WORCESTER, episcopal city situated 1201 m. N.W. of Lon don (Pop. [1931] 50,497) on a ridge parallel with the left bank of the River Severn.
The cathedral church of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary is beautifully placed close to the river. The see was founded about 679 though, owing to the opposition of the bishop of Lich field it was not established till 780. (See Worcester County.) The bishop's church of St. Peter's, with its secular canons, was absorbed by Bishop Oswald into the monastery of St. Mary. The canons became monks, and in 983 Oswald finished the building of a new monastic cathedral. After the Norman Conquest the bishop of Worcester, Wulfstan, the only English prelate left in possession of his see, undertook the building of a Norman church. Of his work much remains, including (1084) one of the four apsidal crypts in England. The Norman cathedral was dedicated in 1218, and then the monks built a lady chapel and extended the building by 5o ft. In 1224 was begun the present splendid Early English choir. The nave was remodelled in the 14th century, and is prin cipally Decorated early Perpendicular work. A Jesus chapel (an uncommon feature) is separated from the North aisle by a beautiful modern screen in the Perpendicular style. The exterior is plain, save the ornate tower, which dates from 1374, and is 196 ft. in height. The dimensions of the cathedral are—length 425 ft. (nave 170 ft., choir 180 ft.), width 145 ft. (choir 78 ft.), height of nave 68 ft. The cloisters are Perpendicular engrafted upon Norman walls. A Norman chapter house adjoins them, its Perpendicular roof supported on a central column, while on the south lies the Refectory, a fine Decorated room (1372) now the Cathedral school. There are also picturesque ruins of the Guesten hall (1320). A restoration was begun in 1857, upwards of iioo,000 being spent.
Of the 11 parish churches, St. Alban's has considerable Norman remains, St. Peter's contains portions of all Gothic styles, St. Helen's has Gothic portions. The Commandery, founded in 1085, was a hospital. It was rebuilt in Tudor times, and there remains a beautiful hall, with music gallery, canopied dais, and a fine bay window, together with other parts. There are many old half-timbered houses. The guild-hall (1723) is an admirable building in the Italian style. The Festival of the Three Choirs is maintained here alternately with Gloucester and Hereford.
Public buildings include the shire-hall (1835), Corn Exchange and market-house. Fairs are held thrice annually. The cathe dral school was founded in 1541 ; Queen Elizabeth's, in a modern building, in 1563; there are also a choir school, and munic ipal art, science and technical schools. In the vicinity there is a Benedictine convent, at Stanbrook hall, with a beautiful modern chapel. The company of glovers was incorporated in 1661. The market day is Saturday. Among the trades are iron goods and engineering, carriage and motor car making, rope spinning, boat building, tanning and the production of chemical manures and of cider and perry. There is a considerable traffic on the Severn.
Traces of British and Roman occupation have been discovered at Worcester (Wigeran Ceaster, Wigornia), but its history begins with the foundation of the episcopal see. Being the chief city on the borders of Wales, Worcester was frequently visited by the kings of England. In 1139 it was taken by the Empress Maud and retaken and burnt by Stephen in 1149. It surrendered to Simon de Montfort in 1263. In 1642, during the Great Rebellion, a handful of cavaliers was besieged here, and in spite of an attempted relief by Prince Rupert, the city was pillaged, as it was again in 1646. In 1651 Charles II. with the Scottish army was defeated here by Cromwell and Lambert.
During the reign of King Alfred, Aethelred and Aethelflead, ealdorman and lady of the Mercians, deferring to the request of the bishop, "built a burgh at Worcester." King Richard I. in 1189 granted the town to the burgesses, and Henry III. in 1227 granted a gild merchant. The first incorporation charter was granted by Philip and Mary in 1554, but James I. in 1622 made the city a separate county. By the Municipal Reform act of 1835 the government was again altered. The burgesses returned two members to parliament from 1295 to i885, when the number was reduced to one. As early as 1203, the manufacture of cloth is mentioned and in 1590 the weavers, walkers and clothiers received an incorporation charter, but by 1789 had ceased to exist. Its place was taken by the manufacture of porcelain, introduced in 1751 by Dr. Wall, and by the increasing manufacture of gloves, a trade which is known to have been carried on in the 15th century.