Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Worcester is a cathedral city standing on the River Severn, the county town of Worcestershire. As the 'cester' in the name suggests, the town has Roman origins though the nature and scale of this settlement remains unclear. Worcester's written history begins in the 7th century by which time it was an Anglo-Saxon settlement known as 'Weorgoran ceaster' ("city of the people by the winding river"). In 680 AD, Worcester was elevated with the appointment of a bishop and the construction of its first cathedral. The present cathedral, on the riverbank overlooking the Severn, was built between 1084 and 1504 and represents every style of English architecture from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic. During the Middle Ages, Worcester flourished as a market town and became known for its wool and leather industries. In later centuries, Worcester became famous for glove-making and porcelain, particularly Royal Worcester porcelain founded in the 18th century. The city is within the council area of Worcester (Worcestershire).

Place Type: City
Historic County: Worcestershire
Lat, Long: 52.192897,-2.221105
Grid Reference: SO 8498 5498
Council Area: Worcester CA (Worcestershire CA)
Police Area: West Mercia PA

GBPN ID: 50943
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Worcester,_Worcestershire_50943

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