Worcester (city, England)

Worcester (city, England), city, administrative centre of Worcestershire, western England, on the River Severn. It is a long-established industrial area. Traditionally known for the manufacture of fine porcelain, leather gloves (which pre-dated the 15th century), the condiment Worcestershire sauce, and for engineering, the city now has a diverse economy that includes the manufacture of machine tools and car components, and it is the location of national distribution centres for food and non-food products. Worcester is an important shopping and commercial centre for the West Midlands, and the CrownGate Centre, which opened in 1992, extends over 26,000 sq m (31,000 sq yds).

Worcester Cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark, was built mostly in the 12th and 13th centuries, although its oldest parts date from 1084, when construction was begun by Wulfstan, bishop of Worcester. It is one of the hosts for the Three Choirs Festival. The city has several old Georgian churches and half-timbered houses. Worcester is the seat of the Royal Grammar School (established in 1291, chartered in 1561) and the King's School (1541).

The site of the present-day city was occupied in Roman times. A bishopric was established here in about 680. The town was frequently under attack because of its strategic position near the Welsh frontier. A Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, it was dubbed the “Faithful City”, and was besieged and taken by Parliamentarian forces in 1642 and again in 1646. In the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the Parliamentarians under the command of Oliver Cromwell achieved their final victory by routing the forces of Charles II. Worcester is the main area of growth in the county, and has an annual population increase of almost 2 per cent. Population 93,358 (2001).