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:EVESHAM IS GAY LIKE I FANCY EVERYONES MUM LET ME BUM THEM |
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:''For other places and companies named '''Evesham''', see ]''. |
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{{GBdot|Evesham - Hereford and Worcester}} |
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].]] |
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'''Evesham''' (or "the 'sham" as it is known to its inhabitants) is a middle-sized, rural ] in ], ], in the Local Authority District of Wychavon. It is roughly equidistant between ], ] and ] and was originally built within a loop of the ], which flows through the ]. The surrounding area (the ]) is known for fruit growing and ], due to its unusually fertile soil which, on a commercial level, has lead to a large number of immigrant temporary workers living in the Vale. |
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The town had a population of 22,304 at the 2001 census, with a small hospital, a library, two secondary schools and a college. The town is home to the ] ] manufacturing company, has a number of food processing businesses and is a modest tourist destination. Nearby is ], a major ] broadcasting centre during the ], and has been a training facility & a private hotel until recently when it was closed down by its American owners. |
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Evesham could reasonably be described as a pleasant rather than an exciting place to visit: it is a well-known destination for day-trippers who picnic by the river and a base for tourists visiting the ]. Annual events include a major ] contest, a hot-air balloon festival, the 'Mop' fun fair (once a hiring fair), a regatta and a river festival featuring illuminated boats. The river Avon is an attraction in its own right, both as part of the navigable 'Avon Ring' and for pleasure-boat trips from Abbey Gardens or boat hire from the ]. The remains of Evesham Abbey include the landmark Lichfield Bell Tower and two historic ] ]es. Nearby is the Almonry. This attractive, listed building houses the local Heritage Centre. |
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==History== |
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Evesham was the site of a major battle—the ], in which ] was defeated and killed on ] ]. It was also home to one of ]'s largest ]s, of which only Abbot Lichfield's Bell Tower remains. ] was founded by ], ], following the ] by a local swineherd or shepherd named ] (sometimes Eoves). Eof legendarily went straight to Ecgwin, who journeyed to the site and shared the vision. He was moved to establish a Benedictine abbey on the site. |
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While Ecgwin was beatified and later canonised (a local C of E middle school is named after him), Eof arguably had the greater historical resonance and posterity. The name of Evesham is derived from "Eof's ham" (This derivation is contested, as some would have it known that the name stems from "Eof's Swine"). Evesham Abbey funded smaller abbeys and churches in ], ] and ]. A large source of income came from ] to the abbey to celebrate both the vision and the tomb of Montfort. |
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One historical quirk of Evesham is that the town consists of Evesham "proper" on the north side of the Avon (within the loop of the river) and ] on the southern side. Bengeworth was always the secular side of the river, and at one stage had a ] vying for control with the abbey across on the other side. Unfortunately for Bengeworth, the ]s went on a drunken spree and damaged a grave or two in the abbey graveyard, giving the ]s an excuse to attack and level the castle. To prevent its rebuilding the site was then used to bury plague victims. Evesham's tax office now stands on this site. This historic imbalance is still visible in the distribution of shops and roads. |
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The presence of the abbey, its residents and the pilgrims coming to the site led to a growth in the town within the loop of the river. A model of the town in the middle ages is sited in the Almonry Museum in the town centre. With the sixth biggest abbey in Britain and a strong agricultural economy, the town became a well-known satellite of the powerful cathedrals in nearby Worcester and Gloucester. Unfortunately ]'s ] saw the Abbey dismantled. |
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Despite this seeming disaster, the town survived and grew into one of the country's most well-known production centres for fruit and vegetables. The Vale Of Evesham at its height was second only to Kent as the Garden of ]. |
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A decline in the second half of the 20th century in domestic agriculture led to the closing of Evesham garden market in the 1990s, and many orchards in the town's Greenhill area fell into disuse. |
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In May 1998 Evesham was one of the towns hit by record flooding along the River Avon. The river rose 19 feet in just a few hours, sinking tethered narrow boats, flooding areas of Bengeworth, and threatening the 19th century Workman Bridge as static homes from a riverside caravan site broke up and became wedged in the bridge's arches. |
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The distinctive local dialect, now slipping into lesser use but strong still in older generations of the town's inhabitants, has 'Asum' as a contraction of the town's name. Asum was the name given to the produce of a popular micro-brewery based at the historic Green Dragon public house (built 1510 and boasting fine ]) in the town. The two award-winning real ales were Asum Ale and Asum Gold. The pub has been relaunched and the micro-brewery has closed. |
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Another quirk of local language gives rise to the debate as to the pronunciation of the town's name itself. 'Eve-shum' is the more common phonetic pronunciation, but the pronunciation 'Eve-er-shum' is not uncommon. Younger generations of the town's inhabitants give the pseudo-affectionate name of The Sham to the town. |
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==Travel== |
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Road: Evesham is at the junction of the ] and ] trunk roads - the four-mile ] £7m single-carriageway bypass opened in July 1987 as the A435. |
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Rail: ] is about two hours from ] ] on the ]. |
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Bus: Local & regional bus services (to Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester and Cheltenham) run from the main bus stops on the High Street. |
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Water: The river Avon is a navigable waterway linking the ] at ] to the ] at Stratford. |
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== External links == |
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* |
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* - a 1904 book about the town, by Edmund H. New, from ] |
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*{{mmuk mapdet|403700|243800|25000}} |
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*{{gbmapping|SP037438}} |
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] |
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] |
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