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Evesham, Worcestershire

The pretty, bustling town of Evesham nestles in a bend of the River Avon with one foot in its ancient market town past and the other stepping into the vibrant future that beckons for this popular, expanding town.

Best known for its fruit and vegetable production, notably asparagus, plums, apples, spring onions and tomatoes, the Vale of Evesham's wide open, flat and fertile land is a magnet for top quality growers - and is said to be the UK's most prolific growing area.

Retailers throughout the UK know they are buying quality when they see the fruit and veg hails from Evesham. Shoppers only have to take a stroll through the well-stocked town centre to find a vast array of independent shops competing alongside nationally recognised chains.

These independent retailers make Evesham a memorable shopping destination at a time when many other high streets are becoming clones of each other. Here shoppers can browse the High Street, Bridge Street, Vine Street, Market Square and Port Street for everything from designer clothes, quirky presents, art and craft goods, adult gifts, accessories, creative hair stylists and barbers, florists, photographic experts and quality meats.

Tourists have long appreciated the value of Evesham for a day trip or holiday. There are dozens of excellent guest houses, pub accommodation, B&Bs and caravan parks as well as a selection of top notch hotels to choose from across Evesham and its surrounding idyllic villages.

And there is plenty for holidaymakers and day trippers of all ages to enjoy from picnics by the river, walks through our Green Flag awarded Abbey Park and children’s water park, a drive through the meandering countryside – the blossom trail is always popular from the end of March to mid May when the blossom is at its most impressive – stopping off at one of the many fine country pubs for some hearty homemade food.

Also popular are the varied festivals the Vale has to offer. In May enjoy the Vale Asparagus Festival at the quintessentially English pub The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, which includes the annual asparagus auction, cookery, ancient crafts, tastings, music, a farmers market and heritage display.

June welcomes the Historic Hot-air Balloon Festival, which also includes wooden boats, classic cars, a fashion show and live rock music as well as the International and Eastern Festivals later in the month.

Join us for the Evesham River of Music and River Festival – complete with illuminated boats and fireworks in July.

The massive Evesham Angling Festival’s full festival village always nets a crowd in August and in September the Evesham Festival of Brass returns with 45 bands set to fill the town with music.

The town's rich heritage is not to be overlooked. Once home to the third largest and most powerful Abbey in England, this ancient market town of Evesham can trace its existence back to the eighth century.

Evesham Abbey was founded on the spot where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to a humble swineherd call Eoves while he was searching for a stray pig in the area called 'Lomme'.

Eoves reported his experience to Ecgwin the third Bishop of Worcester, for whom he worked, who came to the spot and also saw the vision. Ecgwin founded the Abbey in 709 and became the first Abbot.

The area became known as Eoveshomme - later Evesham - and the town grew around the Abbey, which was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540.

The Abbey Church and most of the monastic buildings were dismantled and sold off as building stone but the twin churches of All Saints and St Lawrence, and Abbot Lichfield's fine 16th Century Bell tower remain.

These fine buildings built within the Abbey precincts form an impressive backdrop to the Abbey Park with its grassy banks, shady trees and flower beds ablaze with colour sweeping down to the river.

The town witnessed the Battle of Evesham in 1265 during which Simon de Montfort, known as the father of the English Parliament, was bitterly defeated and brutally killed. His remains were brought by the monks from the battlefield, north of the town and known now as Greenhill, and solemnly buried them in front of the High Altar in the Abbey Church. A modest stone memorial in the park marks the spot where the burial took place.

The town boasts a wealth of historic buildings including a fine 15th Century timbered merchants house called the 'Round House' now occupied by the NatWest Bank, Abbot Reginald's gateway, a Norman arch leading to the abbey site, flanked by the 15th century Walker Hall and Church House. In the High Street is a notable late 17th Century town house, Dresden House, once occupied by Dr Baylies, physician to Frederick the Great of Prussia, and tucked away in an area of the town called Bengeworth is an old manor house once owned by King Canute.

Perhaps the most notable building in the town after the churches and Bell Tower is the Almonry.

Dating back to 1400 this was once the home of the Abbey almoner, who was charged with the duty of administering to the poor and needy and providing hospitality to visitors to the Abbey.

The Almonry now houses the town's busy Tourist Information Office and Heritage Centre, an excellent museum with ten rooms of exhibits relating to the history of the Abbey, the Battle of Evesham as well as the social and economic life of the Vale.

With thanks to Evesham Town Council for its wealth of historical information. www.evesham.uk.com/history.html

For more information on Evesham visit www.eveshamobserver.co.uk

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