Evesham
 Abbeys |
The ancient market town of Evesham, sitting beside the River Avon, is the ideal base from which to explore a part of the county renowned for its agricultural and horticultural expertise, particularly the growing of top quality fruit and vegetables for distribution throughout Britain. The fruit growing industry in the Vale of Evesham lies at the heart of this rich agricultural region, and at the centre of the Vale, the bustling little market town has fortunately managed to retain most of its original charm, despite much recent expansion.
It was at Evesham on August 4 th 1265 that the famous battle of Harvington Hill was fought, when Simon de Montfort led the rebel barons against Prince Edward, later Edward I. Though the rebel forces fought bravely they eventually succumbed and Simon's mutilated body was buried before the altar in Evesham Abbey church. Despite defeat on the battlefield the quest for parliamentary democracy carried on apace, and history has revealed Simon de Montfort to be rightly remembered as the Father of the English Parliament. Between March and early May of each year the spectacular Blossom Trail occurs. This wonderful display can be seen by following the signposted trail from Evesham High Street to Green Hill where the Battle of Evesham took place and spread out to the river as men fled the fighting. An obelisk on the hill commemorates the event and especially de Montfort as the Father of the House of Commons.
Of the once powerful Evesham Abbey, founded in AD714, relatively little remains, its grounds now serving as a park that sweeps down to the banks of the Avon. The most impressive survivor of the ruined Benedictine abbey is the spectacular bell tower built by Abbot Lichfield and completed in 1539. Happily it survived whilst all around was reduced to a heap of broken masonry during the Dissolution of the same year. A most striking Perpendicular structure, the tower standing some 110ft high in the centre of the town, forms part of a spectacular group, flanked as it is by the 12 th century All Saints Church and the 16 th century Church of St Lawrence. Abbot Reginald's Gateway, a 12 th century black-and-white timber-framed building, stands on the edge of the market place and leads to the two churchyards.
Close to the ruined abbey, beside the swift flowing Avon, are a number of well preserved Georgian houses intermingled with a scattering of half-timbered structures, the best of which is Booth hall, a 15 th cent building now restored and occupied by a bank. Another remnant from this period is the old town stocks, set up on the green outside the town museum. The Almonry Museum is housed in an exquisite black-and-white building, the majority of which dates from the 14th century, a rambling structure full of atmosphere with delightfully uneven floors. The museum itself represents a part of Evesham history so that displays relating the Battle of Evesham or the history of Evesham Abbey appear in the most appropriate setting. Abbot Ballard lived in the Almonry following his reluctant evacuation of Evesham Abbey, when Henry VIII's enforcers took possession during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Quakers were kept under the Almonry before being sent off to the Americas, and Simon de Montfort has a room named after him, officially opened by Archbishop Ramsey in 1965. The building also has its own ghost, which frequently sets off the security alarms, much to the dismay of the unfortunate curator and the local constabulary - nothing is ever disturbed and no one is ever found. Locals believe it is the unquiet spirit of a monk who has not found release since the Dissolution. A fascinating museum in a most marvellous building with history seeping from its every crevice.