Did You Know?

Situated where the Rivers Severn and Avon meet, Tewkesbury has a character all of its own and is one of the few places in the Cotswold area where you will see black and white half–timbered buildings.  In fact, there are almost 400 listed buildings and this makes it popular with visitors who also enjoy spending time on the riverbanks, visiting the heritage centre and admiring the elegant Abbey.

The name Tewkesbury comes from Theoc, the name of a Saxon hermit who arrived in the area in the 7th century. Then it was known as Theocsbury and became Tewkesbury over the centuries.

Perhaps most famous for its mustard, other major industries over the years in Tewkesbury include brewing and malting, pin making and the framework knitting of stockings.

Fought on 4 May 1471, the Battle of Tewkesbury resulted in the violent deaths of an imprisoned king, an heir to the throne and many prominent noblemen. But it also led to a period of political stability in England that provided some respite from the Wars of the Roses

One of the town’s entrances over the River Severn is the impressive Mythe Bridge designed by Thomas Telford. A cast iron structure with a 170-foot span, the bridge opened to traffic in 1826.

Evesham is situated on a horse shoe shaped peninsula almost completely surrounded by water in a meander of the River Avon between Stratford-on-Avon and Tewkesbury.

The town features many notable Medieval, Tudor buildings, but its major claim to fame is Tewkesbury Abbey, a fine Norman abbey church, originally part of a monastery, which was saved from the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII after being bought by the townspeople for the price of the lead on the roof to use as their parish church