Evesham

Evesham, a municipal borough of Worcestershire, on the right bank of the navigable Avon, 15 miles SE. of Worcester. It lies in a beautiful and fertile vale, and the chief industry is market-gardening. There are a fine modern bridge, public gardens, water-works (1884), a 16th-century guild-hall, &c.; but the stately Benedictine abbey (709) is represented chiefly by a beautiful Perpendicular belfry (1533). Till 1867 Evesham returned two members to parliament, till 1885 one. Simon de Montfort was defeated here, 4th August 1265. Pop. (1851) 4605; (1891) 5836. See May's History of Evesham (1845).