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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

Jul 01st Elvis - The Songbook

Elvis - The Songbook

Friday 1st July

The career of Elvis Presley is legendary and his Songbook runs to a thousand songs. Award winning tribute artist Richard Griffin honours the Songbook and explores the classic hits

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Jul 01st (Almost) Treasure Island

(Almost) Treasure Island

Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July

Victoria Gardens, Tewkesbury Friday 1st - 7pm Saturday 2nd - 3pm & 7pm Sunday - 2pm & 6pm

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Jul 02nd Tewkesbury Stitch Story

Tewkesbury Stitch Story

Bringing local stories to life

Stitch story is an ambitious new project that brought together over 8,000 Tewkesbury residents in one wonderful new community embroidery.

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Jul 04th The Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors

Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th July

Castle Theatre Company, the oldest student theatre company in Durham, part of Durham University, is touring the UK this summer with Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. We will be performing in the Rose Garden of Tewkesbury Abbey

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Jul 05th Guided History & Heritage Walks of Tewkesbury

Guided History & Heritage Walks of Tewkesbury

Saturday morning 11am

Guided History & Heritage Walks of Tewkesbury with the Cotswold & Gloucestershire Blue Badge Guides

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Jul 06th Stroll around the lanes and Alleys of Tewkesbury 2022

Strolls around the lanes and Alley of Tewkesbury 2022

Alley & lanes of Tewkesbury

Explore Tewkesbury's Social Heritage with a walk around the lanes and alleys.

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Jul 07th Tewkesbury Battlefield Guided Walks

Tewkesbury Battlefield Guided Walks

2022

Guided Battlefield Walks with the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society.

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Jul 07th The HandleBards: Twelfth Night

The HandleBards: Twelfth Night

Watson Hall, Tewkesbury

Thursday 7th July 2022 Join The HandleBards for a bicycle-powered, laugh-out-loud production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

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Jul 09th Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

9 and 10 July 2022

The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is the largest free medieval re-enactment and fayre in Europe

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Jul 10th Old Chapel Court Concerts 2022

Old Baptist Chapel Concert Series 2022

Concerts of early music in the intimate atmosphere of the Old Baptist Chapel in Tewkesbury April to September 2022

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

350

Tewkesbury Abbey was bought from Henry VIII by the townsfolk for

£453

30 alleyways exist in Tewkesbury today - there were once

90

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