Alcester

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Alcester
latitude= 52.215
longitude= -1.876
civil_parish= Alcester
population = 6,214 (2001)
shire_district= Stratford-on-Avon
shire_county= Warwickshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Stratford-on-Avon
post_town= ALCESTER
postcode_district = B49-B50
postcode_area= B
dial_code= 01789
os_grid_reference= SP0957
static_

static_image_caption= Alcester High Street

Alcester (Audio|En-uk-Alcester.ogg|pronunciation; IPA|/ˈɒlˌstə(ɹ)/ or /ˈɔːlˌstə(ɹ)/) is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England, and situated approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,214 in the town, which also has civil parish status.

Historical significance

In Roman times Alcester ("Alauna") was a walled town and Roman fort of some importance, being located at a junction between the Ryknild Street Roman road and the ancient Saltway from Droitwich.

An important market town, Alcester was the site of a Benedictine monastery founded in the middle of the 12th century by Ralph le Boteler. [ [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/Alcester/Gaz1868.html Alcester, Excerpt from the National Gazeteer, 1868] ] The monastery was once a thriving one. In 1318 Walter de Beauchamp, who had a seat in the neighborhood, complained to the abbot of the monastery that some of his monks had removed Beauchamp's possessions from his manor. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=qA0KAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA289&lpg=RA1-PA289&dq=elias+de+lyvet&source=web&ots=VWxqnF3mj2&sig=cvF-4WzVNP9Il6qcQkiIPwdCDRY&hl=en Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, Public Record Office, Great Britain, 1903] ] At the Dissolution, King Henry VIII granted the monastery to the Greville family.

The town today includes a number of preserved Tudor and other houses, notably those near the parish church, in Butter Street and in Malt Mill Lane. The Old Rectory, situated directly in front of the church, is a particularly interesting example of Georgian architecture. A number of fine Victorian additions have been made at the rear of the house. The clock on St Nicholas' church is in an unusual position on the south-west corner of the 14th century tower, making it visible from the main High Street. The church also houses the tomb of Fulke Greville, grandfather of Fulke Greville 1st Baron Brooke.

Transport

Alcester once had a railway station, belonging to the Midland Railway (later part of the LMS), and situated on a lengthy loop line, branching off the Bristol to Birmingham main line at Ashchurch, passing through Evesham, Alcester and Redditch, and rejoining the main line at Barnt Green, near Bromsgrove. The loop was built to address the fact that the main line bypassed most of the towns it might otherwise have served, but it took three separate companies to complete, Alcester being on the Evesham and Redditch Railway prior to absorption by the Midland.

In addition, a branch line provided by the Alcester Railway company (later part of the Great Western Railway), ran from Alcester to Bearley, thus giving access to Stratford-upon-Avon. This line however was an early casualty, closing in September 1939. The Midland loop was due to close between Ashchurch and Redditch in June 1963, but poor condition of the track brought about withdrawal of all trains between Evesham and Redditch in October 1962, being replaced by a bus service for the final eight months. Redditch to Barnt Green remains open on the electrified Birmingham suburban network.

Current attractions

Alcester is known for two nearby local stately homes, Coughton Court, north at Coughton, and (south-west), Ragley Hall. Kinwarton, which is just north of Alcester, contains a church of Anglo Saxon origin, and a historic dovecote — Kinwarton Dovecote — which is a National Trust property.

Ragley Hall is home to the [http://www.jerwoodsculpture.org/ Jerwood Sculpure Park] .

Alcester is also a significant town on the 100 mile-long Heart of England Way long-distance walking route.

Recent developments, made by the council, include 'Roman Alcester', a museum showing locally found artifacts from the 1st to 4th century AD. Admission is free although the museum is only open from Thursdays to Sundays.

Flooding

The rivers Arrow and Alne, which join on the outskirts of Alcester occasionally flood and engulf part of the town. Last occurrences were in 1956, 1998 and 21 July 2007. The rivers meet at Oversley Bridge, on the old Stratford road. Flooded pubs included: The Dog & Partridge, The Swan, Royal Oak, Three Tunns, The Bear, The Turks Head, Moat House Inn and The Twisted Boot.

Education and schools

Like most places in the United Kingdom, Alcester has a two-stage educational system, with students progressing from a primary to a secondary school. There are three secondary schools in Alcester: Alcester Grammar School (Performing Arts & Science Status), Alcester High School (Technology & Music College), and St Benedict's Catholic High School (Specialising in Maths and Computers).

References

* Cave, Lyndon F., "Warwickshire Villages", London, 1976. ISBN 0-7091-5509-3

Further reading

*

External links

* [http://www.alcester.co.uk Alcester.co.uk]
* [http://www.redditchstandard.co.uk Redditch & Alcester Standard] The Local Alcester Newspaper
* [http://www.stnicholasalcester.org.uk St Nicholas Church, Alcester]
* [http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/alcester.html A few views of Alcester in old Postcards]
* [http://alcester.net/ags/ Alcester Grammar School]
* [http://www.ahstc.net/ Alcester High School Technology College]
* [http://www.ashthorpemagna.co.uk. A book by local author Maurice Abney-Hastings. Is it Alcester?]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3812194 photos of Alcester and surrounding area on geograph]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=56974&strquery=Alcester,%20Warwickshire British History Online : Alcester]