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.

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. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_bIHAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22Red+Hill%22+Worcester&lr=&client=firefox-a&pg=PA16&ci=119,453,808,358&source=bookclip A general history of Worcester] By John Chambers, p16, 1820, accessed 10 July 2008]

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 the 7 April 1606. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OaqWAEry-wkC&pg=PA55&dq=%22Edward+Oldcorne%22+jesuit&lr=&ei=WKxuSPChEJjSigGK4ZUV&sig=ACfU3U0gAVzV9akH-TH-U-r8Wu2rEoG5Nw Lives of the Saints] By Alban Butler, Peter Doyle, ISBN:0860122530] Holy relics of these Jesuit priests are still reverred today. The others executed were a tenant farmer named Perkes, Humphrey Littleton and John Wintour. All were executed for involvement with the Gunpowder plot.

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 the 29 August 1651. [ [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1651-worcester.htm 1651: The Worcester Campaign] , british-civil-wars.co.uk, accessed 10 July 2008] At the time Red Hill was just outside the city gates. [ [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Worcester Worcester] in Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911, accessed 10 July 2008] The Royalist attacks on the guns were turned back because there was a Worcester spy named Guise. He was caught and hung. [ [http://www.scotwars.com/html/textonly/battle_of_worcester.htm Battle of Worcester] , SxcotsWars.com, accessed 10 July 2008]

Red Hill continued to be a place of execution for some time. On the 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". [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=07sHAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22Red+Hill%22+Worcester&lr=&client=firefox-a&pg=PA146&ci=686,244,248,31&source=bookclip Worcestershire in the Nineteenth Century] : A Complete Digest of Facts Occurring in the County Since the Commencement of the Year 1800 By T. C. Turberville]

References