OK I have been spending some fabulous moments in Worcester during the last few weeks so as a tribute to a great City here are some fun facts.
One of England’s most famous Kings is buried in Worcester Cathedral. Most kings of England were buried in Westminster Cathedral in London, but King John wanted to be different.
The Battle of Worcester was the final battle of the English Civil War, where Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army defeated King Charles I’s Cavaliers.
The world-renowned BMA (British Medical Association) was founded in the Board Room of the old Worcester Royal Infirmary in 1832. This is now part of the University of Worcester.
Worcester is the home of the world-famous Worcestershire Sauce invented by British chemists (pharmacists) John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins. Inspiration for the sauce is said to come from Bengal in India.
Worcester Academy and Worcester Sauce are both featured in the Third film of the phenomenally popular Shrek film series. Apparently, the makers of the film love the sauce.
Very few people know that the locals often call the city ‘The Woo’.
The American city of Worcester Massachusetts was originally named after Worcester in England. It even features a medieval style castle-monument in the British style.
Famous ‘Game of Thrones’ actor Kit Harrington who played ‘Jon Snow’ lived in Worcester from the ager of 11 and has said he thinks of the city as home.
Horses have been competing at Worcester Racecourse for over 300 hundred years. The Pitchcroft site was first used for formal racing as early as 1718, making it one of the oldest in the UK.
According to some researchers, it looks like the world-famous English playwright, William Shakespeare, was married to Anne Hathaway in Worcester. At the time, Stratford-upon-Avon was part of Worcestershire, and it is highly likely that the couple were married at St Martins in Worcester in 1652.
There are more than ten places around the world named after Worcester in Worcestershire England. These include, the towns of Worcester Massachusetts (USA), Worcester Southern Cape (South Africa), Worcester Limpopo (Zambia), Worcester – Saint Catherine (Jamaica), and even part of the Pensacola mountains, Worcester Summit in Antarctica.
Britain’s longest river flows directly through Worcester. In fact, Worcester is the only city where the river flows directly through the main centre. Only two other cities lie on the river, Gloucester and Bristol. In both these cases the river runs significantly to the side.
