The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Tewkesbury

Where is Tewkesbury?

Tewkesbury is an historic riverside town in Gloucestershire, England. The town is known for its Abbey, Medieval streets and yearly ‘Mop Fair’.

The town oozes history and there are plenty of plaques to accompany a walk around the town. Spots to stop include the Town Hall and Cross House.

Town Hall

The Town Hall was built in 1788 in advance of a visit by King George III. It had a corn exchange in front. It housed a court room, banqueting hall and later a fire station and a police station with cells. The building now houses Tewkesbury Town Council.

Cross House

The house built in the 15^th century is thought to stand on the site of a Medieval Court House for the Lords of Tewkesbury. The house was greatly altered in the Tudor and Stuart periods with the addition of a third storey and some especially fine internal panelling and staircases. In the 1860s the building was restored with the removal of the Georgian pargetting to expose the original timber frame.

Tewkesbury Abbey

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin is more commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey. The site was founded in 1087 by nobleman Robert FitzHamon. The building of the abbey church did not start until 1102. Originally the abbey church formed part of a Benedictine monastery which was consecrated in 1121.

The abbey was saved destruction during the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the reign of King Henry VII. It was bought by the townspeople for the price of the lead on the roof to use as their parish church. Most of the other monastery buildings were destroyed during this time.

The Norman tower once had a wooden spire until it was blown off in a heavy storm on Easter Monday 1559. It was later replaced and enhanced in 1600.

The Font

The font is a bowl used to hold Holy Water during baptism services.

The Abbey’s font has a 13th century base and a 14th century bowl. The ornate wooden canopy was made in the Victorian Period.

The Nave

The 14 large columns date to the Norman Period. The elaborate vaulting dates to the 14th century. Mason’s marks can be seen on some of the pillars.

Tombs at Tewkesbury Abbey

The Wakeman Cenotaph

This tomb depicts a decaying cadaver in an open shroud covered with vermin. It’s style dates from a century earlier than the death of John Wakeman, Last Abbot of Tewksbury. The origin of the name of this tomb ‘The Wakeman Cenotaph’ is not known but it seems unlikely that there is a connection with the last Abbot of Tewksbury

The Despenser Tomb

This tomb was erected in 1349 for Hugh, Baron le Despenser by his wife Elizabeth Montacute. She later married Sir Guy de Brien. The canopy of the tomb is described as one of the finest in existence.

The Tomb of Sir Guy de Brien

Sir Guy de Brien married the widowed Elizabeth Montacute around 1350. He was a Patron of the Abbey until his death in 1390. He was a standard bearer to the English at the battle of Crecy in 1346, a Knight of the Garter, and Admiral of the English Fleet which took Calais.

The canopy of the tomb was modelled on that of the Despenser tomb.

A Brief History of Tewkesbury Museum

In 1905 a Museum was opened in the old fire station in Station Street. The main exhibits were geological samples and examples of taxidermy. A lack of staff and the lack of any heating meant that there were no visitors and it closed in 1906. The geological exhibits were given to the Grammar School, the remainder displayed in the Town Hall.

In 1959 number 64 Barton Street purchased for the town as a home for a museum. The Museum opened on Friday 11th May 1962. The Museum began to thrive in the late 1960s and things were looking up. Sadly during local government reform in 1974 the Museum reverted to the Town Council’s control, it had closed to the public and its contents dispersed for safe keeping. Much was never seen again.

In 1980, the museum re-opened as a trust and an attempt was made to recover the collections, but many items could not be found.

By 2000 the Museum had lost its direction, a professional curator was employed for some years to make changes which was successful in raising the museum’s profile. Now it is run and managed by volunteers once again who are looking for ways to keep this little treasure house open for many years to come.

The current displays include cases of archaeology, a room solely dedicated to the Battle of Tewkesbury and a wonderful room filled with a working model of Tewkesbury Mop Fair.

Tewkesbury’s Mop Fair

When the first fairs were held in Tewkesbury isn’t know but King John did hold a large fair in the town in 1199AD.

Edward Il first granted the rights to an annual fair to the Lord of Tewkesbury in 1324. Further rights for fairs followed, confirmed by a charter of Elizabeth I in 1574. Further charters followed, until in 1790 the town was entitled to a total of seven annual fairs.

The present fair is now the sole survivor of these, it was originally granted by James I in the charter of 1609 but now held in October under a charter of Elizabeth II.

Battle of Tewkesbury

The Battle of Tewkesbury took place on the 4th May 1471. The battle was part of a wider civil war for the Crown of England. The Lancastrian Army was led by Edward the Prince of Wales, Lord Wenlock and the Duke of Somerset. The Yorkist Army was led by Edward IV, Richard of Gloucester and George, Duke of Clarence. This was a pivotal battle won by the Yorkist.

Tewkesbury Battlefield Society tell the story through a scale model of the battle and supporting displays.

The Battle Trail

The Battle of Tewkesbury was fought on Saturday May 4th 1471 on fields to the south of the town. Much of the battlefield remains open and undeveloped and includes areas where the Yorkists took the initiative with ‘right a sharp shower of arrows and shot of guns’, and where Richard Duke of Gloucester’s division attacked Edmund Duke of Somerset.

There is a battlefield trail that takes you on a route past key battle sites. The route takes 45 minutes and takes you past information boards that explain the significance of the various locations.

A trail leaflet is available from the Tourist Information Centre for a small charge.

Tewkesbury Battlefield Society hold monthly guided walks, and will arrange special walks for groups or special occasions.

If you enjoyed reading this article you might enjoy reading ‘The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Evesham’.