Tewkesbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tewkesbury |
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| Town and civil parish | |
 Tewkesbury Abbey and Mill Avon from Ham path |
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 Tewkesbury
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| Population | 20,360 (built-up area, 2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SO8932 |
| • London | 94 miles (151 km) ESE |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Tewkesbury |
| Postcode district | GL20 |
| Dialling code | 01684 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Tewkesbury is a historic market town in Gloucestershire, England. It grew around Tewkesbury Abbey, built in the 1100s. The town was very important during the Wars of the Roses.
Tewkesbury is located where the River Severn and the River Avon meet. This made it a key place for trade. It continued to be important when railways and motorways like the M5 and M50 were built. The town gives its name to the Borough of Tewkesbury, a local government area.
The name Tewkesbury likely comes from Theoc, a Saxon who started a religious retreat there in the 600s. In Old English, it was called Theocsbury.
A famous event, the Battle of Tewkesbury, happened here on May 4, 1471. It was a major battle in the Wars of the Roses. Today, a medieval festival is held every year to remember this battle. It includes people re-enacting the historical event.
Contents
Geography of Tewkesbury
Where is Tewkesbury located?
Tewkesbury is about halfway between the cities of Gloucester and Worcester. Early settlers chose this spot because the land was high enough to avoid floods. It also had good soil for farming and easy access to rivers for transport. The town's layout today is still much like it was in medieval times.
How Tewkesbury has grown
In 1965, the area of Tewkesbury grew to include the new Mitton housing estate. This estate was originally in Worcestershire. Mitton is now a connected suburb of Tewkesbury. More houses were built there in the early 2000s.
Places near Tewkesbury
- Bredon
- Bishop's Cleeve
- Cheltenham
- Evesham
- Gloucester
- Pershore
- Malvern (Great Malvern)
- Upton upon Severn
- Cotswolds
- Forest of Dean
- Malvern Hills
- Winchcombe
- Gretton
People of Tewkesbury
In 2021, the Tewkesbury parish had about 10,663 people. If you add nearby areas like Wheatpieces, Northway, and Ashchurch Rural, the total population for the built-up area is around 20,918.
The M5 motorway divides the urban area of Tewkesbury. The town center, abbey, and old town are mostly to the west of the M5. It's hard for the town to grow much more because large areas are prone to flooding. This was seen during the big floods in July 2007.
Historical Buildings and Landmarks
Tewkesbury has many old buildings from the Medieval and Tudor periods. But it is most famous for Tewkesbury Abbey, a large church built in the Norman style.
Tewkesbury Abbey
The Normans built the Abbey, and it was officially opened in 1121. It was once part of a Benedictine monastery. King Henry VIII saved it from being destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The townspeople bought it to use as their local church. They paid for it with the lead from its roof.
Most of the monastery buildings and vineyards were destroyed at that time. However, the Abbey Mill still stands. It is on the Mill Avon, a water channel that monks supposedly built. The Abbey Mill is sometimes called "Abel Fletcher's Mill." This name comes from a novel where Tewkesbury is the setting.
The Abbey is thought to be where the hermit Theoc once lived. Its Romanesque arch and stained glass window have been repaired. The monastery was built by the Despensers as a family burial place. Their tombs are beautiful examples of medieval stonework.
The Abbey's tower is believed to be the largest Norman tower still standing. It once had a wooden spire, which made the building very tall. But a storm blew it off in 1559. The current decorations on top were added in 1600. The Abbey is considered the third largest church in Britain that is not a cathedral. It is also thought to be the second-largest parish church in England. It is still used for daily church services.
Old Pubs and Inns
Tewkesbury claims to have Gloucestershire's oldest pub, the Black Bear, which dates back to 1308. It closed for a few years but reopened in 2023 after being renovated.
Another famous place is The Royal Hop Pole Hotel. It was mentioned in Charles Dickens' book The Pickwick Papers. The Bell Hotel, a large building with wooden beams, is across from the Abbey.
Around the Abbey
The Abbey Cottages, next to Tewkesbury Abbey, were built between 1410 and 1412. They were restored in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These cottages now house the John Moore Museum, homes, and offices.
The John Moore Museum opened in 1980. It honors John Moore, a writer and naturalist. The museum has a large collection of natural history items. It also includes the Merchant's House, which looks like a Tudor home, and the Old Baptist Chapel.
The Old Baptist Chapel is a timber-framed building from the 1480s. In the 1600s, it became a meeting place for non-religious groups. It has an original baptistery and pastor's room. The building was restored in the 1970s and again in 2015. It is now used for cultural events. Behind the chapel is a small cemetery. It includes the grave of William Shakespeare-Hart, a distant relative of William Shakespeare.
Along the River
West of the town is Thomas Telford's Mythe Bridge over the River Severn. It is a cast-iron bridge that opened in 1826. Tewkesbury's other important bridge is King John's Bridge over the Avon. King John ordered it built in the late 1100s. This was part of improving the main road from Gloucester to Worcester. You can still see original stone on its north side. The bridge was made wider in the 1950s for more traffic.
The rivers were very important for the town's trade. A large industrial flour mill, built in 1865, stands near where the Avon and Severn rivers meet. Barges used to transport goods from here. The mill, known as Healing's Mill, stopped milling in 2006. The mill building facing the river is now in poor condition.
The Gloucestershire Water Rescue Centre, also Tewkesbury fire station, is a joint project. It combines the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS).
How Tewkesbury is Governed
Modern Local Government
Tewkesbury has a Town Council with 16 members. These members are elected or chosen from three areas: Newtown, Tewkesbury North, and Tewkesbury South. They serve for four years. All current council members are independent.
The Mayor of Tewkesbury, Councillor Paul Jones, leads the Town Council. The council also chooses a Deputy Mayor. The Town Council was officially created in 1974. It still uses Tewkesbury Town Hall and plays an important role in the town.
Tewkesbury is also part of the larger Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council. For national elections, Tewkesbury is part of the Tewkesbury constituency.
Since 1974, there have been two Mayors in Tewkesbury. The Borough Mayor is the main citizen of the wider Tewkesbury Borough. The Town Mayor is the main citizen of Tewkesbury town itself.
Transportation in Tewkesbury
Train Travel
Tewkesbury is served by Ashchurch for Tewkesbury railway station. This station is about 2 miles (3 km) east of the town center. You can catch trains from here to places like Worcester, Bristol, and even London Paddington. Some trains also go to Cardiff and Nottingham.
Tewkesbury used to have its own train station in the High Street. It opened in 1840 but closed to passengers in 1961. Freight trains continued until 1964.
Roads
Tewkesbury is connected by the M5 and M50 motorways. Important main roads like the A38, A438, and A46 also serve the town. Road improvements started in 2014 to help with traffic around the A46 and M5 junction 9.
Buses
Many bus services operate in Tewkesbury and the surrounding area. Most are run by Stagecoach West. Buses go to Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Bishop's Cleeve. You can also reach Evesham by bus. Buses run often from the town center to Ashchurch railway station.
Cycling
In the Newtown area of Tewkesbury, 10% of all work trips are made by bicycle. There are some bicycle paths in the built-up parts of Tewkesbury.
Culture and Fun in Tewkesbury
- The Roses Theatre is a place where you can watch movies and live shows. The famous comedian Eric Morecambe collapsed here in 1984 after a show.
- The Battle of Tewkesbury is mentioned in Shakespeare's play Richard III.
- Raymond Priestley, a geologist who went on Robert Falcon Scott's trip to the South Pole, left one of his sleds to the old Tewkesbury Grammar School. It is now kept at Tewkesbury School.
- Tewkesbury mustard was a famous blend of mustard and horseradish in the 1600s. It is now being made again. Shakespeare also mentioned this mustard in some of his plays.
Festivals and Fairs
- Since 2005, an annual Food and Drink Festival has been held near the Abbey.
- Every July, the town hosts the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. Thousands of people from around the world come to re-enact the Battle of Tewkesbury. The festival includes a "living history" camp, games, food, and a large fair. It has been called one of the "ten most bizarre festivals" in the country.
- In July, the Water Festival takes place with events on the river. It includes a parade of lit boats and fireworks.
- On October 9 and 10, Tewkesbury holds its annual mop fair. This was originally a hiring fair where people looked for jobs. Now, it's a large travelling funfair that takes over much of the town center. The fair is organized by The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.
- Every year in late July and early August, the Abbey hosts a festival of religious music called Musica Deo Sacra.
Local News and Media
Local TV news comes from BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. You can also get BBC West and ITV West Country through cable and satellite.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Greatest Hits Radio South West, Heart West, and Gloucester FM.
The town has local newspapers like the Gloucestershire Echo and the Evesham Journal.
Famous People from Tewkesbury
- John Barston – English writer and law figure – born around 1545.
- Robert Harold Compton – South African botanist – born 1886.
- Henry Disston – American industrialist – born 1819.
- Anna Ford – newsreader and TV presenter – born 1943.
- Henry Green – author – born 1905.
- Kathleen Hawkins - New Zealand poet – born 1883.
- Alfred Jones – cricketer – born 1900.
- John Moore – writer – born 1907.
- Mel Nicholls – Paralympic wheelchair racer.
- Raymond Priestley – Antarctic explorer – born 1886.
- Simon Goodwin - professional footballer for Southampton FC and Cheltenham Town FC - lives in Tewkesbury.
Sports and Recreation
- Tewkesbury has a recreation ground called one of the 471 King George's Fields.
- The football club, Tewkesbury Town FC, has several men's teams and a Veterans team. They also hold training for ladies.
- The cricket team, Tewkesbury Cricket Club, plays in the West of England Premier League.
- The rugby team, Tewkesbury RFC, plays Rugby Union in Gloucestershire Division One.
- The running club, Tewkesbury AC, competes in local, national, and international events.
- Cheltenham College Boathouse is located at Lower Lode.
- The facilities at Tewkesbury School are used as a public sports center. It has swimming, a gym, squash courts, and other sports.
- The Tewkesbury lawn green Bowling Club plays in local leagues.
- The Tewkesbury swimming club trains at the Leisure Centre near the Abbey and at the Tewkesbury School swimming pool.
Twin Towns
Tewkesbury Borough is twinned with Miesbach in Germany. Tewkesbury Town also has a sister city relationship with Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, USA, since 2003. It also has ties with Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Quebec, Canada. A sculpture called Touching Souls was placed at Tewkesbury Abbey because of the link between Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Images for kids
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Black and white buildings in Tewkesbury High Street. The left-hand one was built around 1510.
See also
In Spanish: Tewkesbury para niños
