands by the 9th century. Indeed the All Saints church on Deansway (although not a Saxon building) was possibly a gate church into the city, the land was given as a gift

Worcester or Weorgornaceaster as it was known then, eventually became a fortified burh (borough). This allowed the bishops to regularise their power, but importantly it meant that the town became protected against the Danes (Vikings). The layout of the town, which was affected by the construction of the defensive walls is reflected in the layout of the medieval city that followed and onwards until the present day. Accounts suggest regular Viking raids on the city throughout 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. One particuarly interesting account, tells the story of a King Harthacnut who tried to tried to raise taxes from the people of Worcester in 1041, so outraged were the people that they muredered the tax-collector and nailed his skin to the door of the monestary (now the Cathedral), his revenge was swift and damning, as Worcester was ransacked and many of its defences in the North of the town were dismantled.

As Worcester progressed through the Saxon times, it grew and became a thriving community. The town supported a much wider rural community beyond the city walls. The cities religious background ensured it's status as a key settlement in the area. Many of the sites still remain, St Peter The Great's church was a religious site until 1976, it is now part of Royal Worcester Porcelain site. The Commandery was also a church, although due to the fact that it never obtained parochial rights, it was changed to a hospital and later served as the royalist headquarters in the English Civil war.