worcester castle worcester castle norman fortification built behalf castle bailey design located south old anglo saxon city cutting grounds worcester cathedral royal castles owned king maintained behalf appointed constable worcester role passed local family hereditary basis giving permanent control castle considerable power city castle played important wars 12th early 13th century including anarchy barons war government decided break power reduce ongoing military threat posed castle returning castle bailey cathedral intact bailey castle longer valuable militarily played small built castle early 13th century castle continued county 19th century new prison built north worcester old site completely redeveloped today remains exception cathedral gatehouse built entrance castle history 11th century built norman conquest england anglo saxon city worcester castle constructed orders wave royal castle building major roman towns england constructed timber castle bailey design bailey north south later recorded feet diameter castle defensively situated eastern bank south west corner borough taking advantage old walls ditches appointed sheriff worcester constable new castle worcester urban castle built existing settlement castles required clearance local properties unusually worcester castle ditch outer bailey cut cemetery unclear cemetery use time resulted extensive interests worcester complaining seizure land formally 12th 13th centuries worcester remained royal castle years post sheriff constable hereditary family successors son roger inherited followed married daughter castle effectively run largely independent king despite controlling worcester preferred use castle miles away main residence worcester attacked welsh raiders broke outer bailey castle set fire buildings timber castle destroyed rebuilt wood late period civil war anarchy broke england rival factions contested kingdom proved key war attack worcester occurred late army gloucestershire assaulted city attempt castle south city gloucester forces entered north looting burning city result chose worcester base stephen forces period stephen replacing walter constable city castle reclaimed empress robert gloucester response stephen stormed burnt city attacked shortly end conflict neighbouring siege castles built stephen operations designed contain worcester castle hill red hill conflict walter finally reaffirmed constable henry_ii empress son end 13th century grandson controlled castle behalf king 12th century trend england stone castles replace earth timber counterparts king john ordered sheriff worcester rebuild gatehouse timber good fine stone john work cost number repairs improvements period spent maintaining castle example spent internal buildings work stables came civil war broke england forces loyal king john rebel barons supported course john annexed castle william sided rebels king john responded sending forces attack castle successfully retook despite john death war continued forces loyal john young son finally achieved victory rebels 11th century dispute cathedral graveyard continued government decided announce disputed land granted cathedral panel met agree exactly land divided concluding division run straight bailey far returned cathedral making remainder castle military perspective henry church broke power city local fortress castle continued use time partially situated outer bailey earliest record porter recorded employed appears built wood medieval period remained problem recorded second barons war worcester captured prisoners released later war imprisoned period castle locations court election local officials 14th 19th centuries continued control castle property passed hereditary lines known died wars roses victorious divided estates owned gave castle son link worcester final appointed practice appointing ceased altogether castle walls stone animals sheriff county remained intact antiquarian recorded castle clean impressive size heavily gatehouse known built cathedral site earlier castle gatehouse control access bailey castle site granted crown local gentry complained leading legal case county successfully reclaimed site england descended period civil war royalist supporters charles supporters parliament worcester city walls small fort built castle continued county war new built stone brick constructed castle grounds prison reformer inspected critical facility particular complained castle underground dungeon accessed flight steps room circular feet guarded iron worcester conducted extensive work report cost prices prison new cells men women addition dungeon sick rooms housing inmates time howard inspection prisoners routinely sharing cell sleeping floor like prisons time run private enterprise case local butcher paid year run facility prison known suffer fever claimed life local doctor visited facility new county built cost modern system wings constructed north worcester local street named castle street result dean chapter acquired old outer bailey castle known college green accessed slowly demolished
Worcester Castle