Wormald's potential was subsequently recognised by both Merton and All Souls when those colleges awarded him, respectively, the Harmsworth Senior Scholarship and a seven-year Prize Fellowship.
Wormald taught early medieval history at the University of Glasgow from 1974 to 1988, where his lectures drew huge enthusiasm from students.
His greatest work, which took many years to produce, was The Making of English Law, the first volume of which was published in 1999.
Volume II was unfinished at the time of his death, although his extensive preparatory papers for the book have now been published online.
He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2003, and that year also delivered the Brixworth Lecture.