Tewkesbury
From Freepedia
Image:Tewkesbury - Gloucestershire dot.png
Tewkesbury is a historic town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also the minor tributary the Swilgate. It gives its name to the district of Tewkesbury. The name Tewkesbury comes from the name of a Saxon who founded a hermitage there in the seventh century, Theot, and in the Saxon tongue was called Theocsbury.
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Architecture
The town features many notable Tudor buildings, and was the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, at “Bloody Meadow,” south of the town, Edward IV's forces defeated the Lancastrians in the final battle of the Wars of the Roses. Tewkesbury was flattened in the Norman Conquest having tried to defend itself against the invaders, however, the Normans gave supplies to construct the Abbey. It is also true that Tewkesbury was significant during the Civil war between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists, due to its proximity to Royalist Worcester and Parliaments Gloucester, Tewkesbury was devastated during this time having all its supplies repeatedly requisitioned.
Tewkesbury also has a fine Norman abbey, originally a monastery, which was saved from dissolution by King Henry VIII after being bought by the townspeople for their parish church, although most of the Monestry buildings and the Vineyards were destroyed during this time, however much still remains such as the Abbey Mill which rests upon the Mill Avon which was a channel built by the monks so that they could have a working mill closer to the Abbey the weir exists to this day and the channel is possibly one of the biggest projects in Tewkesbury's History. The Abbey is also thought to be the site of the place where the Hermit "Theoc", once lived. The great Norman arch on the west front is particularly striking and the Stained Glass Window at this end has recently been restored. The monastery was founded by the Despensers as a family mausoleum, and the Despenser and Neville tombs are stunning examples of small-scale late medieval stonework. The was also once a Spire on the Abbey, made of wood but was unfortunately blown off in a heavy storm. Tewkesbury also lays claim to Gloucestershire's oldest public house, the Black Bear. Another notable building is the Royal Hop Pole Hotel, mentioned in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers. The historic Abbey Cottages, over 500 years old, were rescued from dereliction in the 1970s. One houses the town museum, the others are residential homes.
History
Historically, Tewkesbury is a market town, serving the local rural area. It underwent some expansion in the period following World War II, and today has a small but significant high technology industry. Tewkesbury has also been a centre for flour milling for many centuries, and the Abbey Mill still stands. Flour is still milled at a more modern factory a short way upriver. The town also hosts a large Army supply depot at nearby Ashchurch. The town suffered from some decline in the early 1990s, with many local shops and businesses closing.
Transport links
It is served by the M5 motorway and the A38 trunk road. Tewkesbury no longer has its own railway station, but there are regular bus connections to nearby Ashchurch for Tewkesbury railway station on the main Bristol-Birmingham line. The National Cycle Network is to soon complete its work in this area and connect Tewkesbury to the National Scheme, as well as improving localised Cycle Routes.
Culture
- The ska punk band [spunge] is from Tewkesbury.
- The Bristol band The Cuban Heels all attended Tewkesbury School. The Gloucestershire band Transit Cop http://www.transitcop.co.uk also attended Tewkesbury School (apart from one) and remain good friends with The Cuban Heels to this day.
- Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre combines an arthouse cinema and a live performance venue
- Eric Morcame made his last performance at the Roses Theatre
- Tewkesbury School plays host to Tewkesbury Music Centre, an organisation which promotes Young People to play music.
- Captain Scott, famous for his expedition to the South Pole, left one of the sleds used on the expedition to the school and it currently resides in the school's new Humanities Building.
Nearby Places
- The Cotswolds
- The Forest of Dean
- The Malvern Hills
| Towns on the River Severn, UK | edit | |
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Heading downstream: Llanidloes | Newtown | Welshpool | Shrewsbury | Bridgnorth | ||
| Settlements on the River Severn between Bewdley and Gloucester (heading downstream) | edit | |
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Bewdley | Stourport | Areley Kings | Worcester | Kempsey | Upton-upon-Severn | Ryall | Tewkesbury | Deerhurst | Gloucester | ||
