The Flayed Dane
During the time of the Danish raids on Worcester, the poorly
defended city was in great fear of the invading Norsemen who left
murder and destruction in their wake. One Dane however stayed
behind in the Cathedral. The monks and citizens returned with help
and caught him, and then, it is said flayed him alive! The skin was
tanned and nailed to the inner side of the great doors of the
cathedral as a warning to other invaders. During the restoration of
the cathedral the door was removed and thought to be lost but it
was found again in 1850 along with a parchment like substance
attached to it. This was sent off to the Royal College of Surgeons
for testing who confirmed that it was human skin and that the hairs
on it were those of a light haired person. A piece of the skin can
be seen in the Cathedral library to this day.
