CIVIC leaders have taken the wraps off the first in a series of events which will be held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Worcester City Charter
On October 2, 1621, James I put his seal to the Charter which granted Worcester the rights and constitution which still form the basis for modern governance of the city today.
A series of events are being held to celebrate the 400th anniversary and explore the significance of the Charter.
Over the summer resident can join a walking tour to explore the story of Edward Hurdman, first Mayor of Worcester; enter a writing competition with prizes worth up to £500; pit their wits at a pub quiz; watch a comic play performed by the Worcester Festival and much more.
“This 400-year-old Charter gave Worcester greater powers over the way it was governed, and also saw the appointment of the city’s first Mayor,” said Coun Adrian Gregson, deputy mayor of Worcester and chair of the Charter Festival.
“This summer we will celebrate our heritage, culture and 400 years of endeavour, as we welcome visitors back to the City to enjoy its attractions, hotels, bars and restaurants.”
Perry Wood Primary School is one a number of Worcester schools which will be using the Charter’s 400th anniversary to engage pupils will local history. Their plans include building junk model buildings based on the city in 1621; researching James 1 and designing a new 21st century outfit fit for future Mayors.
Charter Festival: What’s on this summer
Charter writing competition
Write a stand-out essay, and you could win a prize worth up to £500. Winning entries will be published
There are three categories to enter:
Children aged 8 – 12 (School Years 3-7):
First prize: £100 worth of book tokens
Young people aged 13 to 18: (School Years 8-13)
First prize: £250 worth of book tokens
Open competition for age 16 +
First prize: £500 cheque
The competition is supported by Worcestershire Historical Society, Worcestershire Archaeological Society and the Friends of Worcestershire Archives. The deadline for entries is September 3. Winners will be publicly announced on October 2.
Visit www.visitworcester.co.uk/charter-400 for more.
Charter 400 Walking Tour
Discover History has developed a new heritage walking tour that looks at how the city was governed, the privileges it received in 1621 and the personal story of Edward Hurdman, the first Mayor of the city. The tour will run throughout the year.
To book call 07949 222137 or e-mail [email protected].
St Peters Heritage Trail
A leisurely two-hour stroll encompassing 15 key location points, which reference the people and places which have shaped St Peter’s Parish from the early 1600’s to the
present day. The trail follows established Parish pedways including, parks, play areas, picnic spots and pubs.
Start point: St Peters Village Hall, WR5 3TA (next to Tesco). Self-led, via leaflet or Facebook – St Peters Festival. At each key point the physical route is signposted with QR codes for more detailed information.
Organised by St Peter the Great County Parish Council
Worcester Show
This year’s Show on August 15 has several specially themed classes, which allow entrants to use their creative talents to explore ‘Historic Worcester.’
They include photography, art, baking and floral decoration classes.
Visit www.worcestershow.org.uk for more.
400 Years of Worcester – A Play in 45mins
A humorous and entertaining look at the main events in Worcester over the past 400 years will be staged on August 20.
Performances at 10am, midday and 2pm at the Guildhall and entry is free.
For more information visit www.worcesterfestival.co.uk
Many other Charter-related events are planned. Go to www.visitworcester.co.uk/charter-400/ for full details.
