Closed Costa Coffee and Golden Lion pub: death mask talks

Costa Coffee in Worcester High Street, once the Golden Lion pub, has been closed now for more than year with the building surrounded by boards and scaffolding as work continues inside.

The building contains a rare English Civil War era death mask which heritage champions are eager to preserve and, if possible, display. 

HERITAGE: Daniel Daniel, chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, is keen to preserve the death masks of William Guise for posterity (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The Costa branch closed its doors for the final time on Wednesday, September 13 last year and all staff have now moved to the new location - the former Paperchase building, also on the High Street.

However, talks are taking place behind the scenes to conserve one of the hidden gems inside - the death mask of William Guise who played a key role in the events of the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651.

MACABRE: The death mask of William Guise at the back of the former Costa Coffee and Golden Lion pub in Worcester High Street (Image: James Connell/Newsquest) The rare and macabre mask lies at the back of the building. Guise was a local tailor who betrayed the royalists’ plans, helping Cromwell to take Worcester during the battle and was hanged for treachery.

WORK: The former Costa Coffee in Worcester High Street opposite Worcester Guildhall has been closed for a year after the business moved to a new location (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

There is also a replica of the death mask inside the coffee shop itself with a plaque explaining its historic significance. 

Daniel Daniels, chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, said discussions were taking place with the owner and Worcester City Council.

REPAIRS: Work at the former Costa in Worcester High Street is continuing with this branch closed for a year (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

However, he said the move was 'not going to happen overnight'.

He added: "The owner and the managing agent have been very helpful in assisting us with the move and in our discussions.

"We have also engaged the services of a stonemason with regard to the best way to remove the masks to ensure their continued preservation for future generations.

"We are looking at various locations for the masks including the Commandery."

ROYAL: The King Charles II statue at Worcester Guildhall but William Guise, the man who betrayed the Royalists, was actually from the city (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Paul Harding of Discover History believes Worcester Guildhall (directly opposite the former Costa) would be a good place to display the replica death mask.

However, he feels the original should stay at or near its location, possibly displayed high up near the Golden Lion.

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Mr Harding said: "He (Guise) informed the Parliamentarians and when Sir William Keith and Major Knox attacked, the Royalists were ambushed in the darkness. Another example of the not-so-Faithful City."

A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: “We are working with the Battle of Worcester Society and the building owner on a solution to see if the original and the copy masks can be moved from their current locations without being damaged.

“Removal and relocation of the masks will require Listed Building Consent.

“If both masks can be safely moved then the masks would be relocated to a more prominent location, where the public can view them more easily and better understand their historical significance.”

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