Worcestershire

Lore & Background

Worcestershire was first populated at least 700,000 years ago and became predominantly agricultural in the Bronze Age. During the Roman period, Droitwich (Salinae) was an important settlement due to its salt production. The area later formed the heartland of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the Hwicce, was absorbed by Mercia, and became part of the unified Kingdom of England in 927. The county was established as an administrative unit in the early tenth century, with its hundreds forming a framework for administering resources.

Reader's Guide

Worcestershire's significance lies in its role as a historical borderland and site of pivotal events. The Battle of Evesham in 1265 saw Simon de Montfort defeated, and the Battle of Worcester in 1651 was the last major engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. During the Industrial Revolution, the north of the county was part of the Black Country, a major manufacturing centre, with Kidderminster famous for carpet production and Worcester for porcelain. The county is largely rural, with the River Severn flowing through its centre, and includes the Malvern Hills, a National Landscape. Its economy historically relied on wool, salt, and manufacturing, and it remains ethnically homogeneous compared to the national average.

Did You Know?

• Worcestershire was constituted as a county around 927.
• The Battle of Worcester in 1651 was the last major engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
• Droitwich was probably the most important settlement in the county during the Roman period due to its salt production.
• The county's highest point is Worcestershire Beacon at 425 m (1,394 ft).