Red Hill, Worcester

Red Hill is an area of Worcester, Worcestershire, England. It is in the south-east of the city on the A44. It has historically been used as high ground to attack the city and as a place of execution.

For other Red Hills, see Red Hill.

The A44 as it climbs out of Worcester towards Red Hill

History

Red Hill is mentioned regarding King Stephen's attack upon the city of Worcester in 1149. He burnt Worcester and expelled William de Beauchamp, but the castle against which he raised two forts at Red Hill near Digly and Henwicks Hill resisted his attacks. It was said that the remains of this fort could still be seen in 1820.[1]

In the 17th century, it was an area of execution. Edward Oldcorne and Ralph Ashley who had been captured at nearby Hindlip Hall were hanged, drawn and quartered on 7 April 1606.[2] Holy relics of these Jesuit priests are still revered today. The others executed were a tenant farmer named Perkes, Humphrey Littleton and John Wintour. All were executed for involvement with the Gunpowder plot. Franciscan priest John Wall was executed at Red Hill on 22 August 1679 during the time of Titus Oakes's alleged plot.[3]

The hill featured also in the Battle of Worcester in 1651 when it was fought over by Royalist forces and Oliver Cromwell's forces. Cromwell used the heights of Red Hill and Perry Wood to hold his artillery and most of his troops on 29 August 1651.[4] At the time Red Hill was just outside the city gates.[5] The Royalist attacks on the guns were turned back because there was a Worcester spy named Guise. He was caught and hanged.[6]

Red Hill continued to be a place of execution for some time. On 16 August 1805, for instance, it is recorded that W.Dalton was executed for two counts of burglary. It was said that "His demeanour was becoming".[7]

References
  1. A general history of Worcester by John Chambers, p. 16, 1820, accessed 10 July 2008
  2. Alban Butler, Peter Doyle, Lives of the Saints. ISBN 0-86012-253-0.
  3. Duffy, Patrick. "The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales", Catholic Ireland, 25 October 2012
  4. 1651: The Worcester Campaign, british-civil-wars.co.uk. Accessed 10 July 2008.
  5. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Worcester" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 821–822.
  6. Battle of Worcester Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, ScotWars.com. Accessed 10 July 2008.
  7. T. C. Turberville, Worcestershire in the Nineteenth Century: A Complete Digest of Facts Occurring in the County Since the Commencement of the Year 1800.

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