Fort Royal Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Royal Hill |
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| Worcester, Worcestershire, England | |
View from Fort Royal Hill into Worcester
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 Fort Royal Hill
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| Coordinates | 52°11′12″N 2°13′20″W / 52.1867°N 2.2223°W |
| Type | Redoubt |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Events | English Civil War |
Fort Royal Hill is a park located in the city of Worcester, England. This historic site holds the remains of a fort built during the English Civil War. It's a place where you can explore history and enjoy green spaces.
A Look Back: Fort Royal Hill's History
Fort Royal was a type of small fort called a sconce or redoubt. It was built on a small hill southeast of Worcester. This hill overlooked a city gate called Sidbury Gate. In 1651, the Royalists, who supported King Charles I, built the fort. They wanted to protect the hill because in 1646, during a siege, the Parliament's army had used the hill to attack the city walls with their cannons.
The Battle of Worcester
Fort Royal Hill played a very important part in the Battle of Worcester. This battle happened on September 3, 1651. It was the very last battle of the English Civil War. The Parliament's army, also known as the Parliamentarians, won this battle.
During the battle, the Royalist army started to retreat. Their retreat quickly turned into a disorganized escape. Soldiers from both sides mixed together as they fought their way towards and into the city. The Royalists lost their strong position when the Essex militia, a part of the Parliament's army, attacked and captured Fort Royal. Once they took the fort, they turned the Royalist cannons around. These cannons then fired on Worcester itself, making the Royalist position impossible to hold.
A Visit from American Leaders
In April 1786, two very important American leaders visited Fort Royal Hill. They were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. John Adams later became the second President of the United States. Thomas Jefferson became the third President.
Adams wrote about their visit, saying that places like Fort Royal were interesting because "freemen had fought for their rights." He was surprised that the local people seemed to have forgotten the history of the hill. He told them, "Tell your neighbors and your children that this is holy ground; much holier than that on which your churches stand. All England should come in pilgrimage to this hill once a year." This made the local people happy and proud.
To remember this special visit, a Virginian oak tree was planted in Fort Royal Park. This happened on October 23, 2009. Rear Admiral Ronald H. Henderson, who was a Defence Attaché for the United States Embassy, planted the tree.
