WORCESTER, the capital of Worcestershire, an episcopal city, a market-town, municipal and parliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated chiefly on the left bank of the river Severn, in 52° 12' N. lat., 2° 12' W. long., distant 111 miles W.S.W. from London by road, and 139 nines by the London and North Western and Bristol end Birmingham railways. Tho population of the city of Worcester in 1851 was 27,528. The borough is governed by 12 aldermen and 36 councillors, of whom one is mayor; and returns two members to the Imperial Parliament The livings are in the arch deaconry and diocese of Worcester. 1Vorcester Poor-Law Union contains 12 parishes, with an area of 6967 acres, and a population in 1851 of 26,237.
The ancient boundary-wall of the city of Worcester may still be traced in some places. There were six gates (besides the tower on the bridge); the last was taken down in 1787. The present extent of the city is about three milee from north to south, and nearly two miles from east to west.
Worcester is built almost entirely of red brick, with the exception of some public buildings, the churches, and the cathedral, which aro of a soft and commonly a reddish kind of sandstone. The city is lighted with gas, and well supplied with water. The principal streets are broad, airy, and cheerful ; the appearance of the houses and shops is clean and neat The chief thoroughfares are High-street, Bridges street, Broad-street, Sidbury, College-street, the Cross, Foregate-street, and the Tything. Besides the cathedral there are 13 churches. St John's is the parish church of what may properly be termed a suburb of Worcester, and is on the right bank of the Severn. There are places of worship for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Quakers, Baptists, Independents, Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, Roman Catholics, and Mormons. A floating chapel is maintained for boatmen and others employed on the river. Besides Queen Elizabeth's' Grammar school, there are a Cathedral school, a Diocesan school, a Blue-Coat school, Roman Catholic Charity 'oboe!, and the Countess of Huntingdon's Charity school ; National, British, and Infant schools ; a literary and scientific institution ; a natural history society and museum ; public news rooms ; a law society and reading-rooms; a savings bank ; a due pens:try; an infirmary; a female asylum ; and several other benevolent institutions.
A cathedral existed here in the time of the Saxons; but it was deemed insufficient fur its purpose, and was superseded by a new cathedral, built by Oswald. the bishop, in 983. This building being destroyed by fire, another edifice arose under the auspices of Bishop Wulfetan in 10S4. This cathedral likewise twice suffered from fire. After the second conflagration it remained for 16 years in a dilapidated state. Repairs, ao great as to render a fresh consecration necessary, were then mule, and in January, 1281, the church was re-opened in the presence of the king. Various alterations and additions were made in 1224, and again in 1890. The crypt of Wulfstan's cathedral remains in a tolerably perfect state.
Worcester cathedral is built in the form of a double cross, with double transepts. The tower, which is 193 feet high, rises from the intersection of the western transept with the nave and choir. The nave, which appears to be the oldest part of the present building, except of course the crypt, is divided from tho aisles by 10 clustered columns on each side, surmounted with pointed arches. The roof is grained, and ornamented with flowers, heads, and other forms of decoration; some of the windows are admirable examples of the early and decorated English styles. The height of the nave is 67 feet, the length 174 feet, and the width 30 feet. The choir has also a handsome grained roof; the altar-screen and the pulpit are of atone, and both are richly sculptured. Tho tomb of King John is the centre of the choir. There is a lady-chapel, which corresponds in date and style with the choir. The total length of the cathedral is 425 feet; the greatest width is 145 feet. The west transept is 128 feet ; the east transept is 120 feet. The cloisters form a quadrangle on the south aide; on the east side is the chapter-house, which is polygonal outside, and circular in the interior, with a central column supporting the roof: It contains the cathedral library.