WORCESTER CASTLE

Worcestershire

Although what remains of Worcester’s Castle today is more like a city gate than anything else, it has a long and interesting history.

The first Castle was constructed around 1069. The motte stood on the bank of the Severn and the bailey more or less traced the precinct of today’s College Green. This Castle stood until 1113 when it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt, once more in timber. This wooden Castle was besieged in 1139, 1150 and 1151. Following another fire in 1202 King John ordered that the old wooden gateway be rebuilt in stone – it is this gateway (dating to 1204) that forms the basis of the Edgar Tower today.

By 1221 the Castle had become a prison and was considered a weak point in Worcester’s defences. At this time the Castle gateway was incorporated into the City Walls and began to take on the look of today’s structure. The Castle was besieged and taken during the Second Barons’ War in 1263. By 1459 it was said to be in a serious state of disrepair and Leland says it is “clene downe” by 1540 which seems a bit over-egging the point as it clearly was not.

However, the motte was reused during the Civil War and still stood until 1830.

Until the 19th Century the Gatehouse was known as St. Mary’s Gate, but the nickname of the Tower – which comes from a statue of King Edgar that stood for many centuries on top of the Tower – has stuck and become the official name. A Victorian replacement of the statue still sits on the Gatehouse.

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2019