Description
This abstract design features fish fighting river currents alongside the banks of the River Severn. You can just make out the suggested rooftops and buildings found at the river’s edge. Worcester boasts a long history of river fishing, including lamperns. Indeed, a fish market and lucrative fishing industry were set up on Fish Street in the 1800s. Lamperns are still popular today and Worcester can boast the tastiest fish in the world. This is why penguins are waddling the wiggle in Worcester.
Audio read by: Kate Justice from BBC Hereford and Worcester
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Artist
Sue White
Portrait and wildlife artist, Sue, has worked in the art industry for nearly 40 years. She originally worked as a designer with a graphics background and moved into Fine Art to teach secondary students over 20 years ago. She finally moved to professional artist in 2018 and happily produces original works of art for sale online and through galleries; she is available for commissions and also runs weekly adult art classes. Sue continues to exhibit her work frequently. She works mainly in oils and acrylic paint but is also creative with sculpture, photography, and print.
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Location
28. Bromwich Parade (ferry)
Across the river you can see the medieval remains of Worcester’s Water Gate. The water gate in Worcester remains the last gate intact in the medieval defences of the city.
The site of the current Water Gate may have been an earlier wharfage used by the garrison of Worcester Castle. By 1217 the castle was militarily useless and the land on which the gate now stands was returned to the Cathedral Priory.
The current construction of the gate dates from 1378 and would have given access to the monastic Cathedral precinct.
More about this location
28. Bromwich Parade (ferry)
At this time, the river at Worcester was tidal and so goods could be floated in through the gate at high tide.
The Priory owned much the land on the west bank of the Severn, so a ferry granting access here makes good sense. It’s not certain how old the ferry crossing is, but some historians claim that the site was used as a crossing in the prehistoric period. At the dissolution of the monasteries, the land was granted to the newly-formed Dean and Chapter, hence the name ‘Chapter Meadows’.
This location fact has been provided by Joe Tierney of Faithful History. To learn more stories of the ancient city of Worcester, spanning thousands of years of history in ‘The Faithful City’, visit https://www.facebook.com/faithfulhistoryworcester
Take home your own feathered friend
In October 2024 all 40 large penguins and one chick will be auctioned to raise funds for the care provided by St Richard’s Hospice.
In 2021, 31 stunning elephant sculptures raised a mammoth £368,800 to support the care provided by St Richard’s Hospice across Worcestershire.
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