Worcester: When Admiral Lord Nelson visited in August 1802

Charisma that is. For when Admiral Lord Nelson, victor on The Nile and at Copenhagen – he hadn’t even fought Trafalgar then – visited Worcester in August 1802, it was bedlam.

Folk rushed from all parts, many thousands of them, to line the streets, cramming into every window and vantage point to catch sight of the great man and his beautiful companion.

Whoever was on weekend duty for Berrow’s Worcester Journal turned out too and filed a suitably sabre rattling piece which began: “The intention of the illustrious Hero to visit the city, being known a few hours previous to his arrival, a great concourse of people assembled to hail his approach with heartfelt acclamation and, taking the horses from his carriage, drew it to the Hop Pole Inn amidst the grateful plaudits of the admiring spectators who lined the streets and filled the windows.

"The brave avenger of his country’s wrongs was also greeted by the joyous peels of the city’s church bells, several discharges of cannon and by various outbursts of esteem and respect until Night had completely drawn her sable mantle over the scene.”

Nelson had travelled to Worcester from Downton Castle, near Ludlow, in the company of his mistress, the beautiful Emma, Lady Hamilton, and her rather older husband Sir William who shuffled along behind.

Mind you the national icon didn’t look a lot better. Speaking a few years later, James Plant, who had been a china painter in Chamberlain’s factory in Diglis which the party visited, recalled of Nelson: “A battered-looking gentleman made his appearance. He had lost an arm and an eye. Leaning his left and only arm was Lady Hamilton, evidently pleased at the interest excited by her companion. And then among the general company came a very infirm old gentleman. This was Sir William Hamilton.”

The party had visited Chamberlain’s, rather than the more famous porcelain factory in Worcester, because it was owned by a friend of mine host at The Hop Pole Inn where they stayed overnight.

The Hop Pole was Worcester’s premier hostelry in the early 1800s. Younger members of the Royal Family often used it and Princess Victoria was to stay there in 1830. It stood on the corner of Shaw Street and Foregate Street but the building has long gone as a hotel. In recent decades it has been occupied by estate agents.

The Freedom of the City was bestowed on Nelson and Cooken Street was renamed Copenhagen Street in his honour.

Nelson’s visit has been one of Worcester’s August highlights over the centuries and here are a few more according to the city’s History and Heritage calendar. Beginning with another VIP occasion.

August 5, 1788: King George III and Queen Charlotte visited Worcester. They actually arrived in the city on the 5th but the visit really started on the 6th according to Thomas Pitt who documented the event. Apparently the Bishops of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester and “the nobility of the county” were all present for a rather odd little ceremony called “His Majesty’s Levée”, which was basically the King getting out of bed. The royal couple stayed at what is now the old Bishop's Palace and over the course of the visit were entertained with concerts inside the cathedral, a ball at College Hall, a walk around the city on the 7th and a procession from the Palace to the Guildhall on the 8th. Thanks to Pitt the visit is recorded in great detail and so we have account of how, on the 7th while walking the city, the crowd became so great the Queen and Princesses took refuge and the King went back to the Palace to order the coach to collect them. Done, according to Pitt, by going through back alleys and passages to avoid the crowd. The King and his party left on the 9th but not before buying great quantities of porcelain and releasing 18 people from prison.

August 11, 1558: Thomas Wylde bequeaths land to the Worcester Free School. An important character in the history of Worcester. He was MP for the city from 1548 to his death in 1558 and was a clothier by trade. A local to Worcester, he represented its interests in parliament, especially around the cloth industry, but had a keen interest in its free school. Alongside securing £8 from the treasury for it (a lot of money back then!) he also bequeathed Little Pitchcroft and four-and-a-half acres in Great Pitchcroft to re-establish the school “for the bringing up of youth in their ABC, matins and evensong and other learning”. His generosity would have given an education to many in the city who otherwise wouldn't have been so fortunate at a time when being able to do ABCs were the preserve of the privileged.

August 13, 1575: Historian Valentine Green was there and wrote: “On Saturday 13 August in the 17th year of the reign, our most victorious sovereign Lady Elizabeth came towards this city riding upon her palfrey. Mr Bellu, an orator, began his oration at the end of which people cried with loud voice unto whom she said often times I thank you all. She passed towards the cathedral where she diligently viewed the tomb of King John together with the chapel and tomb of her dear uncle Prince Arthur.” Royal reporting as it was.

August 25, 1964: Worcestershire became county cricket champions for the first time when Gloucestershire were defeated by an innings and two runs at New Road. Roy Booth, the best wicketkeeper never to play for England, clinched victory with the stumping of Ken Graveney off the bowling of Norman Gifford. There was still a nervous wait until news came through from Southampton that Warwickshire, the Pears' closest rivals, had been beaten by Hampshire.

On August 31 the following year, Worcestershire retained the County Championship with only seven minutes of the match against Sussex at Hove remaining. Needing 132 to win in the final session, six wickets were lost before Dick Richardson hit the winning runs. It was the County’s seventh consecutive win to cap a remarkable end to the season.

August 26, 2004: The Pump House Environment Centre project in Waterworks Road, backed by Duckworth Worcester Trust, was opened. The building was converted in two phases with renewable energy technologies used, including ground source energy, wind turbines and solar panels. Displays on environmental issues were installed for the public opening. Since those early days DWT has remained dedicated to conservation and protection of the environment with many projects involving volunteers while founder Cecil Duckworth, who died in 2020, remains one of Worcester’s greatest benefactors.

And finally, in August 1818: William Handy sold the land that will become Britannia Square. Worcester remained little changed for much of its history. The city had mostly stuck to within its walls and the outside areas were, and always had been, country wilderness or farmland. One such area was the land beyond Foregate, Barbourne and heading towards the Ombersley Road. At the turn of the 19th century, however, things were changing, the population was swelling with industrialisation and the up-and-coming middle class looked to escape the city centre. It was then William Handy, of Pound Farm in Barbourne, saw his opportunity. Beginning in 1818 he sold parts of his land to perspective developers and by 1840 Britannia Square as we know it today was complete. Built in the classic Georgian style, the properties were to the taste of the wealthy who would live in them and the square now is important to Worcester both historically and culturally.