The Leader of Worcester City Council has joined the Chair of the Battle of Worcester Society to plant a tree in memory of those who fought and died in the final engagement of the English Civil War.
Councillor Lynn Denham and Daniel Daniels planted the oak at Fort Royal Park, where the Parliamentarian forces sealed their victory in 1651.
Cllr Denham said: “Thousands of people lost their lives as they fought for their beliefs in our city’s streets and fields on 3 September 1651. This was a defining moment, not only for Worcester but for the whole nation, so it is an honour to plant this oak and create a lasting memorial to the Battle of Worcester.”
An oak was chosen because Charles Stuart (the future King Charles II), fleeing Worcester after his forces were defeated, hid in an oak tree at Boscobel House before escaping to France.
Daniel Daniels, Chair of the Battle of Worcester Society, said: "The Battle of Worcester, fought 373 years ago today marked one of the most decisive and symbolic moments of the English Civil War. This battle was not just the final clash between the forces of King Charles II and those loyal to the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell, but it was also the moment when the fate of the English monarchy was sealed, giving way to ideas that would lay the foundation for modern democracy.
“Worcester was where the last hopes of Royalist resurgence were dashed. Cromwell’s victory at Worcester effectively ended the English Civil War, leading to a brief period of republican rule and the eventual restoration of the monarchy under conditions that recognised the supremacy of Parliament to this very day.”
Later on 3 September 2024, the Battle of Worcester Society hold the traditional Drumhead Service at Fort Royal Park, led by re-enactors in Civil War garb and including a minute’s silence beginning and ending with a musket volley.
