Tewkesbury

29 April 2008

TEWKESBURY made national news back in 2007 when it was devastated by the floods of July 20 but there is much more to this beautiful and historic town than flooding.

Situated on the junction of two great rivers, The Severn and The Avon, Tewkesbury is described as the town that stood still for 150 years beautifully preserving its medieval character and layout making it a fascinating and wonderful place for visitors to experience.

Both the rivers and the surrounding flood plain made expansion of the old town impossible and so its long thing profile has hardly altered since the Middle Ages.

It is dominated by timber framed buildings, overhanging upperstoreys and ornately carved doorways as well as its fascinating network of alleys just behind the main streets giving it a life and charm all of its own.

In fact so perfectly preserved is the medieval aspect of the town that in 1964 The Council of British Archaeology listed it among 57 towns as 'So splendid and so precious that ultimate responsibility for them should be of national concern.'

The town gets its name from the Saxon hermit Theoc, who is thought to have founded a hermitage there in the 7th Century. Evidence of a church predating Tewkesbury Abbey suggests a considerable settlement rose up on the site prior to the Norman Conquest.

Tewkesbury Abbey, the focal point of the town, was founded at the end of the 11th Century as a Benedictine Monastery and the spectacular tower which stands at 148 feet high is the largest surviving Norman central tower in the world.

It also houses more medieval tombs than any other church in Britain, with the exception of Westminster Abbey.

Tewkesbury holds a pivotal place in English history as it was on May 4 1471 just south of the town that The Battle of Tewkesbury took place during which Edward IV, the Duke of York’s son, finally vanquished the Lancastrian forces and in which Edward Prince of Wales and son of Henry VI was killed.

To some historians this marked the true end of the War of the Roses but it depends on your view of Henry Tudor and his relationship to the House of Lancaster.

Visitors can still walk around the battle site today and every year in July Tewkesbury comes alive for a spectacular re-enactment of the battle during its Medieval Festival.

History surrounds the town wherever you go and there is a plethora of old buildings, each with stories to tell.

The Bell Hotel was built around 1696 and probably stands on the monastic hostelry within the Abbey precincts. In the novel John Halifax, Gentleman, The Bell features as the house of wealthy tanner Abel Fletcher.

Tucked away behind the High Street is the foundations of the old mill which is thought to date back to the 12th Century when the River Avon was diverted into the town to power the mill of the Benedictine Monastery. The present building is late 18th Century and was in use until 1933.

The Old Baptist Chapel was originally a 15th Century three bay hall and was restored some 30 years ago. It was adapted to a place of worship in the early 17th Century and is believed to be one of the first Baptist Chapels in England.

The Royal Hop Pole, now the town’s Weatherspoons pub, was one of Tewkesbury’s coaching inns and dates back to the 18th Century and was stayed in by Queen Mary, wife of George V, in 1930 and the Royal Arms are show on top of the portico.

The Old Hat Shop is one of the town’s most beautiful and oldest buildings and has recently been turned into the town’s new Tourist Information Centre thanks to a grant from the National Lottery.

The Town Hall is a prominent building on the High Street and was built in 1788. It is one of the few buildings in the town made of stone and the corn market used to be held there.

Today, Tewkesbury remains a bustling market town famous for its independent retailers, meaning it is unlike any High Street seen elsewhere in the country, with a wealth of shops selling everything from unique jewellery and crystal gifts, to hand embroidered carpets and novelty items. There is also a selection of delightful cafes and restaurants serving the best local produce the area has to offer.

There is plenty to see and do with the fine Roses Theatre going from strength-to-strength following its re-opening in 1996 attracting some fantastic shows from around the world.

Festival season gets underway in the summer with the Food and Drink Festival bringing an array of top chefs to town serving up some delicious treats while the Medieval Festival in July - Europe's largest battle re-enactment and fair - brings thousands of re-enactors to the town from around the world to re-enact the Battle of Tewkesbury. It also includes a living history recreation of a medieval encampment, games, food and the opportunity to buy re-enactment clothing, furniture and weaponry.

Last July the town appeared on the front page of several national newspapers as it was flooded along with large parts of the country in some of the worst flooding in history.

Up to five inches of rain fell in one day overwhelming the River Avon and River Severn flooding the four main access roads into the town making them impassable. The Mythe Water Treatment Works also flooded for the first time in its 100-year-history resulting in the loss of 140,000 homes over a period of two weeks.

Now, many of the people forced to leave their homes or live in caravans on their driveway have returned to their properties and the town is getting on with re-buildings its reputation and is looking forward to a bright and prosperous future.

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