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Tewkesbury

History of Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury

History of Tewkesbury


A walk through Tewkesbury will take you on a journey of the town’s history. The buildings, roads, alleyways, bridges and rivers tell the story of its past; a rich and varied heritage that shapes the town and its community today.

Tewkesbury - History of Tewkesbury

Marching into battle

Medieval Festival

Stepping back in time

The name Tewkesbury comes from Theoc, the name of a Saxon hermit who arrived in the area in the 7th century. Then it was known as Theocsbury and became Tewkesbury over the centuries.

Theoc is believed to have settled on the site of Tewkesbury Abbey but the building that exists there today has its roots in the 12th century. Consecrated in 1121, and credited with one of the finest Norman towers in the world, the Abbey will mark its 900th anniversary in 2021.

Trading its way to prosperity

The houses and shops throughout the town chart the Tewkesbury’s prosperity through a variety of trades. Medieval cottages exist alongside Tudor town houses and Georgian architecture. There was once a network of 90 alleyways around the town and 30 still exist today.  There is a lovely alleyways walking trail around the town - pick up a copy from the Tourist Information Centre.

Perhaps most famous for its mustard (Shakespeare’s Falstaff has the line “Wit as thick as Tewkesbury mustard”), other major industries over the years in Tewkesbury include brewing and malting, pin making and the framework knitting of stockings.

With the rivers to transport goods in and out of the town, Tewkesbury was a thriving commercial hub and a popular market town.

One of the town’s entrances over the River Severn is the impressive Mythe Bridge designed by Thomas Telford. A cast iron structure with a 170-foot span, the bridge opened to traffic in 1826.

A much older bridge is over the Avon close to the former flour mill. King John's Bridge over the Avon has its origins in the late 12th century as part of improvements to the main road from the cities of Gloucester to Worcester.

Forever in the history books

Tewkesbury’s place in the history books was secured in 1471 with the Battle of the Roses. The fighting in fields south of the town saw the House of York secure victory over the Lancastrians, a decisive result depicted in the Arrivall statue on the outskirts of town.

Every year in July, the battle is re-enacted at the internationally renowned Medieval Festival. 

Discover more about Tewkesbury's history at the Town Museum and the Heritage and Visitor Centre.

Heritage and Visitor Centre

Discover more about Tewkesbury’s history at the Heritage and Visitor Centre.


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Whats on

Feb 07th Tewkesbury Battlefield Guided Walks

Tewkesbury Battlefield Guided Walks

2021

Guided Battlefield Walks with the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society. Gloucestershire is currently in Tier 4 so walks are suspended at present.

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May 02nd Tewkesbury 2021

Tewkesbury Together 2021

2021 will be a momentous year for Tewkesbury as the town celebrates the 900th anniversary of the consecration of its world-famous Abbey and commemorates the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury, one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses.

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May 16th Tewkesbury Half Marathon

Tewkesbury Half Marathon

Sunday 16 May 2021

After unfortunately cancelling the 2020 run we are please to confirm that the 2021 Tewkesbury Half Marathon has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday 16 May The 13.1 mile route leaves Tewkesbury and heads out along country roads before returning to to the town and finishing at the Tewkesbury Leisure Centre

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May 31st The Kingfisher Trail, Cotswolds 2021

The Kingfisher Trail, Cotswolds 2021

Launching Spring Bank Holiday Weekend and running until October 17th

The Kingfisher Trail is an brand new accessible public art trail running throughout the Cotswolds, with 21 large scale artist designed kingfisher sculptures

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Jul 10th Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

10 & 11 July 2021

Will return on 10th & 11th July 2021 for its 550th Anniversary

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Jul 23rd App Fest UK

App Fest UK

23 and 25 July 2021

POSTPONED until 2021 Family friendly two day music festival near Tewkesbury featuring Tribute and original artists

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Aug 22nd Classic Vehicle Festival

Tewkesbury Classic Vehicle Festival

22 August 2021

Sunday 22nd August Re-live times gone by looking around a wide range of vintage motorised transport at Tewkesbury Classic Vehicle Festival and browse through hand-made gifts and goodies at the craft market.

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The number of Tewkesbury's buildings listed as being of special architectural or historical interest totals more than

350

Tewkesbury has two big anniversaries in 2021; 900 years since the consecration of the Abbey and 550 years since the Battle of Tewkesbury. The town will have plenty to celebrate

2021

30 alleyways exist in Tewkesbury today - there were once

90

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