News release
For Immediate Release
Friday 14 February 2025
The Commandery’s biggest weekend of the year is back on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February 2025 – the perfect way to round off the February half-term holiday.
Experience a fantastic family day out where you can encounter characters from centuries past. Explore the building and gardens, discover living history encampments, and see military displays in action at this exciting two-day event.
‘From Twang to Bang’ – from bows and arrows to gunfire – will see historic firing demonstrations by Worcester Reenactors take place in the walled garden. Enjoy watching medieval music and Tudor-style dancing performances in the medieval Great Hall, and meet metalworkers and willow weavers as they demonstrate their crafts.
Visitors can refuel at Little Al’s Kitchen at The Commandery, the canal-side café, during their adventurous day out.
Organised in partnership with the Worcester Re-enactors, the event is a fantastic opportunity for all the family to explore a different period of history – and make a new memory – around every corner.
The Commandery is one of Worcester’s oldest and most remarkable buildings, well-known for being the Royalist Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651, making it the perfect place to be immersed in history brought to life.
Helen Manning, Events and Activities Coordinator at The Commandery, says: “We’re really excited for Living History this year, especially as it’ll be lots of people’s first time seeing the new exhibition about Victorian Worcester. Children can even have a go at sweeping a chimney!”
Families can enjoy fun Victorian-themed mornings from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 February to inspired by the new exhibition. £5 per child + general admission. Book online at museumsworcestershire.org.uk
There is no booking required for Living History at The Commandery and general entry admission applies. There is free admission to those with a season or Worcester Residents’ pass to The Commandery. For further information, please visit museumsworcestershire.org.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Images attached show:
- Worcester Reenactors in the gardens at The Commandery
Event listing
Living History at The Commandery
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February 2025
Come face to face with the past at The Commandery’s biggest weekend of the year! Explore living history encampments and watch marvellous military displays at Worcester’s historic Commandery. The site will be alive with performances by musicians and dancers, and you can learn about traditional crafts too.
Encounter reenactors throughout the beautiful Grade-1 listed building and gardens, where they’ll be demonstrating and displaying historical weaponry. There will be a full schedule of timed displays and drills throughout the day.
General admission applies.
Family fun morning | Victorians in Worcester
Tuesday 18 – Thursday 20 February 2025, 10.30am – 12noon
This February half-term holiday, enjoy fun family mornings to celebrate the opening of The Commandery’s brand-new exhibition Wyldgate Lane – A Walk Through Victorian Worcester.
Pick up your rag rugging tools and learn how to make a rug, Victorian style!
Then, create your very own thaumatrope, a toy popular in the 1800s that magically blends together two drawings. And (if you’re brave enough), play “what’s that whiff” to see if you can guess what all the pongy Victorian smells are…
Every session includes a story, drink, and a biscuit. £5 per child for the session which can be booked here. General admission to The Commandery applies to all visitors.
Opening hours
The Commandery is usually open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm, and Sundays, 10am – 3pm.
Living History weekend opening hours are:
Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.
The Commandery’s History
The Commandery was founded as a monastic hospital around 1085 by Saint Wulfstan, then Bishop of Worcester, to serve the needs of travellers outside the city walls and beautiful wall paintings from the 1500s can be seen on the walls of The Commandery today.
Most of the building dates form the late fifteenth century and is of timber framed construction. The Commandery was one of the last monastic institutions to be dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540. In 1651 Charles II marched into Worcester and set up his Headquarters in the city, with the commander-in-chief the Duke of Hamilton billeted at The Commandery.
The building has also been a family home, a school for the blind, and a printing works.
For more information or further images please contact Alice Benbow, Museums Marketing Officer: alice.benbow@worcester.gov.uk / 01905 361828.