The other principal buildings of Worcester are—the guildhall, an elegant structure of brick, with stone quoins and ornaments; the akin hall, a handsome stone Ionio building ; the county courts ; the county jail ; the city jail; the county infirmary ; a new corn-hall ; another building, erected for a corn-exehange, but now converted into a music hall ; a new market-house; and Edgar's Tower. In the guildhall is a large room which is used for public entertainments. The present bridge over the Severn was built in 1780; it has of late years been repaired, and the pathway widened. Musical festivals, conducted by the choirs of the dioceses of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester, are held in Worcester cathedral triennially. Races take place in July and November near the bank of the river ; on the race-ground is a commodious grand stand.
A considerable manufacture of cloth was once carried on here. The glove trade now employs a large number of the female inhabit ants. Porcelain of a fine quality is extensively made ; in the town are several celebrated porcelain factories. Hops are cultivated in the neighbourhood. A distillery and a rectifying-house are in the city. Trade is carried on in cord, corn, malt, slate, and timber ; iron founding, tanning, and rope-making employ some of the population. On the bank of the canal are large warehouses. Markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday : there are eleven fairs iu the course of the year. A conuty court is held in the town.
A city occupying the site of the present city of Worcester was destroyed by the Danes, and rebuilt about 894 by Ethelred. In 1041 the town was plundered and partly burnt by the troops of Hardicanute. In 1074 a body of troops under Walter de Lacy and the Barons of llereford was assembled hero, to quell a conspiracy against William the Conqueror, and to guard the passes of the Severn against the rebels. In
1038 Bernard Neumarck unsuccessfully besieged the city. Ou several occasions during the 12th century the city suffered from casual fires, and also from the ravages of civil war. In 1216 the king's troops, by the Earl of Chester, plundered the city, which had revolted. King John was buried here in this year. In 1225 a great tournament was held here. Bishop Blois excommunicated all persons concerned in it. From the year 1263, in the revolt of the barons, till 1651, when Charles II. was besieged in the city by the parliamentary troope under Cromwell, the town experienced on many occasions the disaster' accompanying a state of civil warfare.
The site of the castle, which from time to time sustained so many sieges and so frequently changed governors, is on tho south side of the cath. dral. A small part of an old ecclesiastical house, the nunnery of Wint.stane, now called "Ile ‘l'hite Ladies,' Is still standing ; Friar et takes Its name from a house of Franciscans which formerly hero; the remains of the monastery were demolished in 1823.
The Dominicans, Penitents, Black Friars, and Friars of the Holy Trinity had likewise their establishments.
The see of Worcester is in the province of Canterbury. The dieeese includes the counties of Worcester and Warwick, one parish in Glou and three in Staffordshire, and comprises 393 benefices. It is divided into the archdeacouries of Worcester and Coventry. Tho chapter consists of the dean, the archdeacons, 0 canons, 14 honorary canons, 5 minor canons, and a chancellor. The income of the bishop is fixed at 5000/. n year.