Worcester History UK.

Stopped to checkout the Guarlford unwanted book exchange phone box today. Found this amazing little gem. A book printed in 1881. "The Great Tome Poets" by Frederick Crowest a collection of short memoirs of the greater composers. What I find absolutely fascinating is that in the front cover is written a message from 1884. Idylle is a piece for violin and piano composed by Edward Elgar in 1884, as his Opus 4, No. 1. It was Elgar's first published work.
It would be 17 years later in 1901 that Elgar would
even begin to compose his most famous pieces.
When this book was printed in 1981 Elgar was working on his early adult works which included violin and piano pieces, music for the wind quintet in which he and his brother played between 1878 and 1881, and music of many types for the Powick Asylum band. It would be 14 years before "Enigma Variations" would even be created. I wonder if Elgar at 27 when this message was signed, had read a copy of this book and even dreamt that one day he would be listed amongst these great musical composers. Guarlford sits in the shadow of Malvern where Elgar is now buried a great and incredible composer loved by millions worldwide. Who was J W Allen North why was the message written by his Aunt in 1884 what stories could he have told us. I now given it a new home and a new lease of life on our book shelf.

Thank you J W Allen North and thank you to the person who left the book.

Worcester Wharf Canal in Birmingham.

Goods transported along the Worcester - Birmingham Canal would eventually arrive at the Wharf in readiness to be distributed around Birmingham city or further afield by rail.

English: Old Ordnance Survey map, 2nd edition 1905, showing west-central Birmingham - Worcester Wharf, Old Wharf, Central Goods railway station, part of Birmingham New Street railway station. Centred at approximate coordinates: 52.476,-1.905, just north of the current location of The Mailbox.
Shown in blue is the Worcester Bar at Gas Street Basin (left margin), Old Wharf terminus of the Birmingham Canal, and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Shown in red are three tunnels: New Street Tunnel of the Stour Valley Line (top); tunnel of the Birmingham West Suburban Railway (now the Cross-City Line) between New Street and Five Ways railway station (long curve); Granville Tunnel leading to the Central Goods Depot (bottom}.

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Paul Manton, Paul Hughes, Kathleen McDermott, Colin Nash, Lewis Brown, H.C. Jones, Duncan Spencer, Gisella Shiels

Interesting “fire insurance mark” in St John's showing the Norwich Union badge.

Norwich Union Fire Mark.

Norwich Union was founded in 1797 in Norwich, when 36-year-old merchant and banker Thomas Bignold formed the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society.

In 1808 Thomas Bignold established a second mutual, the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society.

The Fire Society privatised/stocked in 1821.

Like many insurance companies protecting property and goods against fire loss, they operated their own fire brigades to protect only the society's policyholders whose buildings were identified by marks.

This ment that fires could potentially be ignored by a brigade if it didnt show the mark. Fights have even been reported to have broken out between rival brigades in some cases.

One of the most interesting facts about this badge was that in 1929 the Fire Society gave up its last private brigade, which was actually based in non other than Worcester, to the municipal authorities.

What a beautiful little badge and such an amazing story to tell.

Interesting links -

http://www.janeslondon.com/2011/08/fire-insurance-plaques.html?m=1

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collections/fire-insurance-plaques/

https://insurancehistory.cii.co.uk/fire-marks/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fire-mark-collectible-insurance-crest

https://www.aviva.co.uk/services/about-our-business/about-us/previous-companies/

https://avivaarchive.medium.com/norwich-unions-gloucester-fire-brigade-more-than-sixty-years-of-service-to-the-community-3279a26c25f2

*CONTAINS IMAGES OF A SENSITIVE NATURE*

At St John's Church, Worcester many fascinating points of interest can be found.

On the outside wall as you walk into the grounds from St John's B4485, You'll first of all notice what looks like very deep claw marks in the brick work. This I was informed was where the pike's men sharpened their pikes and swords during the English Civil War, but with no mention of this in the Historic England link below it will obviously need to be investigated more.

A very well researched and fascinating article about similar markings, forwarded by follower Debbie Branford.

https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mediaeval-mythbusting-blog-10-arrow-stones/?fbclid=IwAR0muxTmAHtCxYXJO42oZT3nCLPl_PWz11EAzfa02D2Tx24i7IuW-CsPf7Y

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The mourning portrait.

On entering the church tucked just underneath the beautiful spiral staircase can be found (what I'd consider) the most important feature of all - the grave of 13 year old John Garmston and his 2 year old sibling Jonathan Edward.

Now, this may not seem that unusual, but what you'll find embedded into the top of the grave is!

A very rare UK example of post-mortem photography, also known as memorial portraiture or a mourning portrait, this was/is the art of photographing the deceased and was very popular in the Victorian period.

The father was Hopkins, a Hop merchant from Worcester, and his name can be seen in the photos below.

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More on post-mortem/memorial photography can be found on the following link.

https://www.facebook.com/TheThanatosArchive

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*Excerpt from an article on memorial portraiture in the "History of Photography."

"The use of photographs inset in gravestones or monumental sculpture is rare in England; an early example is one to the memory of John Garmston Hopkins in the Parish Church of StJohn in Bedwardine in Worcester."

Full article can be found on Taylor and Francis.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03087298.1987.10443779

The church is also interestingly noted/marked in the fascinating 1754 map of the Hardwick Manor in the parish of St John.
This document is part of the Worcester Cathedral archives and library.

Links below-

https://worcestercathedrallibrary.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/st-johns-church-on-the-hardwick-map/

https://worcestercathedrallibrary.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/a-1754-map-of-the-manor-of-hardwick/

Other points of interest on the outside wall of the church - mainly around the door are old graffiti scratched into the stone, some going back to 1894.

Historic England entry link.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1390120?section=official-list-entry

For those interested in witch marks/ protection marks and their many locations, this site should be of great interest.

https://www.facebook.com/share/kYPexzCWhmxMWmLU/

Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices The page has been created to promote and disseminate research into medieval graffiti; the historic

Following on from the witchcraft in Worcester Post here's a fascinating article on witch marks from Faithful History.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/v9NqTeBaaVswWkwb/

Richard Spires sent in these fantastic images of P. Triggs the chimney sweep. He's looking for any info folk might have about the business/photos.

Thank you Richard

Humbled by all the new followers and likes.
Really appreciate all of you joining the Page.

Any information/photos or research requests please send to - [email protected]

Thank you.

It's been well recorded now that Old Powick bridge is currently closed due to structural damage. Now with further floods in the vicinity the restoration of the bridge will have been sadly held back further.
The bridge is over 400 years old and held an important part in the story of The English Civil Wars period, being the first site where fighting between Royalists and Parliamentarians occurred during the first civil war. Hopefully it can be saved without much change to its appearance and character.

Thank you Janice Brice for sharing this Incredible photo of John Tymbs

Witchcraft in Worcester.

Ursula Corbett - 1661

People will no doubt have heard of Ursula Corbett, otherwise know as the White Witch of Worcester Ursula lived at Defford, near Pershore where she
was accused of poisoning her husband of only three weeks.
She was thought to be the last person to be burned at the stake in Worcestershire, at Worcester High Cross on March 14, 1661-66

Little is known about Ursula but the story was dramatised in ‘The White Witch of Worcester: A Tale of the Barons’ Wars’ by James Skipp Borlase this was serialised in the Worcester Chronicle around 1887.

(The below pictures are a merge of 21 century photography and 19th century illustration showing Ursula being paraded through the Edgar gate).

In the below link we can read about witch marks carved into 18th to early 19th century covert Hill barn dating back on ordinance survey maps to 1884.

https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/2017/10/broomsticks-over-broadway/

Link to Tale of The Tything witches.

https://ccagworcester.com/2023/02/11/the-tything-witches/

The link below tells the story of "The Salt Lane witches"

https://www.worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk/news/303/146/The-Salt-Lane-Witches.html

An incredible article about witch marks at the beloved Commandery.

https://researchworcestershire.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/witch-marks-at-the-commandery/

Similar witch marks or circles can be found at
The Fleece Inn in Bretforton and at Tudor House in Friar Street in Worcester.

Brian Hoggard covers hidden charms and witch markings in several books he's written and does live conferences on this fascinating subject.

https://www.apotropaios.co.uk

Incredible article from Faithful History about witch marks.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/D4q1JXCVbS7fREpP/

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Event assertions related to Worcester UK and the historical publication and date they appear in.

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Appears in:
Anonymous. A Briefe Description of the Notorious Life of John Lambe. Amsterdam: 1628,

*John Lambe stands trial at the Worcester Assizes on two charges, firstly for "vnchristian and damnable practises against the person of an Honourble Peere of this Realme" and secondly for "damnable inuocation and worship of euill Spirits." He is found guilty of both, but judgement is suspended in both cases.

*Mr. Wayneman gives deposition against Dr. John Lambe, alleging they had met by chance and that at this meeting Dr. Lambe claimed he could tell what "secret markes" Wayneman had on his body and tell him acts he had done, then described both to him. Lambe added that "he vpon sight of any man or woman could doe the like to them."

*Mr. Wayneman gave deposition alleging that Dr. John Lambe "did practise to drawe the said Mr. Wayneman into the Deuillish Art of Coniuration, and told him that he had the command of spirits." Lambe promised to show him an angel, and Wayneman agreed out of curiosity. Lambe took a crystal ball out of his pocket, rested his hat upon the table, and put the crystal on the hat's crown. He then knelt down before it and pronounced his adoration. When Wayneman asked why he did so, Lambe said he had to or the angel wouldn't appear. Lambe then added, "although I said to you, it was an Angell, I would shew you, I did deceiue you for it is a Spirit I vse to call vpon."

*Mr. Wayneman gives deposition alleging that Dr. John Lambe claimed to be able to "doe strange things, as intoxicate, poyson, and bewitch any man so as they should be disabled from begetting of children." Lambe also claimed to have four spirits bound to his crystal ball, of which Benias was chief.

*Anthony Birch, attending a party at a gentleman's house where Dr. John Lambe performs juggling tricks, allegedly picks up Lambe's crystal ball when it is left on a table. He sees the shape of a hand in its depths, and then "a shepheard with a sheepehooke and tarbox on his backe." He is so amazed that he asks aloud what it is that he is seeing, and Dr. Lambe discontentedly snatches the ball back.

*Anthony Birch claims "it manifestly appeareth that the said Doctor Lambe was an absolute Witch, a Sorcerer and Iugling person absolutely giuen ouer to lewd wicked and diabolicall courses, an invocator and adorer of impious and wicked Spirits."

*Dr. John Lambe can allegedly, through the spirits trapped in his crystal ball, "vndertake any difficult thing, and did very often discouer and bring to light goods and chattels although they had for a long time beene lost." Through the same means, he can also tell whether a person accused of witchcraft is truly a witch and diagnose disease without seeing the patient.

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Appears in:
H., F.. A True and Exact Relation of the severall Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the late Witches, arraigned and executed in the County of Essex. . London: 1645,


John Hart allegedly dies from witchcraft administered by Rebecca West. Charges for this are presented Thomas Hart, his father, John Edes, a clerk, and an unnamed doctor (Anonymous 119). Rebbecca West allegedly pleads guilty to this murder, saying this had all been occasioned by her extreme poverty.

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Appears in:
Anonymous. The Full Trials, Examination, and Condemnation of Four Notorious Witches. London: 1690,

*Margaret Landis is identified as a witch by a passing child (Anonymous 120) who calls her "Pegg the witch."

*A child (Anonymous 120) falls sick and dies less three weeks after calling Margaret Landis "Pegg the witch." Margaret Landis had allegedly pointed at him threateningly. While the child was sick, he would have violent fits and call out saying Pegg the witch was by his bed.

*Abraham Chad and Elin Shearcraft testify that Susan C**k and Rose Hallybread made a large fire and used wax dolls resembling the Peak children to torment them. They stuck pins in the dolls and turned them on a spit over the fire. The children, allegedly unaware of what was happening, simultaneously felt pain.

* A midwife and a Matron claim to have searched Rebecca West, Margaret Landis, Susan C**k, and Rose Hallybread for witch's marks and found "several large Teates in the secret Parts of their Bodies." They claim they questioned the women as to "how the marks' came there, they both made Answer, that the Devils Imps had done it."

*Margaret Landis of Worcester is accused of allowing her imps to do harm, and allowing them to suck the two teats located near her privy parts.

*Rebbecca West of Worcester confesses to having sexual in*******se with the devil who appeared to her in the likeness of a young man.

*Rebbecca West, Margaret Landis, Susan C**k, and Rose Hallybread are all allegedly burned to death at the stake on March 5th, 1645.

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Appears in:
Hale, Matthew. A Collection of Modern Relations of Matter of Fact Concerning Witches & Witchcraft. London: 1693.

1649, May Droitwich Worcestershire Worcester England

*A old woman in Droitwich in the Country of Worcester startled a boy who was tending his mother's cows, by yelling "boo" from behind some bushes. Bewitchment was suspected as the boy could no longer speak.

*A bewitched boy, inarticulate and vengeful, ran after the woman he suspected of bewitching him, and raging, threw hot pottage in her face. The woman was identified as a witch

*A woman, is immediately apprehended and jailed after being identified as a witch. The identification is based solely on the inarticulate rage of a little boy she had spooked, and who had thrown hot pottage into her face.

*A goaler, suspecting a local boy had been bewitched into muteness made the woman he was holding in jail sat the Lord's prayer and bless the lad, as a form of counter magic. It allegedly worked; the boy's speech was restored.

*The apparition of a witch allegedly appears to a bewitched boy at night. He rises to strike her; marks are later found on her body.

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Appears in:
Baxter, Richard. The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and, Consequently, of the Immortality of Souls. London: 1691,

1652, May-July Evesham Worcestershire Worcester England

*Upon the "Apprehension and Commitment" of the alleged witch, Catherine Huxley, who is believed to have caused the illness and the voiding of "stones through urinary passages," in the young girl Mary Ellins, "Mary ceased to void any more stones." For a while, she voided "much blackish and muddy Sand," but then was "perfectly recovered," and grew up to marry have seven children in good health, having "never voided any stones since, nor been troubled with the pain forementioned."

*Mary Ellins, a nine or ten year old girl, goes to "the fields," in April, 1652 with some other children "to gather cowslips." However, along the way, they encounter "one Catherine Huxley, a single Woman," around forty years of age. The "Children called her Witch," and took to throwing stones at her. Mary Ellins partook in calling Catherine Huxley a witch, but was "so affrighted," she could not throw stones at her.

*The young girl, Mary Ellins, falls ill, after having been "hindmost" of a group of children running from the alleged witch Catherine Huxley, having called her a "Witch" and thrown stones at her. Huxley allegedly says to Mary, "Ellins, you shall have stones enough in your ..." Mary Ellins is "so weak and Languishing that her Friends feared she would not. recover." This initial stage of the illness lasts one month.

*The young girl, Mary Ellins, voids "stones by the urinary passages," for the space of "a month or two." This leads to "strong suspitions of Witchcraft" upon Catherine Huxley, who allegedly said to Mary Ellins the day the girl and her friends threw rocks at Huxley, calling her a witch, "Ellins, you shall have stones enough in your ---" Huxley is therefore "Apprehended, Examined and Searched." It is found that there are several stones at her bedhead, "such as the said Mary voided."

*Having been ill the space of a month after being "hindmost" in a group of children who were tormenting Catherine Huxley, an alleged witch, the young girl Mary Ellins begins to "void stones by the urinary passages," which "drop into the Pot or Bason." While voiding these stones, Mary Ellins also experiences the "most grievous pains in her Back and Reins," which are "like the pricking of Pins." Mary Ellins voids some eighty stones, "some plain pebbles, some plain flints, some very small, and some about an ounce weight," and she continues to exhibit these symptoms for a month or two.

*Catherine Huxley, a woman who is allegedly believed to be a witch responsible for the young girl Mary Ellin's sickness and voiding of "stones through urinary passages," is sent to Worcester, after having been examined and searched. At the "Summer Assizes in the said year 1652," she was condemned and executed, "upon the Prosecution of the Friends of the said Mary."

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Worcestershire witches.

Kidderminster witches 1660.

A woman and her daughter, and a man, all from Kidderminster, were put through the barbarous trial by water. They were flung into the Severn where 'they would not sink but soared aloft'. Townsend of Elmley Lovett, in his diary, summed up the account of the Kidderminster witches by writing, 'many great charges, and little proven'.

https://www.worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk/news/29/146/Kidderminster-Witches-1660.html

Worcestershire witchcraft.

https://www.worcesterpeopleandplaces.org.uk/news/305/146/Witchcraft-in-Worcestershire.html

In memory of all the innocent folk who lost their lives due to fear, religion, hate, prejudice and corruption.

Blessed be and love and light to each and everyone of you.

🌛🌕🌜🙏

We live in a time where we can record history with much ease for future generations. Some not even born yet, some to young to know or care.

Pages like this will one day be likened to black and white/sepia photos of yesteryear.

We are currently seeing some of the highest floods in Worcester history

"Of the 30 measuring stations across the river, 18 recorded "high" levels on Friday, with the measuring station in Worcester recording a height of 18.2 feet and rising as of 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday – just shy of the all-time station record of 18.99 feet recorded in 2020."

Morning - Sunday 11th May 1941

Pilot officer Franek Surma and Sergeant Pilot Stanislaw Widlarz are the two pilots on duty at Baginton nr Coventry. They are sitting about casually listening to music and awaiting any orders. Their two Spitfires R6644 (Surma) and R6984 (Widlarz) are parked up on the runway parachutes ready helmets hanging on the control column. Suddenly from the telephone rings with instructions to "Scamble 27000', unidentified aircraft over Kidderminster!." The two Polish pilots
Run to their planes were the ground crew are getting their Spitfires ready for flight. The two pilots both roar off down the runway eventually taking off and heading out towards Kidderminster.
They eventually arrive over the town only to find no signs of an aircraft so decided to extend searches on a southerly course. They fly over the city of Worcester eventually crossing the River Severn and proceed west of the River over the flood plains. Eventually flying over the Malverns. Suddenly Franek's Spitfire experiences engine issues and black smoke pours from the exhaust ports. The spitfire is now loosing height over Malvern and the pilot looks for a safe place to direct the plane cutting off fuel in order to prevent a fire. The now stricken planes cockpit is covered in oil. Franek in smoke filled cockpit safely heads towards open fields beyond Malvern Link. It is over the countryside of Madresfield away from the built up area that he turns his Spitfire upside down opens his canopy and drops from the plane. He eventually opens his parachute and watches as underneath him his plane smashes into the fields alongside Jennet Tree Lane exploding into flames black smoke billowing from the wreckage. He eventually lands safely in the backyard of a local cottage on the junction between Hawthorn Lane. A group of RAF men from the local searchlight crew head down the lane and identify the Pilot and he his released into the custody of the Page family of Bosworth Farm. Here he awaits transportation back to the base at Baginton where our story began. This is unfortunately the end of the road for R6644 which is then taken away on a low loader of a Queen Mary aircraft transporter by the men of the RAF Maintenance unit.
Franek after surviving the incident is unfortunately shot down over France on November 8th 1941 and is still missing to this day.

Opposite the Jennet Tree Lane Junction with Hawthorn Lane is a memorial stone set up in memory of Franek by the Malvern Spitfire Team.

The story of Spitfire R6644 is told in the incredible book "The Invisable Thread - A Spitfires Tale" by Dilip Sarkar Mbe.

The full story of Franek and the excavation of the crash site can be found on the link below.

https://www.dilipsarkarmbe.com/some-of-the-few/flying-officer-franek-surma/

A look at the incredible Worcester Cathedral from the bird's-eye view. The image was taken in-between the two covid lockdowns during the pandemic. The out door marquees can be seen dotted around The King's School; they were used for outdoor learning.

Local history in the making for generations to come.

If you like my site you'll also like Faithful History. they produce some incredibly engaging videos on Worcester history which can be viewed on YouTube. 🙏🌛🌕🌜

Fascinating article about Whittington Tump.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=714177750750302&id=100064742494476

Berrow's Worcester Journal is reputed to be the worlds oldest newspaper. Here we take a look at its historic timeline and see how its story as developed during the last 333 years.

1548 - Worcester was one of the earliest locations in Britain to have a printing press set up by John Oswin.

1548 - 1553 - Several books printed.

1688 - Deposition of James II and VII of England, Ireland, and Scotland in November and his replacement by his daughter Mary II and her husband.

1689 - See's the term "The Glorious Revolution" used for the first time to summarise events leading to the deposition which had seen the beginning of a free press in the country.

Our story begins.

1690 - The first established records of a Worcester newspaper when Stephen Bryan founded the "Worcester Post-Man" aimed at gentlemen who required news on happenings in London and world events, trade, corn price's and local adverts. Bryan was previously an apprentice in London before coming to Worcester. He resided in Sidbury, just outside the City walls, in order to avoid paying £20 to become a Freeman and be able to trade within the city.

1690 - 1709 - Local news was relatively rare in the first decade of publication and it was published irregularly.

1720 - Bryan began to include more local items. During the time Bryan owned the paper it was published on Fridays.

1748 - In April, Bryan sold the paper to Harvey Berrow who changed its name to "The Worcester Journal" and its publication day to Thursday.

1753 - From 11 October the paper was published as Berrow's Worcester Journal.

The final name change came about when Richard Lewis (a competitor), tried to profit from the success of the Worcester Journal by launching the similar-sounding "New Worcester Journal". Other strategies to take market shares from the original paper included publishing on Wednesdays one day before Berrow's. Lewis also circulated a report in Bewdley, Kidderminster, and Stourbridge stating that Berrow's newsmen had left his service.

1776 - Harvey Berrow dies on 16 August, leaving publication to his eldest son, also Harvey Berrow.

1777 - 1 year later on 11 June - Harvey Berrow (son) dies.

1777 - 1779 - He is succeeded by his sister Elizabeth Berrow, whose name appeared upon the Journal until 23 December 1779.

1779 - superseded by that of John Tymbs, to whom she was married on 23 September 1779

1855 - The abolition of Stamp duties charged to publishers on newspapers encouraged bigger newspapers and new titles. This was due in some to different political views of the newspapers, Berrows Worcester Journal being Conservative, and Worcester Herald for example being sympathetic to Whigs.

1909 - Berrow’s went down another route and produced a two sided A5 photo supplement, Berrow’s Pictorial Supplement, printed on better, glossier paper.

1914 –1918 The WW1 years (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918) Contain thousands of photos of soldiers who went off to fight. Photos would often be submitted when someone died too.

Early 1930's - Berrow’s Pictorial Supplement stops and photos are included within the usual paper.

1940 - Berrow’s Worcester Journal report's the bombing of Meco in Worcester. Due to wartime regulations this was not directly identified, just saying that a Midlands town was hit.

1982 - Berrow's Worcester Journal was taken over by Reed International PLC.

1987 - 26 June the newspaper changes direction and becomes a free newspaper.

1990 - Berrow's celebrated its 300th anniversary (Tercentenary) with specially commissioned china produced by Royal Worcester Porcelain.

2022 - You can access copies on microfilm going back to 1712.
1914-18 (World War 1) editions have been digitised, and available on CD.

2023 - The paper continues to be published weekly therefore laying claim to being the oldest newspaper in the world in continuous and current production.

Incredible vintage photo of the hermits cave on Malvern surrounded by the gentlemen of the Worcestershire tricycle club c.1900.

Thanks to Joe at Faithful History

372 years today the battle of Worcester was coming to a closure Charles II had now escaped and all would be over by 8pm at which point any remaining Royalist Scottish prisoners would be taken to the Cathedral for holding until being shipped to the new foundland to work in Iron Mills, saw Mills and farms. It was 10 days before the prisoners were force marched from there to the ships in Southampton. It took around two weeks until the stench and filth left behind was cleared from the Cathedral.

Nice visit to the The King Charles House in Worcester yesterday. Built in 1577 and starting it's life as a house not a pub it was from this building that Charles II escaped after his defeat by Cromwell at the battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651. The building was originally part of a residential house that incorporated the whole row right upto the corner.

In the days, before Worcester began to expand, at the eastern corner of the Cornmarket was a clapgate (a self shutting gate to keep livestock out of the city centre) It was from here that Charles escaped and rode across open fields after evading Cromwells puritan army.

The holding cell

Especially pleased to see that the new owners have uncovered probably one of the pubs most important features. ( Not many can boast a jail cell under the pub. The cell now as a viewing window which the young lady behind the bar very kindly lit up for photos to be taken. Thank you.🙂

The holding cell under the pub was used to briefly house prisoners just before they travelled to the nearby Cornmarket Square gallows for their public ex*****on.
The Cornmarket at the bottom of Mealcheapen Street, for centuries the city’s main market place for grain and other goods, was not only the site of a set of gallows but also a stock and pillory. Public whippings apparently took place there well into the 19th century.

The Wooden Puritans panel.

The other incredible feature at the pub is the puritan moral story panel which dates to 1654
It shows warnings about sinful activities such as gambling, drinking and even music. One carving shows the devil with his pitchfork scaring a group of gentlemen gamblers.

On the 6th December 1653, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector, a role in which he remained until his death five years later on the 3rd September 1658.

During this time even Christmas was banned can you imagine how dark and foreboding these times will have been? Sitting there with a refreshing Rhubarb and custard cider chatting and listening to music its hard to imagine there was a time in this beautiful buildings history when it would have all been punishable under Cromwells reign.

I was surprised to be told by the young bar lady that the panel was originally in The Commandery and was moved into the pub because it fitted in with the pubs features. Something I'll look into and confirm at some point.

Below is a link to another interesting blog about the pub which notes the date as 1634 which would suggest it was during Charles I reign.
The author suggests it may have been a Royalist joke and suggests the people are dressed in puritan costumes? Is this an early joke at Cromwells expense an interesting thought.

https://carvingswithstories.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-warning-in-pub-and-fleeing-king.html?m=1