Editing Worcestershire (section)

===Civil War===
{{main|Worcestershire in the English Civil War|History of Worcestershire#Civil War|History of Worcester#Civil War}}
[[File:Old Powick Bridge over the River Teme - geograph.org.uk - 795873.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Powick Bridge]] on the [[River Teme]] on 23 September 1642 began the [[English Civil War]].]]
In 1642, the [[Battle of Powick Bridge]] was the first major skirmish of the [[English Civil War]]. The county suffered from being on the Royalist front line, as it was subject to heavy taxation and the pressing of men into the Royalist army, which also reduced its productive capacity. The northern part of the county, which was already a centre of iron production, was important for military supplies. Parliamentarian raids and Royalist requisitioning both placed a great strain on the county.

There were tensions from the participation of prominent Catholic recusants in the military and civilian organisation of the county. Combined with the opposition to requisitioning from both sides, bands of [[Clubmen]] formed to keep the war away from their localities.

The [[Battle of Worcester]] in 1651 effectively ended the third civil war. There was little enthusiasm or local participation in the mostly Scottish Royalist army, whose defeat was widely welcomed. Nevertheless, Parliamentarian forces ransacked the city of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], causing heavy damage, looting and destruction of property. Around 10,000 mostly Scottish prisoners were sent into forced labour in the New World or fen drainage schemes. The small bands of Scots that fled into Worcestershire's countryside were attacked by local forces and killed.