Discover History

07/12/2025

That's the last day of the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre for 2025. Currently it looks like Scrooge was not photographed smiling, and our Temperance Campaigner was not caught trying the Gin!

07/12/2025

The gift of words Advent Calendar - Day7
A popular author at Christmas, said todays quote. Who was this Victorian person?

06/12/2025

Our final St John's talk of 2025.

Why not take some time in the busy month of December to come along to our church to hear Paul Harding, from Discover History, tell us all about the Festive Story. Hear about Christmases past and how people celebrated them. In Paul's normal style we can expect some banter and humour.

And if that is not enough then the ladies will be busy making a wonderful selection of cakes for you to enjoy with a drink during the interval.

Look forward to seeing you there.

06/12/2025

The gift of words Advent Calendar - Day6
An American Comedian and Actor, known for his 'Road to' films, once said todays quote. Can you name him?

05/12/2025

We took a break from our Christmas work tonight. We visited our very close friends, the Grumpy Men's Club of Fernhill Heath. This year we delivered our talk on the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

05/12/2025

– As we approach Christmas, our Medieval ancestors would have been following the tradition of fasting in the run up to the Great Feast on the 25th December. Fasting tempered the body, spirit and allowed the mind to concentrate on God. The fasting forbids the eating of flesh, so fish was usually eaten as an alternative. When fresh fish was unavailable due to poor weather or thick ice, the not so popular, dried fish was consumed. Strangely, Barnacle Geese could be eaten because they were not 'flesh' but classified as 'fish!' In the 11th Century, Exeter Book of Riddles, they describe a creature that started life under water and took flight when they are mature enough. Some historians think this idea may have started in Ancient Greece. The 12th Century, manuscript, 'Topographia Hibernica’ written by Gerald of Wales, Royal Clerk to King Henry II explains how the bird comes into being. He had recently returned from Ireland with Prince John, Lord of Ireland. Gerald says '.… nature produces them in a marvellous way for they are born at first in gum-like form from fir-wood adrift in the sea. Then they cling by their beaks like sea-wood, sticking to wood, enclosed in a shell-fish shells for freer development … thus in the process of time dressed in a firm clothing of feathers, they either fall into the waters or fly off into freedom of the air…..I have seen them with my own eyes, more than a thousand of these tiny little bodies, hanging from a piece of wood on the sea-shore when enclosed in their shells and fully formed. In some parts of Ireland bishops and men of religion make no scruple of eating these birds on fasting days as not being flesh’. Early Medieval Bestiaries or religious texts pertaining to beasts, often mixed myth and reality together. They often explained how some animals were created or got their name, this would fuel these stories for many years. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194–1250), was a learned ornithologist who wrote ‘De Arte Venandi cm Avibus’ (On the Art of Hunting With Birds) in 1241. He did not agree with the writings of Gerald as he had not made any link between the shell like petrusions and birds. Fredderick says ‘…... There is however a curious popular tradition that they spring from dead trees. It is said that in the far north old ships are found in whose rotting hulls a worm is born that develops into the barnacle goose. This goose hangs from dead wood by its beak until it is old and strong enough to fly. We have made prolonged research into the origin and truth of this legend and even sent special envoys to the north with order to bring back specimens of these mythical timbers for our inspection. When we examined them we did observe shell-like formations clinging to the rotten wood, but these bore no resemblance to any avian body. We therefor doubt the truth of this legend in the absence of corroborative evidence. In our opinion this superstition arose from the fact that barnacle geese breed in such remote latitudes that men in ignorance of their real nesting places invented this explanation.’ Where these Geese went in the Summer months was not known for many years. Lengthy discussions were made within the Church and Pope Innocent III in 1215 prohibited the eating of Barnacle Geese during fasting periods like the run up to Christmas. However, to some they were still consumed as fish up to the 18th Century. It is worth noting that Goose was a popular bird at Christmas time in the past. Turkey arrived in Britain in the 16th Century, however it was still not very popular until the 1970s.

05/12/2025

Everything we do is carefully researched. Helen loves searching through primary sources and archives. Paul prefers to take part in Archaeological excavations. Accuracy is our top priority.

05/12/2025

Helen is really busy updating our website. You can now book a walk, and pay online. We have spaces on Tuesday 9th December at 6pm. Follow the link to book your space.

Our scheduled 6pm guided tour of Worcester, which gives a general overview of its history, from its earliest origins to present day. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and costs £7.50 per person.

05/12/2025

The gift of words Advent Calendar - Day5
Which famous Scotsman wanted to throw more wood on the fire to keep the winter chill out?

04/12/2025

The Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre is officially open. Ignore Scrooge and enjoy the festive season.

04/12/2025

The gift of words Advent Calendar - Day4
We know the soldier who described the scene shown. Let's keep his story alive and name him?

03/12/2025

- Tomorrow is the first day of the 2025 Victorian Christmas Fayre. As we prepare for Christmas, many of us will follow the tradition that started with Henry Cole in 1843. He commissioned the artist, John Callcott Horsley to create a simple scene of a family dining on Christmas Day. This was given to his closest friends and gave birth to the tradition of sending a Christmas Card. During both World Wars this tradition continued with some very unique cards being sent. Our County Regiments fought bravely in these wars and still managed some Christmas cheer. Many families in Worcester may have some Christmas cards from this period. We have several. Some of our favourites from the Great War are the silk embroidered cards. These were made by French and Belgian civilians. They were then sold to soldiers when they were away from the trenches. These cards have become very iconic over the years. Many carry a Regimental Cap badge, others flowers and flags. In World War Two we see numerous cards created by the units themselves. Soldiers could then send them home. In 1944, the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment was part of the 43rd Wessex Division. The Divisional Christmas card shows the Wyvern, the mythical animal that represents the Division, pulling a sleigh on the way to Berlin. The Worcestershire Regiment made their own too. This showed the route of the Regiment inland from the Ver sur Mer beachhead. It shows great leaps across the rivers such as the Seine. The 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment RA produced a similar one showing the route taken by the Regiment from their glider landing zones on D-day and through Normandy supporting 6th Airborne Division. We love them and think they are very personal. A chance to celebrate the hard fought deeds of our County men.