145-759: The Worcestershire Militia was an auxiliary military force in the English county of Worcestershire . From their formal organisation as trained bands in 1558 until their final service as the Special Reserve , the Militia regiments of the county carried out internal security and home defence duties in all of Britain's major wars, seeing action during the English Civil Wars and the Second Boer War and finally training thousands of reinforcements during World War I . After
290-404: A Great Muster of all the counties, recording the number of armed men available in each Hundred . Though incomplete, the surviving Worcestershire lists are very detailed, giving the numbers of men for each ward of the city of Worcester and for each parish and township of the hundreds, together with the wealthier individuals charged with providing 'harness' (armour). The legal basis of the militia
435-613: A base for raids on Parliamentary forces. However, the Parliamentarians closed in on 21 May and began a regular siege of the city. The survivors of Sir Samuel Sandys' regiments were among the garrison, in addition to the City TBs. The Second Siege of Worcester ended with the surrender of the city on 23 July after 63 days. As Parliament tightened its grip on the country it passed new Militia Acts in 1648 and 1650 that replaced lords lieutenant with county commissioners appointed by Parliament or
580-594: A day. Mazak UK have the parent company's European manufacturing facility (for CNC machine tools) in the north of Worcester. Nearby on the Blackpole Ind Est, Froude Hofmann have their world headquarters, who make dynamometers . Roxel UK develops solid-fuel rockets for missiles south of Kidderminster and in Hartlebury . The West Midlands Safari Park is in Bewdley , west of Kidderminster. Morgan Technical Ceramics
725-458: A depot for the permanent staff and armoury. Worcestershire Worcestershire ( / ˈ w ʊ s t ər ʃ ər / WUUST -ər-shər , /- ʃ ɪər / -sheer ; written abbreviation: Worcs ) is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England . It is bordered by Shropshire , Staffordshire , and the West Midlands county to the north, Warwickshire to
870-643: A framework for administering the resources of each burhs ' outlying estates. It was a separate ealdormanship briefly in the 10th century before forming part of the Earldom of Mercia in the 11th century. The last known Anglo-Saxon Sheriff of Worcestershire was Cyneweard of Laughern . During the Middle Ages , much of the county's economy was based on the wool trade. Many areas of its dense forests, such as Feckenham Forest , Horewell Forest and Malvern Chase , were royal hunting grounds subject to forest law. After
1015-654: A large encampment. Here the light companies of the various militia regiments were grouped into a composite battalion under the command of Lt-Col the Earl of Cork of the Somerset Militia . On 15 August the Light Battalion moved to Staddon Heights , where it was employed in erecting a coast defence redoubt. In mid-November the camps round Plymouth were broken up and the Worcestershire Militia marched to Dorset , where it
1160-563: A large turnover; nearby to west Metalrax , headquartered in Alvechurch , make (via subsidiaries) most of the bakeware sold in the UK. Roger Dyson Group manufactures auto-recovery vehicles in north Droitwich. South of Bromsgrove, L.G. Harris & Co make paintbrushes . Lea & Perrins is in Worcester . Joy Mining Machinery are in the west of Worcester. Worcester, Bosch Group make 1,200 boilers
1305-829: A parade through the town was quartered around the county. As well as the three men killed at Clonard, 27 men of the regiment had died of disease during its service in Ireland. The Worcestershires were one of four militia regiments granted the Irish Harp as an emblem on their colours for their distinguished service in Ireland in 1798–9. In October 1799 the regiment moved to Fareham in Hampshire, with detachments at Gosport and Titchfield . The detachment at Wigan had moved to Leigh in April 1799, and escorted French prisoners of war to London in June. It rejoined
1450-510: A road to Tilbury Fort . Each regiment was supplied with two 6-pounder field guns as 'battalion guns', the gun detachments to be trained by the Royal Artillery . Major John Clements of the Worcestershire Militia died while in camp, and the Earl of Coventry appointed John Walsh , the MP for Worcester, to succeed him. This caused great dissatisfaction among the other officers who were passed over, and it
1595-573: A running club and doubling as a rugby club from 1880, the football club was founded in 1886. In 1987, the club won the FA Trophy for the first time, and seven years later reached the fifth round of the FA Cup , also winning the GM Vauxhall Conference title in 1994 but being denied Football League status as their Aggborough Stadium did not meet capacity requirements. However, when the club next won
SECTION 10
#17329023379621740-588: A shadowy postwar existence they were formally disbanded in 1953. The English militia was descended from the Anglo-Saxon Fyrd , the military force raised from the freemen of the shires under command of their sheriff . It continued under the Norman kings , and was reorganised under the Assizes of Arms of 1181 and 1252 , and again by King Edward I 's Statute of Winchester of 1285. In 1539 King Henry VIII held
1885-477: A single non-metropolitan county of Hereford and Worcester . The County Boroughs of Dudley and Warley, along with Stourbridge and Halesowen, were incorporated into the new West Midlands Metropolitan county . The West Midlands County Council existed for only a few years before abolition in April 1986, although the West Midlands still exists as a ceremonial county . In the 1990s UK local government reform ,
2030-515: A small section of Amblecote . The Local Government Act redefined its status and the County Borough of Dudley became part of Staffordshire, the county of which all of these areas had been part. At the same time, Worcestershire gained a new county borough named Warley , which was an amalgamation of Oldbury Urban District , Rowley Regis Urban District , the County Borough of Smethwick and parts of Dudley and Tipton . During this reorganisation,
2175-504: A two-tier non-metropolitan county also called Worcestershire . The county historically had complex boundaries , and included Dudley and the southwestern suburbs of Birmingham . The River Severn flows through the centre of the county from north to south, forming a wide plain. The southwest of the county contains part of the Malvern Hills , a National Landscape which contains Worcestershire Beacon , at 425 m (1,394 ft)
2320-463: Is also home to the world's oldest continually published newspaper, the Berrow's Journal , established in 1690. Malvern was one of the centres of the 19th-century rise in English spa towns due to Malvern water being believed to be very pure, containing "nothing at all". The 2011 census found the population of Worcestershire to be 566,169, an increase of 4.4% from the 2001 population of 542,107. Though
2465-774: Is headquartered at Lickhill in Stourport-on-Severn . Egbert H. Taylor in Elmley Lovett , near Hartlebury is a manufacturer of metal bins. Liquid crystal displays were developed in 1972 in conjunction with the Royal Radar Establishment , where Geoffrey Dummer invented the idea of the integrated circuit in 1952. It was based in Malvern , and became the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment , which developed thermal imaging and pyroelectric infrared detectors , and
2610-506: Is in an indefinable way 'home' to me, as no other part of the world is." High Sheriff of Worcestershire This is a list of sheriffs and since 1998 high sheriffs of Worcestershire . The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with
2755-812: Is now a large site owned by QinetiQ . Morgan Motor Company is in Malvern Link . Commsoft RMS is in Evesham . For many years Group 4 Security , which was the largest security company in Europe, had its headquarters in Broadway , on the edge of the Cotswolds ; G4S Integrated Services now has its HQ there. Local government in Worcestershire has changed several times since the middle of the 19th century. Worcestershire contained numerous exclaves , which were areas of land cut off from
2900-471: The 6th Dragoons , but who had begun his military career as an ensign in the Worcestershire Militia 1779–80. The militia had already been called out before Revolutionary France declared war on Britain on 1 February 1793. The Royal Warrant went out for the Worcestershires on 2 January and the regiment assembled for permanent duty on 21 January. Only one in six of the men were 'principals' (balloted men),
3045-570: The 8th Foot and son of the regiment's former lieutenant-colonel, became Lt-Col himself in 1848. The Militia of the United Kingdom was revived by the Militia Act 1852 , enacted during a renewed period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on a county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment (although conscription by means of the Militia Ballot might be used if
SECTION 20
#17329023379623190-600: The Armada Crisis of 1588 Worcestershire furnished 600 trained foot in four 150-strong bands, together with 100 pioneers (untrained foot), 17 lancers , 83 light horse and 10 ' petronels ' (the petronel was an early cavalry firearm). The foot joined Lord Hunsdon 's army at Tilbury defending the Queen and were formed with the Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Huntingdonshire TBs into Sir Henry Goodere 's Regiment, 2,100 strong. In
3335-534: The Assizes were over). The regiment marched from Worcester on 31 July, arriving at Bristol on 9 August after the completion. of the assizes there. In September the regiment was ordered to Ireland: only 8 men refused to volunteer for this deployment and were attached to the West Middlesex Militia while the Worcestershires were away. Leaving a small depot detachment at Worcester, the regiment embarked at Bristol on 2 October and landed at Waterford , marching to
3480-644: The British Isles ), which the Regular Army increasingly saw as a prime source of recruits. They served in coast defences, manning garrisons, guarding prisoners of war, and for internal security, while their traditional local defence duties were taken over by the Volunteers and mounted Yeomanry . The regiment moved out to Devonshire on 25 and 26 February 1793, where headquarters and five companies were quartered in Exeter ,
3625-500: The Cotswolds AONB. Worcestershire contains a broad expanse of green belt area, widening to over 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) in places. It is part of the larger belt surrounding the West Midlands county, and first drawn up from the 1950s. All of the county's districts other than Malvern Hills contain some portion of the belt. The largest and most successful football club in the county is Kidderminster Harriers . Founded in 1877 as
3770-696: The Council of State . From now on the term 'Trained Band' began to disappear in most counties. Under the Commonwealth and Protectorate the militia received pay when called out, and operated alongside the New Model Army to control the country. Many militia regiments were called out in 1651 during the Scottish invasion and the Worcestershires were ordered to rendezvous at Northampton . They were then diverted to Gloucester as King Charles II's Anglo-Scottish army entered
3915-704: The County Borough of Birmingham , on 1 October 1891. This was followed by Quinton Urban District , which was ceded to Birmingham in November 1909, and then by the Rural District of Yardley and the greater part of the Urban District of King's Norton and Northfield , which were absorbed into Birmingham under the Greater Birmingham Scheme on 9 November 1911. Thus these areas were transferred from Worcestershire to Warwickshire. Dudley's historical status within
4060-524: The Diocese of Worcester and through its aristocratic links ensured that the exclave was governed on a largely autonomous basis. Worcester was designated a county corporate , and thus became separate from the rest of Worcestershire. In 1926, Dudley County Borough council purchased several square miles of land to the north of the town centre, mostly in Sedgley ( Staffordshire ), including Dudley Castle . This
4205-793: The High Middle Ages the county was the site of the Battle of Evesham , in which Simon de Montfort was defeated, and in 1651 the Battle of Worcester 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, Kidderminster became famous for carpet production, and Worcester for porcelain . The county borders Herefordshire to
4350-540: The Hon George Coventry , eldest grandson of the Earl of Coventry, was appointed in his place. The regiment remained at Berry Head for the first part of 1807, forming part of a brigade under Brigadier-General James Thewles. In April it moved to Plymouth Dock. Another round of volunteering for the regulars saw the Worcestershires give up another 233 men, mainly to the Royal Fusiliers and the 43rd Light Infantry; at
4495-676: The Kingdom of Mercia during the 7th century and became part of the unified Kingdom of England in 927. Worcestershire was established as an administrative and defensive unit in the early tenth century. Its purpose was to take into account and defend the estates within the northern area of the historic See of Worcester , held by the Episcopus Hwicciorum and Worcester Priory , along with the Abbots of Pershore , Westminster and Evesham . The shires and its sub-divisions known as hundreds , formed
Worcestershire Militia - Misplaced Pages Continue
4640-579: The Napoleonic Wars , they were supplemented from 1808 by the Local Militia, which were part-time and only to be used within their own districts. These were raised to counter the declining numbers of Volunteers, and if their ranks could not be filled voluntarily the militia ballot was employed. The various units of Worcestershire Volunteers were disbanded and incorporated into five regiments of Local Militia: Although somewhat insubordinate when first formed,
4785-659: The Norman conquest of England ; the Domesday Book noted in 1086 that in seven of the twelve hundreds covering Worcestershire, the Crown had no authority. The Crown's authority was replaced by the Bishop of Worcester and the Abbots at Pershore, Westminster and Evesham. William the Conqueror gave to his allies and friends manors and parishes captured from the Anglo-Saxons. Despite
4930-525: The Severn valley. The Severn is the United Kingdom's longest river and flows through Bewdley , Stourport-on-Severn and Worcester . The River Avon flows through the Worcestershire town on Evesham and joins the Severn at Tewkesbury , Gloucestershire . Several coniferous and deciduous woodlands are located in the north of the county. The Vale of Evesham runs through the south of the county and to its south are
5075-795: The Southern Premier League , and Worcester City of the Midland Football League . The county is home to Worcestershire County Cricket Club , traditionally the first stop on any touring national side's schedule in England. Formed officially in 1865, the Club initially played in Boughton Park, before moving to its current New Road ground, which today can host 5,500 spectators, in 1895. The club has won five County Championships in its history, most recently in 1989. Worcester Rugby Football Club,
5220-584: The Tower of London was issued on 6 October, and the regiment assembled for its first training at Worcester Town Hall on 29 October. Thereafter the regiment assembled annually for its training. The militia was called out after the outbreak of the War of American Independence when the country was threatened with invasion by the Americans' allies, France and Spain. The militia was called out by Royal Warrant dated 26 March 1778 and
5365-519: The Treaty of Utrecht and the accession of King George I , but after 1715 it passed into virtual abeyance. There were only two further trainings: in 1743 and during the Jacobite Rising of 1745 . Under threat of French invasion during the Seven Years' War a series of Militia Acts from 1757 reorganised the county militia regiments , the men being conscripted by means of parish ballots (paid substitutes were permitted) to serve for three years. In peacetime they assembled for 28 days' annual training. There
5510-424: The West Midlands ). Worcestershire County Council was reformed, although some services are shared with the newly formed Herefordshire Council , including waste management and the youth offending service. The former Hereford and Worcester districts of Redditch, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Wychavon and Wyre Forest were retained with little or no change. However the Leominster and Malvern Hills districts straddled
5655-429: The Worcester Warriors , are the county's largest and most successful Rugby Union team, having been promoted to the Premiership in 2004. The Warriors were relegated to the RFU Championship in 2010 but rebounded back to the Premiership in 2011. Worcester Warriors play at the Sixways Stadium on the outskirts of Worcester, holding over 12,000 spectators, thus making it the largest stadium in the county. Sixways has hosted
5800-414: The 16th century little distinction was made between the militia and the troops levied by the counties for overseas expeditions, and between 1585 and 1601 Nottinghamshire supplied 1151 levies for service in Ireland . However, the counties usually conscripted the unemployed and criminals rather than the Trained Bandsmen – in 1585 the Privy Council had ordered the impressment of able-bodied unemployed men, and
5945-499: The 19th century, Worcester was a centre for the manufacture of gloves; the town of Kidderminster became a centre for carpet manufacture, and Redditch specialised in the manufacture of needles, springs and hooks. Droitwich Spa , situated on large deposits of salt, was a centre of salt production from Roman times, with one of the principal Roman roads running through the town. These old industries have since declined, to be replaced by other, more varied light industry . The county
Worcestershire Militia - Misplaced Pages Continue
6090-419: The 1st Provisional Battalion at Haslar on 13 February 1814. The battalion was commanded by Col the Marquess of Buckingham , whose Royal Buckinghamshire Militia supplied nearly half the strength. After the other two provisional battalions had arrived at Portsmouth the whole brigade under Maj-Gen Sir Henry Bayly embarked on three transports on 14 March. First ordered to the Peninsula , then to Bergen op Zoom ,
6235-415: The Army of Occupation and returned to Portsmouth on 16 June. The 1st Provisional Bn was broken up and the officers and men rejoined their regiments. After the despatch of this contingent, and the continued drain of officers and men attracted to transfer to the regular regiments, the Worcestershire Militia was reduced to little more than 300 men. Nevertheless, with the war ending, recruitment by 'beat of drum'
6380-475: The Birmingham boundary at Frankley , Rubery and Rednal . Frankley parish was later split into two: New Frankley and the area around Bartley Reservoir transferred from Bromsgrove District to Birmingham in April 1995; but the small village of Frankley remained in Worcestershire and became a new civil parish under the same name. From 1974, the central and southern parts of the county were amalgamated with Herefordshire and with Worcester County Borough to form
6525-473: The Conference title six years later, their stadium had been upgraded and promotion was granted, giving the county its first (and thus far only) Football League members. However, the club's Football League membership was short-lived, as Harriers were relegated back to the Conference in 2005 after just five years in the Football League, and have yet to reclaim their status. The county is also represented by Alvechurch , Bromsgrove Sporting and Redditch United of
6670-437: The English Militia was re-established in 1662 under the Militia Act of 1661 . It was once again under the control of the king's lords-lieutenant, the men to be selected by ballot. This was popularly seen as the 'Constitutional Force' to counterbalance a 'Standing Army' tainted by association with the New Model Army that had supported Cromwell's military dictatorship, and almost the whole burden of home defence and internal security
6815-415: The King and Waller manoeuvred through the Midlands, the Royalist army rested at Worcester, re-equipping with shoes and stockings, before moving on. Although Waller marched past the city he did not attempt another attack. Later he was defeated by the King's army at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge . By 1646 Worcester was one of the few towns left in Royalist hands. The governor, Col Henry Washington used it as
6960-417: The King's field army at Oxford and took part in several of the major engagements of the war. At the beginning of May 1644 Col 'Tinker' Fox with some of his Parliamentarian troops from Tamworth surprised Bewdley , which was garrisoned by Sir Thomas Lyttelton and about 150 of his TB regiment. Fox marched his prisoners away to Coventry and Lyttelton was sent to the Tower of London . The following month, as
7105-419: The Midland country districts and the necessity did not seem so urgent for inland counties like Worcestershire, far from any potential invasion. Although the Lord Lieutenant, George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry , and his deputies held a public meeting at the Talbot Inn in Sidbury on 27 July 1758, so few gentlemen were willing to accept commissions that the meeting had to be adjourned until 14 August. The question
7250-426: The Militia in emergency. Worcestershire's additional quota was fixed at 825 men. The lieutenancies were required to carry out 20 days' initial training as soon as possible, and Worcestershire trained its men in four 'divisions' between January and April 1797, assisted by a detachment from the regular militia regiment. A year later the Supplementary Militia was called out; half the Worcestershire men were sent to reinforce
7395-412: The Norman Conquest, the rest of the county was still held by the Abbeys of Pershore and Evesham, the Bishop of Worcester and Priory . The first Norman Sheriff Urse d'Abetot , built the castle of Worcester and seized much church land, some of which became part of the Crown's hundreds in Worcestershire. and was in dispute with the Bishop of Worcester over the rights of the sheriff. Bishop Wulfstan
SECTION 50
#17329023379627540-432: The North America campaign. It joined the regiment at Hertford at the end of May. The regiment then left its quarters and marched to spend the summer at Coxheath Camp near Maidstone in Kent, which was the army's largest training camp, while providing a reserve in case of French invasion of South East England. The regiment formed part of the 4th Brigade. On 14 August the regiment left Coxheath to camp at Chatham Lines , with
7685-404: The Portsmouth Garrison, later moving to Portsea. The supplementaries were called out once more and assembled at the Guild Hall, Worcester, on 11 July before joining the regiment and restoring it to 10 companies; it was soon increased to 12. As well as drill, musketry practice and 'sham fights', the duties included coastal patrols and escorting prisoners of war to Reading and Norman Cross Prison . In
7830-408: The Queen ordered 'none of her trayned-bands to be pressed'. Replacing the weapons issued to the levies from the militia armouries was a heavy cost on the counties. In 1603 Worcestershire was assessed as having 2,500 armed men, 230 pioneers, 21 Demi-lancers and 85 'high horses'. Most of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 were Catholic gentlemen from Worcestershire. After the discovery of
7975-418: The Royalist commander, Prince Rupert decided that the old city walls were indefensible, and evacuated the city. To cover the evacuation, Rupert fought one of the first serious actions of the war on 23 September 1642 at Powick Bridge , south of Worcester. Afterwards, the city was plundered by the Parliamentarian troops. However, the Parliamentary army left on 19 October, marching to the Battle of Edgehill , and
8120-495: The Royalists were able to garrison Worcester and improve the fortifications. The garrison consisted of the Worcester TB regiment of foot under Sir Martin Sandys (elder brother of Sir Samuel), while the King commissioned Sir Thomas Lyttelton (or Littleton), 1st Baronet as colonel of the county's horse and foot (presumably the 'country' units outside the city of Worcester). Sir Samuel commanded volunteer (full-time) regiments of horse and foot based at Worcester, probably including some of
8265-402: The Severn Valley and established itself at Worcester to rest and recruit. Oliver Cromwell closed in with the Parliamentary army and militia. Major Mercer with the Worcestershire Horse was sent with Col Robert Lilburne 's force to secure Bewdley bridge north of Worcester and block the Royalists' line of retreat. Then on 3 September Cromwell's numerically superior force advanced down both banks of
8410-408: The Severn and fought its way through the hedgerows and into the city, destroying the Royalist forces. The Worcestershire regiments of foot, horse and dragoons all fought at the Battle of Worcester alongside the Parliamentary army. Mercer's horse at Bewdley were responsible for rounding up many of the fleeing Royalists. The militia were stood down a week later. After the Restoration of the Monarchy
8555-431: The TBs beyond securing the county armouries for their own full-time troops who would serve anywhere in the country, many of whom were former trained bandsmen, or using the TBs as auxiliary units for garrisons. The King commissioned two loyal members of parliament, Sir John Pakington and his brother-in-law Sir Samuel Sandys to raise the Worcestershire Militia for him. However, as the Parliamentary army approached Worcester,
8700-434: The TBs for the Bishops' Wars in Scotland. But many of those sent on this unpopular service were untrained replacements and conscripts. For the Second Bishops' War of 1640, Worcestershire was ordered to march 600 Foot to Newcastle upon Tyne . The raw conscripts were grouped into regional regiments of 1,200 men: Colonel Lord Grandison 's Regiment drew upon Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Gloucestershire . Concerned at
8845-402: The Worcester Regiment did good service during the Burdett riots at Worcester and Kidderminster in June 1811. In 1813 the permanent staff of the local militia were employed as recruiting parties for their regular militia regiments. The local militia were formally disbanded in 1816. An Interchange Act passed in July 1811 allowed English militia regiments to serve in Ireland and vice versa. Almost
SECTION 60
#17329023379628990-548: The Worcestershires detached to Kinnegad in County Westmeath. The French force had already been defeated, but to prevent the planned uprising in Westmeath a brigade of Foot Guards was sent to Mullingar in early October, accompanied by the Worcestershires with their battalion guns. The brigade was broken up shortly afterwards, but the Worcestershires remained at Mullingar, where they were joined by their detached company on 23 October. Because battalion guns would slow down any columns sent in pursuit of rebels, they were taken away from
9135-484: The Worcestershires, mainly to the 43rd Light Infantry and Royal Marines ; this reduced the regiment to 8 companies once more, forcing the surplus officers to retire. As well as the increase in the Regulars, the Volunteers were revived for local defence. In July 1805 the regiment moved to Lympstone Camp, where it joined Lt-Gen Charles Lennox 's militia brigade for the summer while Napoleon 's 'Army of England' massed at Boulogne and threatened invasion. On 1 September
9280-399: The adjutant maintained the armoury and stores at St Nicolas Street (rebuilt in 1807 and expanded in 1813), and were available to assist the civil powers, though their numbers were repeatedly reduced. A Reform Act riot began in Worcester on 5 November 1831 and lasted for several days; the magistrates had made preparations for this eventuality, and the Worcestershire Militia staff was on duty at
9425-485: The area of the administrative county grew only where Stourbridge took in the majority of Amblecote Urban District from Staffordshire and the designation of Redditch in 1964 as a New Town . This in turn saw expansion into the area in and around the villages of Ipsley and Matchborough in Warwickshire. The Redditch New Town designation coincided with a considerable programme of social and private house building in Droitwich , Worcester, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster and along
9570-508: The barracks at Birr , King's County , where it spent the winter. Detachments were sent out for short periods, apparently escorting civilian prisoners. On 2 March 1816 the regiment marched to Roscrea , County Tipperary, and on 8–10 April it shifted to Kilkenny . However, at the end of April it was ordered to return to England, all the militia being disembodied. It embarked at Cork on 24 April and landed at Bristol on 3 May. It marched out on 7–8 May and arrived at Worcester 11–14 May. The regiment
9715-403: The camp at Porchester Castle to Reading, Berkshire . From January to May 1801 the regiment garrisoned Fort Monckton on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour , before returning to Portsmouth. A French invasion force was assembling at Boulogne at this time and all militia officers on leave were ordered to rejoin their regiments. The Supplementary Militia was re-embodied and the Worcestershire
9860-453: The coastline. In July 1798 the Worcestershire Militia moved to Rye and Winchilsea, and the Flank Companies (Grenadier and Light) joined the composite 2nd Grenadier and 2nd Light Infantry Battalions respectively. In an attempt to have as many men as possible under arms for home defence to release regulars, the Government created the Supplementary Militia in 1796, a compulsory levy of men to be trained in their spare time, and to be incorporated in
10005-407: The command and Lt-Col Newport was promoted to succeed him on 6 May 1794. The Earl of Coventry appointed his younger son, the Hon John Coventry, as lt-col at the same time, but he resigned the following year and was succeeded by Maj Thomas Clutton of Pensax Court . The regiment left its quarters round Totnes on 8 May 1794 and returned to summer camp on Roborough Down. The camp broke up in November and
10150-417: The convoy finally arrived off the Garonne estuary to join the Earl of Dalhousie 's division that had occupied Bordeaux . The first boats landing the militia at a village opposite Blaye came under fire from French troops, but in fact the war had already ended with the abdication of Napoleon . Once the brigade had disembarked, the 1st Provisional Bn was quartered at Bordeaux. The brigade did not form part of
10295-414: The counties failed to meet their quotas). Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which the men received full army pay. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by Royal Proclamation for full-time home defence service in three circumstances: Colonel Bund resigned the command of the Worcestershire Militia on grounds of ill-health in July 1852 and Thomas Clutton-Brock
10440-465: The county and city gaols where the rioters threatened to free the prisoners. However, by 1834 many of the militia staffs around the country were unfit for duty and the following year the regimental staff was reduced to a sergeant major and six sergeants under the adjutant. The lease on the depot in St Nicholas St was given up in 1838 (it was later used by the 2nd Worcestershire Rifle Volunteer Corps) and
10585-480: The county is even more colourful, changing hands from Worcestershire to Staffordshire and Warwickshire, before returning to Worcestershire at differing times over the centuries. The southern boundary of the county was also complex, with parish boundaries penetrating deep into Gloucestershire and vice versa. Worcestershire County Council came into existence following the Local Government Act 1888 and covered
10730-409: The county of Hereford & Worcester was abolished, and the non-metropolitan county or shire county of Worcestershire regained its historic border with Herefordshire. The recreated County of Worcestershire came into existence on 1 April 1998 as an administrative and ceremonial county, although this excluded the Black Country towns of Dudley, Halesowen, Oldbury and Stourbridge (which remained part of
10875-523: The county's highest point. The southwest contains a small part of the Cotswolds , and in the northwest is part of the Wyre Forest , a national nature reserve . There is some evidence of Roman occupation in Worcestershire; the area later became part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Hwicce , and then Mercia . Worcestershire was constituted as a county around 927, as the Kingdom of England formed. During
11020-633: The county: the Severn and the Avon . The geographical area now known as Worcestershire was first populated at least 700,000 years ago. The area became predominantly agricultural in the Bronze Age , leading to population growth and more evidence of settlement. By the Iron Age , hill forts dominated the landscape. Settlement of these swiftly ended with the Roman occupation of Britain. The Roman period saw establishment of
11165-453: The east, Gloucestershire to the south, and Herefordshire to the west. The city of Worcester is the largest settlement and the county town . The county is largely rural, and has an area of 1,741 km (672 sq mi) and a population of 592,057. After Worcester (103,872) the largest settlements are Redditch (87,036), Kidderminster (57,400), and Malvern (30,462). It contains six local government districts , which are part of
11310-538: The exception of a detachment that returned to Worcester with the time-expired men and remained there while the next ballot was carried out. The newly balloted men arrived in November, and then the regiment dispersed to quarters in North Kent, with headquarters at Sittingbourne . Smuggling was a major problem along the Kent coast, and the regiment was ordered to send a company to Herne to support revenue officers. In early December
11455-772: The final of the LV Cup on three occasions. The village of Broadheath , about 6.2 miles (10 km) northwest of the city of Worcester, is the birthplace of the composer Edward Elgar . It is claimed that the county was the inspiration for the Shire , a region of J. R. R. Tolkien 's fictional Middle-earth , described in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . Tolkien was thought to have named Bilbo Baggins ' house " Bag End " after his Aunt Jane's Worcestershire farm. Tolkien wrote of Worcestershire, "Any corner of that county (however fair or squalid)
11600-533: The first half of 1804 the regiment was in Portsmouth with occasional detachments at Portsea, Hilsea , Fort Cumberland and Lyndhurst . From June it was camped on Southsea Common . In November the regiment marched to winter quarters in Devonshire, at Ottery St Mary Barracks (7 companies), Taunton (3) and Honiton (2). A new Act of Parliament early in 1805 encouraged volunteering into the regular army and 196 men left
11745-413: The historic traditional county , except for two designated county boroughs at Dudley and Worcester. Birmingham's continuous expansion has been a major cause of Worcestershire's fluid boundary changes and associated housing issues. The district of Balsall Heath , which had originally constituted the most northerly part of the parish of King's Norton , was the first area of the county to be added to
11890-450: The historic border, so a new Malvern Hills district was constituted which straddled the pre-April 1974 county boundary to the west, south-west and north-west. The remaining parts of the former Hereford and Worcester district of Leominster, returned to Herefordshire. These settlements were historically part of the county as noted above, that now fall under the counties of Warwickshire and West Midlands . The Malvern Hills , which run from
12035-513: The jurisdiction of the queen mother. In 1642, the Battle of Powick Bridge was the first major skirmish of the English Civil War . The county suffered from being on the Royalist front line, as it was subject to heavy taxation and the pressing of men into the Royalist army, which also reduced its productive capacity. The northern part of the county, which was already a centre of iron production,
12180-526: The main geographical area of Worcestershire and completely surrounded by the nearby counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Oxfordshire . The most notable islands were Dudley, Evenlode, Blockley and the area around Shipston-on-Stour. Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire had their own exclaves within the main part of Worcestershire at Rochford , Broome , Clent, Tardebigge ( Tutnall and Cobley ) and Halesowen respectively. Tardebigge's history outside
12325-531: The men recently drafted from the Supplementaries) was left at Wigan . The regiment arrived at Dublin on 19–20 September and was billeted in the neighbourhood of St Stephen's Green . Together with the Bedfordshire and East Suffolk Militia the Worcestershires formed a brigade under the command of Major-General William Wemyss . The principal duty was guarding the bridges night and day, with one company of
12470-611: The middle of 1811, except September–October 1809 when it camped on Southsea Common. In May 1811 the regiment foiled a breakout attempt by French prisoners held at Porchester Castle: six of them managed to scale the wall, but three were caught in the act, the other three recaptured soon afterwards. At the end of June 1811 the regiment marched out of Porchester to Weymouth, Dorset , arriving on 2–3 July, then moving on again on 30–31 July to Wells , Somerton and Ilchester in Somerset. On 26–27 August it moved on to Bristol, which became its base for
12615-605: The militia obligation was universal, it was impractical to train and equip every able-bodied man, so after 1572 the practice was to select a proportion of men for the Trained bands , (TBs) who were mustered for regular training. In 1586–7, following the outbreak of the Anglo-Spanish War , Queen Elizabeth 's government ordered the TBs to be mustered and made ready to march at short notice. Worcestershire mustered 63 Horse and 672 Foot. During
12760-407: The militia was kept up to strength by the ballot and was supposed to assemble for 28 days' training annually, even though to save money only two-thirds of the men were actually called out each year. In 1786 the number of permanent non-commissioned officers (NCOs) was also reduced. Lieutenant-Col Walsh resigned in 1787 and was succeeded by James Wakeman Newport of Hanley Court, formerly a lieutenant in
12905-401: The militia were offered bounties to volunteer for the regular army, about 200 of the Worcestershires volunteered, mainly for the 9th , 31st and 56th Foot , of which 85 came from the flank companies. The forces in Ireland could now be reduced, and the Worcestershires embarked for home on 29 August, landing at Liverpool next day. The regiment was immediately marched back to Worcester and after
13050-585: The militia were ordered back to their counties to be disembodied. The Worcestershires arrived at Worcester on 2 August and dispersed on 5 August 1814 After Napoleon's return to France in April 1815 a portion of the militia was ordered out. Although the Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June and hostilities ended soon afterwards, a large Army of Occupation remained in France leaving the UK denuded of troops. The Worcestershires were assembled at Bromsgrove for permanent duty on 10 July (not being allowed into Worcester until
13195-457: The morning of 29 May, beginning with an artillery bombardment at 06.00, and by 10.00 he had cleared the suburbs and outworks. But his attacks on the Sidbury and St Martin's gates were repulsed, and the garrison launched a sortie though St Martin's gate. Waller decided not to press this First Siege of Worcester , and left the following morning. Afterwards Sir Samuel Sandys' professional regiments joined
13340-449: The necessary legislation was passed by parliament it was one of 13 regiments whose offer was accepted. To save time, the men were taken to the embarkation ports in waggons rather than marching. The flank companies rejoined and the regiment with its battalion guns left Winchelsea and Rye on 3 September, embarking on transport ships at Rock Ferry , opposite Liverpool , on 18 September. A detachment of men who refused to serve in Ireland (mainly
13485-539: The night. They assembled again next day, in greater numbers, but faced by the militia's muskets they eventually went home. Detachments of the regiment also forcibly dispersed large mobs of rioters at Helstone , Penzance and Land's End . The regiment was relieved in April 1796, moving back into Devonshire where it was quartered around Tavistock , moving to the Crewkerne area of Somerset in May, and then to various towns in Kent for
13630-419: The opposition. The Earl of Coventry commissioned the first officers on 17 June 1770, headed by a former 3rd Foot Guards officer, Nicholas Lechmere (Lechmere Charlton after 1784), as Colonel. Shortly afterwards the first Regular Army sergeants were appointed to the permanent staff of the regiment. Having raised 60 per cent of the regiment's establishment by ballot, the order to supply arms and accoutrements from
13775-425: The others in small detachments in surrounding villages and towns. While in Devonshire the regiment was frequently called upon to assist the civil powers in suppressing riots, and by the end of April the whole regiment was quartered in the disturbed areas around Crediton and Tiverton . On 27 June it marched to Roborough Down, where once again it went into summer camp as part of a militia brigade. Here musketry training
13920-478: The plot, their leader Robert Catesby and others withdrew to Holbeche House , where they were surrounded by a 200-strong detachment of Worcestershire TBs under the High Sheriff , Sir Richard Walsh . When they refused to surrender the militia stormed the house, killing Catesby and several other leaders and capturing the rest. Another TB party under Sir Henry Bromley of Holt Castle , acting on information from one of
14065-424: The post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 , on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as Sheriff was retitled High Sheriff . Under the same act Herefordshire and Worcestershire were merged to form the new county of Hereford and Worcester , therefore the office of Sheriff of Worcestershire
14210-581: The prevalence of Roman Catholicism among the gentry, the Worcestershire troops demanded that their officers take Anglican Communion with the men and pledge that the campaign against the Scottish covenanters would not be to the disadvantage of the Protestant faith. Control of the TBs was one of the major points of dispute between Charles I and Parliament that led to the First English Civil War . When open warfare broke out neither side made much use of
14355-513: The prisoners, then searched Hindlip Hall and captured two Jesuit priests linked to the plot. With the passing of the threat of invasion, the TBs declined in the early 17th century. Later, King Charles I attempted to reform them into a national force or 'Perfect Militia' answering to the king rather than local control. The Worcestershire TBs in 1638 consisted of 491 musketeers and 309 ' Corslets ' (armoured men, signifying pikemen), together with 70 Horse. In 1639 and 1640 Charles attempted to employ
14500-506: The reformed Worcestershire Militia was assembled for 'permanent duty' for the first time on 20 April. The regiment was supplied with a complete new set of accoutrements. It became normal policy to gather the militia regiments into encampments during the summer months where they could be exercised in larger formations alongside Regular troops.. The Worcestershire began its first march outside the county on 4 June, on its way to Warley Camp in Essex. As
14645-658: The regiment at Fareham in November. Another 150 men of the regiment volunteered for the regulars under a new Act of Parliament in October, including one complete company of officers and men for the 36th Foot . On 11 December the regiment moved to Portsea , where the remaining 85 men drafted from the Supplementary Militia were sent to Worcester to be disembodied. The regiment was now reduced to eight companies. It moved into barracks in Portsmouth during 1800. The duties at Portsea and Portsmouth included escorting prisoners of war from
14790-537: The regiment disbanded on 26 December. When the Supplementary Militia were re-embodied during the invasion crisis of 1801, 268 men were sent to augment the 1st Worcestershires, but the 2nd Worcestershire was not revived. In the summer of 1798 the Irish Rebellion became serious, and the French were sending help to the rebels. The 1st Worcestershire was among the militia regiments that volunteered to serve in Ireland and once
14935-452: The regiment marched to Gillingham , where it was joined by the Herne detachment, and then on 16–18 December left in three divisions for Shrewsbury , Shropshire, arriving on 3–5 January 1780. The Worcestershire Militia spent the whole of 1780 at Shrewsbury, except during the elections in the autumn, when it was removed from the town and dispersed to smaller towns nearby. The Worcestershire Militia
15080-401: The regiment was 720 strong under the command of Lt-Col Thomas Clutton. On 15 September the brigade marched to Hemerdon, arriving on 20 September. This march was carried out as if in enemy territory, with the local Volunteers and Yeomanry contesting the way. The camp at Hemerdon was broken up on 21 October and the Worcestershires marched to their winter quarters at Exeter. In February 1806, while
15225-426: The regiment was at Exeter, Lt-Col Clutton died and Lt-Col St Clair, previously commanding 2nd Worcestershire Militia and now MP for Callington , was brought in to replace him. During the summer detachments of the regiment were moved around Devonshire, before it concentrated in October at Berry Head above Tor Bay , where it was quartered for the winter in hut barracks. Lieutenant-Col St John resigned his commission and
15370-522: The regiment was quartered in Falmouth , Redruth and Truro in Cornwall. In March 1795 the company at Redruth went to Penzance to put down disturbances, and the regiment was also used to arrest smugglers. In April 1796 around 3000 striking Cornish tin miners approached Truro, seized the magistrates and seriously wounded a corporal of the regiment. The part of the regiment quartered at the town, about 300 strong,
15515-525: The regiment was set at 53 NCOs and drummers on the permanent staff, and a quota of 616 privates in eight companies, including the flank companies. However, the Peace of Amiens was short-lived and the Worcestershire Militia was embodied on 11 March 1803, before Britain declared war on France once more on 18 May The regiment marched on 18 and 19 May for Gosport, where it was quartered in Haslar Barracks as part of
15660-493: The regiments and formed into brigades manned by the Royal Artillery, the Worcestershires' being sent to Dublin. Although the main rebellion was now over, the duty could be dangerous. In October a detachment of the Worcestershires under Capt Ferdinando Smith was sent to protect Clonard . On the night of 28 October a party of rebels armed with rifles, cutlasses and pikes, attacked Mrs Kelso's house at Clonard, killing in their beds
15805-456: The regular militia regiment, the other half formed the 2nd Worcestershire or Supplementary Militia of four companies, which was embodied at Worcester on 15 May 1798 under Ambrose St John, promoted to Lt-Col Commandant. It marched out on 7 June and arrived at Poole in Dorsetshire, where it was accommodated in the barracks throughout the winter of 1798–9. In July 1799 the Supplementary Militia
15950-457: The rest being substitutes, who generally made better soldiers (by 1795 the shortage of substitutes was such that the Worcestershires were offering 15 guineas (£15.75) bounty to volunteers, the most that even regular regiments were allowed to offer). The French Revolutionary Wars saw a new phase for the English militia: they were embodied for a whole generation, and became regiments of full-time professional soldiers (though restricted to service in
16095-489: The same time counties that did not keep their militia up to at least three-quarters of establishment strength were fined. The Worcestershires were now offering bounties of £24 10 shillings to men willing to enlist as substitutes for balloted men. In 1809 another 220 men left, more than half to the Royal Fusiliers. In March 1808 the regiment moved from Plymouth to Portsmouth. It remained at Portsea Barracks or Porchester until
16240-699: The south in Washford , and GKN (it has the second largest turnover in the West Midlands) is in Riverside . Mettis Aerospace are in Enfield, north Redditch, and make light metal components ( former High Duty Alloys , which made most of the forged pistons for Britain's aircraft engines in WWII). Phoenix Group (non-public life assurance schemes) is in the north-east of the county near the Warwickshire boundary, at Wythall , and has
16385-467: The south of the county into Herefordshire, are made up mainly of volcanic igneous rocks and metamorphic rocks , some of which date from more than 1,200 million years ago. They are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Worcestershire Beacon , which at 425 metres (1,394 ft) is the highest point in the county, lies in this range. The rest of the county consists of undulating hills and farmland stretching either side of
16530-412: The staff's weapons were stored at Worcester Gaol. Colonel Newport (Newport-Charlett from 1821) died in 1838 after 44 years in command and was succeeded by Lt-Col George Coventry, now the 8th Earl of Coventry; Maj Thomas Henry Bund, formerly of the 13th Light Dragoons , was promoted to lt-col. The Earl of Coventry died in 1843 and Lt-Col Bund was promoted in his place, Maj Thomas Clutton-Brock, formerly of
16675-506: The summer. On 10 October the regiment marched to the Sussex coast, with headquarters and 4 companies at Hastings , 3 at Rye and 2 at Winchelsea . Although these were winter quarters, the regiment was placed on invasion alert. In June 1797 headquarters moved to Eastbourne , but in July it moved to Blatchington Barracks , outside Brighton , where it was to stay for a year, with constant patrols along
16820-553: The third civil war. There was little enthusiasm or local participation in the mostly Scottish Royalist army, whose defeat was widely welcomed. Nevertheless, Parliamentarian forces ransacked the city of Worcester , causing heavy damage, looting and destruction of property. Around 10,000 mostly Scottish prisoners were sent into forced labour in the New World or fen drainage schemes. The small bands of Scots that fled into Worcestershire's countryside were attacked by local forces and killed. In
16965-411: The three privates of the regiment posted there for her protection. The rebels were pursued, some being killed and others captured. In September parties of rebels seized Wilson's Hospital School and Port Lemon House, and after they were driven out detachments of the Worcestershires were posted to guard them, with another guard at Baronston House to prevent similar attacks. Later that year Wilson's Hospital
17110-587: The total number of people in every ethnic group increased between 2001 and 2011, the White British share of Worcestershire's population decreased from 95.5% to 92.4%, as did the share of White ethnic groups as whole, which went from 97.5% to 95.7%. Worcestershire is still much more ethnically homogeneous than the national average. In 2011, 79.8% of the population of England identified as White British; much lower than Worcestershire's figure of 92.4%. 95.7 0.4 1.2 0.2 100 In Redditch are Halfords , to
17255-402: The trained bandsmen or at least their weapons. On 25 April 1643 Sir William Waller 's Parliamentary force easily captured Hereford . He then moved on Worcester with 3000 men and eight guns, anticipating an equally feeble resistance. However, the defences had been improved and the 1500-strong garrison, including the regiments of both Sandys brothers, rejected Waller's summons. Waller attacked on
17400-414: The two 6-pounders, which provoked a barrage of stones thrown by the rioters, casing several injuries to the militiamen. At the end of the hour, with the numbers of rioters increasing rather than dispersing, the magistrates ordered the 6-pounders to be fired over their heads and the militiamen to charge with the bayonet. The result was 20–30 wounded, a number of ringleaders arrested, and the crowd dispersed for
17545-507: The villa system in the Cotswolds and Vale of Evesham. Droitwich (Salinae) was probably the most important settlement in the county in this period, due to its product of salt. There is also evidence for Roman settlement and industrial activity around Worcester and King's Norton. The area which became Worcestershire formed the heartland of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the Hwicce . It was absorbed by
17690-418: The west, Shropshire to the north-west, Staffordshire only just to the north, West Midlands to the north and north-east, Warwickshire to the east and Gloucestershire to the south. The western border with Herefordshire includes a stretch along the top of the Malvern Hills . At the southern border with Gloucestershire, Worcestershire meets the northern edge of the Cotswolds . Two major rivers flow through
17835-418: The whole of the Worcestershire Militia volunteered for this duty while it was stationed at Bristol, but in the event the regiment was not been sent there. However, another Act passed in November 1813 invited the militia to volunteer for limited overseas service, primarily for garrison duties in Europe. Four officers and 137 other ranks of the Worcestershire Militia volunteered for this extended service, and joined
17980-536: The winter of 1811. The regiment remained in Bristol until 25–26 March 1812, when it returned to Colwert Barracks at Portsmouth under Lt-Col Coventry (now Viscount Deerhurst since his father had succeeded to the earldom). While at Portsmouth the regiment provided a detachment to serve as marines guarding prisoners of war held on warships in the harbour. While the Regular Militia were the mainstay of national defence during
18125-466: Was a property qualification for officers, who were commissioned by the lord lieutenant. An adjutant and drill sergeants were to be provided to each regiment from the Regular Army , and arms and accoutrements would be supplied when the county had secured 60 per cent of its quota of recruits. Worcestershire was assessed to raise 560 men in one regiment, but conscription by ballot was deeply unpopular in
18270-605: Was an invasion threat from France. In 1697 the counties were required to submit detailed lists of their militia. The County and City of Worcester under Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury as Lord Lieutenant, mustered a Foot regiment of seven companies totalling 786 men with Shrewsbury himself as Colonel, and Sir James Rushout, 1st Baronet , MP for Evesham , as his Lieutenant-Colonel , together with two troops of horse, each 60 strong, under Captains Lord Herbert of Chirbury and William Bromley of Holt Castle , MP for Worcester. The militia were mustered for annual training until
18415-512: Was at drill under Maj Ambrose St John ; he issued ammunition and drew them up to prevent the rioters entering the town. The rioters attempted to seize the men's muskets, and were then driven back across the bridge at the point of the bayonet by the Grenadier Company. The magistrates read the Riot Act and gave the rioters an hour to disperse; St John also ordered the men to load their muskets and
18560-399: Was augmented by 268 of these men. However, the crisis soon passed and a peace treaty was agreed on 1 October. The militia were sent back to their counties to prepare for disembodiment: the Worcestershires arrived on 23–24 November and were quartered around the county. The Peace of Amiens was signed on 28 March 1802 and the regiment was disembodied at Worcester on 20 April. The establishment of
18705-560: Was converted into a temporary barracks for five companies of the regiment, which with the Bedfordshire and Londonderry Militia and the Northumberland Fencibles formed Maj-Gen Charles Barnett's brigade. The duty consisted of escorting prisoners, searching for arms, and scouring the neighbourhood for rebels. In June 1799 the regiment returned to Dublin, where it was billeted in houses round Rutland Square and Sackville Street . When
18850-422: Was disembodied on 15 May 1816. After Waterloo there was another long peace. Although officers continued to be commissioned into the militia and ballots were still held, the regiments were rarely assembled for training: for the Worcestershires, like most other regiments, this was only in 1820, 1821, 1825 and 1831. The ballot was suspended after 1831 and never reinstated. The permanent staff of NCOs and drummers under
18995-487: Was emphasised, and Lt-Col Wakeman Newport commanded the attacking brigade in the usual 'sham fight'. The regiment also sent parties to recapture a large number of French prisoners of war who had broken out of Plymouth. The camp broke up on 15 October and the Worcestershires proceeded to winter quarters at Totnes and surrounding towns. Worcestershire was able to raise a 10th company for the regiment, paid for by voluntary subscriptions. Early in 1794 Col Lechmere-Charlton resigned
19140-596: Was entrusted to the militia under politically reliable local landowners. In 1667 the Worcestershire Militia was called out to suppress an insurrection among apprentices at Worcester, but the rioters dispersed when the militia arrived. There was a general call-out of the militia regiments of south-west England in 1685 in response to the Monmouth Rebellion , but they were not involved during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. They were embodied again in 1690 when there
19285-450: Was important for military supplies. Parliamentarian raids and Royalist requisitioning both placed a great strain on the county. There were tensions from the participation of prominent Catholic recusants in the military and civilian organisation of the county. Combined with the opposition to requisitioning from both sides, bands of Clubmen formed to keep the war away from their localities. The Battle of Worcester in 1651 effectively ended
19430-530: Was ordered from Shrewsbury to Bristol on 26 March 1781, and spent some time there, where the principal duty was guarding French prisoners of war . During the year the regiment leased land at Worcester where it established its depot. At the end of the year Lt-Col Dowdeswell resigned his commission because of blindness, and Maj Walsh was promoted in his place. On 22 April 1782 the regiment was ordered to Taunton and Bridgwater in Somerset, then on 21 June to Roborough Down , near Plymouth , Devonshire,where it joined
19575-566: Was part of a wider campaign by the De Montforts and their allies in the run-up to the Second Barons' War , aimed at undermining Henry III. Worcestershire was the site of the Battle of Evesham in which Simon de Montfort was killed on 4 August 1265. A few years later, in 1275, the Jews that were still living in Worcester were forced to move to Hereford , as they were expelled from all towns under
19720-589: Was promoted to command the regiment on 3 August 1852 with Maj Thomas Clowes promoted to Lt-Col. Enlistment for the reformed regiment opened on 1 September 1852 and the first 'division' began its training on 12 April 1853 in a field behind the Talbot Inn on the Tything at Worcester, assisted by drill instructors from the 77th Foot . The Worcestershire Lieutenancy bought a house and land in St George's Square and converted it into
19865-403: Was reduced, the surplus men being encouraged to volunteer for the regular army: 78 of the 2nd Worcestershires joined the 46th and 62nd Regiments of Foot and the Royal Artillery. Another 42 volunteered for various regiments in October. The regiment left Poole Barracks in July 1799, and after moving round the Portsmouth area it left for Worcester on 13 December. The remaining men were paid off and
20010-460: Was scattered in winter quarters among the towns and villages around Dorchester and Wareham . The Peace of Paris having been negotiated, the militia were sent to their home counties for disembodiment. The Worcestershires left Dorchester on 28 February 1783 and marched into Worcester on 13 March. The men were dismissed to their homes by 22 March, the volunteer company was disbanded and the original nine companies were disembodied. From 1784 to 1792
20155-725: Was some time before they were persuaded to withdraw their threats of resignation. The camp ended with a review by the King and Queen and a 'sham fight' on 20 October. The Worcestershires left camp on 9 November and went into winter quarters at Hertford , with 3 companies detached to Ware and Wadesmill , and 2 to Hoddesdon . In 1778 Parliament had sanctioned the augmentation of the militia regiments by an additional company recruited by voluntary enlistment. The Worcestershires raised their company at Kidderminster and Halesowen in March and April 1779 and trained it as Light Infantry, then coming into favour in
20300-521: Was suspended. On 9–10 May 1814 the regiment left Portsmouth and marched to Bristol, taking over responsibility for the French and American prisoners of war in Stapleton Prison . The returned men of the 1st Provisional Bn rejoined here. Over the following weeks, detachments escorted parties of these prisoners to Gosport and Exeter prior to their repatriation. With the signing of a peace treaty in Paris, most of
20445-536: Was the last Anglo-Saxon bishop in England, and remained in post until his death in 1095. Under his tenure Worcester Cathedral began major reconstruction, and he opposed political interventions against William and the Normans. He was later made a saint. During Henry III 's disputes and wars with his Barons, in 1263 Worcester 's Jewish residents were attacked by a baronial force led by Robert Earl Ferrers and Henry de Montfort . Most were killed. The massacre in Worcester
20590-419: Was the normal procedure the regiment proceeded in two 'divisions', one of 5 companies, one of 4, taking different routes until they went into billets in various Essex villages on 16 June before moving to Warley Common and camping on 19 June. By 1 July a force of over 8000 men had joined the camp. As well as drill and training, the regiments supplied working parties to clear the furze off the common and to build
20735-475: Was then postponed to the following year, and this was repeated for several succeeding years. Most English counties reformed their militia in 1759–60, but the Worcestershire gentry were apathetic, preferring to pay a large fine instead of raising their regiment. In the event Worcestershire did not reform its militia until 1770, long after the Seven Years' War had ended, when a new Militia Act of 1769 quelled some of
20880-569: Was to build the Priory Estate , a large new council estate on which construction began in 1929. The boundaries of Worcestershire were altered to include all of the proposed new housing estate in Dudley. During the Local Government reorganisation of April 1966, Dudley expanded beyond its historical boundaries and took in the bulk of Sedgley , Brierley Hill and the south of Coseley as well as
21025-466: Was updated by two acts of 1557 covering musters ( 4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 3) and the maintenance of horses and armour ( 4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 2). The county militia was now under the Lord Lieutenant , assisted by the deputy lieutenants and justices of the peace (JPs). The entry into force of these acts in 1558 is seen as the starting date for the organised county militia in England. Although
#961038