AN HISTORIC banner project will see Worcester’s civil war past flying high.
The Battle of Worcester Society, in partnership with Worcester Sixth Form College, Royal Grammar School Worcester, and Heart of Worcestershire College, has announced plans for a groundbreaking initiative to honour the city’s unique position in English Civil War history.
The project will see the creation of historical banners that symbolise Worcester’s pivotal role, as it hosted both the war’s beginning with the Battle of Powick Bridge in 1642 and its end with the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Worcester’s banners will be authentically hand painted by local students, guided by their teachers and the Battle of Worcester Society. These creations will echo the designs and emblems of the 17th-century regiments, offering a visual journey through Worcester’s historical landscape.
Pending council planning approval, the first banners will be displayed in Copenhagen Street in summer 2025, establishing a vibrant, history inspired addition to the city’s streets.
The project has already got off to a flying start, with Chris Hodson, art and design technician of Worcester Sixth Form College creating an initial banner setting the tone for the historically authentic work that will follow.
Daniel Daniels, chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, said: “This ‘living history’ project aims to transform Worcester into an immersive civil war experience, the first city in Britain to adorn such a project. By enriching key locations with historically accurate banners, the city will bring its civil war legacy to life, inviting both residents and visitors to engage with its past in a dynamic and educational way.”
John Pitt, headmaster of RGS Worcester, added: “We are delighted to be supporting the banner project which will engage our pupils working with our history and textiles departments and is another way of bringing the past alive for them and for others.
“As a History teacher, I know that it is good to have different ways of engaging with the past and Worcester played such a significant part in the English Civil War. The banners will celebrate this and demonstrate the City’s rich history in a bright and interesting way. As one of the oldest schools in the country, we felt that RGS Worcester should be involved in such an unusual and interesting project.”
