14/10/2026
- Today in 1066 the Battle of Hastings took place. Worcester was a burh or fortified city at the time. Most people worked the land or fished on the River Severn. 960 years ago, some of the men would have been away, having marched with King Harold Godwinson in the Saxon army. This was a legal obligation put on many men at the time. After this famous battle, Wegoran or Wigorncester as it was known would have seen the return of some men who had fought. Some may have even witnessed the death of the last Saxon King, we will never know. The city would then have seen Norman Knights arrive. These newcomers were now in charge. They spoke a different language and were mounted on horses. They wore long mail shirts and conical helmets. They carried swords, maces and long lances. The victors had arrived and would have first met with the most senior official in the city. This was the Bishop, who held most of the power and land in the city. Bishop Wulfstan had been in correspondence with William, Duke of Normandy, which is why the city was not treated as a hostile one. In many areas people were killed and their homes ransacked and burned. The burh is described by Florence, a monk at the monastery. 'The City surpasses all others in beauty and statliness, with lofty walls and stately fortifications.' It is also worth remembering it was a port city and was not a poor one. Saxon nobility and powerful churchmen were generally replaced by Norman Lords and Bishops. This was to prevent uprisings, thank loyal men, and control the local population. Wulfstan is famous for remaining in post. Notable new men included William Fitz Osbern, Gilbert Fitz Turold, Roger de Laci, and William Fitz Ansculf. The Saxon Shire Reeve was also replaced by a Norman Sherrif called Urse d'Abitot, from Saint Jean d'Abitot, 12 miles from Havre. His main role was to keep order, control finances, and collect taxes for the Bishop and the new King. In 1086 King William I, sent commissioners to survey what the country was like. This was later called the Doomsday Book. After all it was the end of Saxon England, there was no escaping and it was final, with no ability to appeal any decisions. Worcester is listed as Wirecestrescire. It gives some good information on what Worcester was like in the Early Medieval period. Under Edward the Confessor it was rated as being 15 Hides. One Hide is around 120 Acres today. It was recorded as giving the King £10 a year, and £8 a year to the local Earl, Edwin. Under the new King, William I, it is recorded at giving the King £23 and 5 Shillings, collected by the Sherrif. At the time of Doomsday, Worcester consisted of around 250 homes for a population of around 2,100 people. 90 houses in the burh were actually owned by the Bishop. In this new Norman era, the old Cathedral and Monastery, built by Bishop Oswald, was rebuilt. The city may have also received its first bridge and we also gained a new feature, a strong Motte and Bailey Castle, built on the bend of the river behind the monastery. This was garrisoned by Knights and soldiers to control the area, especially if an uprising took place. There is no evidence of great hostility in Worcester, and therefore life continued as before but with some new Lords and taxation.
