Discover History

Discover History Offering you a hands on learning experience of over two thousand years of history, suitable for all ages and abilities

Hi everyone, we just wanted to give an update on Helen. Firstly, we both want to thank you for your love and messages. W...
07/10/2026

Hi everyone, we just wanted to give an update on Helen.

Firstly, we both want to thank you for your love and messages. We are both overwhelmed by the support we have been given and offered as well as the gifts and cards that have come through the post.

Following a biopsy, CT and MRI scans, Helen has has had a team of staff work together to put together a treatment plan. We have seen two consultants regarding this. Some treatments have started and we are awaiting others to begin too. She is also due radiotherapy which will hopefully help control the cancer in her bones, especially in her back and pelvis. This will hopefully help enable her to walk independently again.

We are currently working our way through the diary and contacting those we have bookings with. Once full treatment has started and we are more settled, we can give you a better idea of what is happening. Some bookings we can still do and some we cannot.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the NHS, the secondary breast cancer care staff, the oncology staff, the city nurses and the staff and volunteers at St Richards hospice who have all been amazing. Your help during this difficult time is most appreciated.

And to end on a positive, Paul looks forward to seeing you all at St John's Church tomorrow for what should be a great talk with amazing cake and tea.

- In the Medieval period there was a monastic bell tower built in the lay cemetery to the North of the Cathedral. It w...
07/10/2026

- In the Medieval period there was a monastic bell tower built in the lay cemetery to the North of the Cathedral. It was built very close to the Cathedral and often called the 'Leaden Steeple'. This would have made the Cathedral look as if it had a tower and a steeple. The monastic bell tower was known by its official title, the 'Clochium'. It was built in the 13th Century to house the heavy bronze bells of the Cathedral. This may have taken place in 1220, when Bishop Blois is recorded carrying out a consecration service for the bells. It consisted of an octagonal stone tower with an oak timber spire encased in lead. In an old document the steeple timbers were said to be spectacular. 'Its timbers were many and amazed beholders, as being unsawed and polished only with an aze; it was irish wood, and for all dimensions the like is not in Europe.' The structure reached 65 meters into the sky. In the 14th Century, with major building work taking place, most of the bells were moved to the Cathedral's main tower. The old bell tower was therefore used as a dry wood store. It still housed four old bells until they were removed and scrapped in 1539. Some repairs were made at the start of the 17th Century. Sadly, during the English Civil Wars, we see this tower being stripped of its precious lead for making musket and pistol shot by both sides. With it being open to the elements, there was substantial deterioration to the overall structure. The war had caused at least £10,000 worth of damage to the whole Cathedral site! After the wars, it was given a new lease of life as a lead workshop, whilst repairs were made to the Cathedral. However, with some costly restoration work taking place, a decision was made to demolish the old bell tower and sell the raw materials. This included the dressed stone and large structural timbers. These items may have become cellar walls similar to the ones found during the Lych Street Excavations, or shop roof timbers on the High Street. Just over £600 was raised initially, with the money going towards the repairs on the Cathedral and also to the nearby churches and Almshouses 'destroyed in the late unhappy times of war'. Repairs carried out included the reinstatement of the pinnacles shot off in the wars. Similar work is taking place today, due this time to storm damage. The Clochium stood in some form or other until the mid 18th Century. It would have slowly shrunk in size and disappeared as the ruins were dismantled, collected, and transported away. We see that Mr Robert Davis built a house in the open space where the tower once stood. This new build was known as 'The Red House.' The house was short lived and was demolished in the 19th century to clear the space in front of the Cathedral, as it looks today.

This Autumn you may have noticed Worcestershire Heritage is being given some care and attention. To keep up-to-date with...
06/10/2026

This Autumn you may have noticed Worcestershire Heritage is being given some care and attention. To keep up-to-date with work on the Cathedral, and Powick Bridge, please follow the links in the comments. Remember we still want to see your .

It's great to see Worcester parks receiving Green Flags again. We have some fantastic parks and green spaces. The city w...
04/10/2026

It's great to see Worcester parks receiving Green Flags again. We have some fantastic parks and green spaces. The city was also gifted a Purple Flag for it's night life. Did you know our popular 'Worcester Story' walk is part of the night life in the city? This daily walk runs between 6pm and 7.30pm.

At around lunchtime, 86 years ago, the MECO factory, and nearby homes were bombed by a lone German bomber. It featured i...
03/10/2026

At around lunchtime, 86 years ago, the MECO factory, and nearby homes were bombed by a lone German bomber. It featured in one of our popular posts. The old plaque can be seen in St John's Church, Worcester. The new sculpture can be seen in Cripplegate Park.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Z6GCYfwW/

- It was on Thursday, so this week we take a look at another type of coffee. We have looked at the history of coffee...
02/10/2026

- It was on Thursday, so this week we take a look at another type of coffee. We have looked at the history of coffee, the Americano, the Mocha, the Latte, Iced Coffee, and Irish Coffee before. We therefore take a look at the Cappuccino. Today it is seen as an Italian coffee made with equal measures of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam, traditionally served in a shallow cup, and often dusted with Cinnamon or Cocoa depending on where it is drank. Americans prefer Cinnamon for example. The name comes from the colour of Capuchin Friar's habits. These Friars were seen across the old Habsburg Empire. The Cappuccino seems to have evolved from an earlier 18th Century coffee drink called Kapuziner. This was an Austrian coffee with a few drops of cream and spices served in the popular coffee houses. From the 19th Century, it began to appear in Northern Italy as a result of nearby Austrian dominance. Trieste, where coffee had became an important trade item, popularised the drink. We see the word 'Cappuccino', appear too. It's popularity grew in 20th Century Italy and was drank as a breakfast drink before 11am. Do you like a Cappuccino?

Today is ? These photos makes us smile. Discover History has made us smile for 23 years so far.
02/10/2026

Today is ? These photos makes us smile. Discover History has made us smile for 23 years so far.

01/10/2026

Good News

Paul Harding, from Discover History, will be back on October 8th and will do the talk on the 1651 Battle of Worcester, that was planned for September. Whilst they are still waiting to get Helen's treatment sorted out they are continuing to carry on with our talks.

So please come along on 8th October at 1pm to support Paul and Helen, hear yet another one of Paul's enlightening talks on the history of Worcester and, of course, partake of the wonderful selection of cakes during the refreshment break. Chat with friends old and new. All for the price of a cup of coffee in a local café, £4.

I am sure it will be a great session as Paul never disappoints with his talks.

Today, Discover History is marking 23 years in business. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on this journ...
01/10/2026

Today, Discover History is marking 23 years in business. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on this journey.

Address

Worcester

Telephone

07949 222137

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Discover History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Discover History:

Shortcuts

Share