The Almonry Heritage Centre Evesham is housed in the medieval home of the Benedictine Almoner who was responsible for the distribution of alms to poor pilgrims and inhabitants of Evesham during the 850 year lifetime of Evesham's Abbey.

Inside this building now you will find a remarkable collection which takes the visitor from the earliest days of the Vale, when hippos roamed through swamps, up to the Second World War.

From the first Roman settlements in the Vale, the rich and fertile soil has been producing fruit and vegetables and this is well represented in the collection by a large number of artifacts from agricultural trades including the specialist asparagus crop. High quality Saxon burial goods from just a few miles away also demonstrate the high standard of living enjoyed by the successful farmers. Life in Evesham changed dramatically in the year 702 when the swineherd Eof a vision by the riverside. From this grew the powerful Abbey which became one of the wealthiest in England and dominated the town until its dissolution during Evensong on 30th 1539 by Henry VIII's agents. The collection includes a handwritten eye-witness account of this event and the subsequent 150 years saw the demolition of the Abbey and its re-cycling as building material throughout the area .

The 14C Abbot's chair is a reminder of the power and authority of the Abbot during this period whilst a 14C psalter is a fine example of the illuminated books which were produced.

Life in Evesham was not always quiet and peaceful, however. On 4th August 1265 a murderous and bloody battle took place on the slopes of Greenhill between the army of the 55 year old Simon de Montfort and the forces of Henry Ill, led by his son the future Edward I.The body of Simon was buried in the Abbey grounds although no-one knows his exact resting place now.

Other exhibits in the Almonry take the visitor to the English Civil War when opposing armies marched in and out of the town -much to the discomfort and annoyance of the inhabitants. The armies finally met on 26th May 1645 in a fierce exchange which saw the Parliamentarian forces win the day.

Evesham entered a quieter period now and the museum guides the visitor through the trades which grew in English rural towns during the 18C and 19C -the manufacture of shoes, gloves, pianos and the blacksmith are all well represented alongside the agricultural life of the area which combined to create a prosperous market town.

The variety of costumes are witness to the diversity of the town's inhabitants and the museum houses a series of vivid reconstructions showing Victorian life at both ends of the social scale.

Although remote from the battlefields after the English Civil War, Evesham people sent back stories of their wartime experiences. These range from the South African campaigns against the Zulu to the Second World War. In this latter period, the Almonry is fortunate to have displays showing life in a Prisoner of War Camp as well as exhibits showing the preparations made for the defence against invasion.

Finally a visit to the Almonry must include a walk around the gardens where yet more exhibits have been included -from simple agricultural equipment to a cannon from the Crimea campaign of 1854.

A visit to the Almonry will give a profound and lasting insight into the history of a community from its earliest times to the present day and we look forward to welcoming you to our historic town.

What's
In The Exhibition Rooms

Abbey Room

This room houses a model of the Abbey as it might have appeared in AD 1540. The model was constructed by Mr. Terence Knight over a period of 12 years.

There's a unique carved oak throne called the "Great Chair of Evesham Abbey"; it's the bishops "cathedra" (the root of the word "cathedral") made in the 14th century and used by the Abbots of Evesham.

In one of the display cases there is a copy of the document that formally dissolved the Abbey.

You will also find a copy of the Evesham Mappa Mundi of 1390. The original of this is held for safekeeping by the College of Arms in London

Undercroft

This is the oldest part of the Almonry and here you can see the tools that people would have used if they were blacksmiths, fruit pickers or thatchers. These being major industries in the past as well as other tools and exhibits from past and present industries such as market-gardening, fruit growing and glove making.

You should look out for the photograph of the record Victoria plum sale and the specialised tools used for harvesting asparagus, one of the Vale's major crops.

Civic Room

On the way to this room you can see the hard, uncomfortable bed from Evesham's old jail and the door that locked prisoners in at night.

In this room you can read about one of the local policemen and see the handcuffs and truncheon he would have used.

There's also much civic regalia in this room some of which dates from the 17th century as well as the corporation's plate.

The Almonry's huge fireplace provides a suitable setting to display a collection of pots and utensils.

Victorian Kitchen

The museum has been used as a house for hundreds of years including during the Victorian Period (1837-1901) and the kitchen here shows what it would have looked like.

There's the original black-leaded range and the kitchen provides a setting for part of the collection of domestic utensils.

Militaria Room

This room houses exhibits relating to the dark days of the two World Wars.

There's a set of Prisoner of War photographs donated by Mr. Jock Loudon together with the model aircraft collection built by the late Roy Mayes, alongside uniforms from World War Two.

Also on display is a collection of military, civilian and sporting firearms (all now modified to prevent them being fired),

On display there is also one of the few intact Women's Land Army uniforms.

Archaeology Room

In here you can see lots of fossils and bones showing you which dinosaurs and mammals used to roam the Vale millions of years ago. There's also evidence in here of occupation in the Vale of Evesham from the new stone age (Neolithic) times.

You can also see a display of bottles and lamps.

In the central area of the room there is a display of Anglo Saxon grave gods from Bennet's Hill, which was secured for the Almonry at an auction at Christie's in London in 2000.

Simon de Montfort Room

The 4th August 1265 was the battle between the armies of Henry III, led by his son the future Edward I and Simon de Montfort (Earl of Leicester) the leader of the baronial reform movement.

In this room is a model of the battle are built by local school children.

The displays on the wall are devoted to de Montfort's life, career and death and to the 1965 celebrations of the 700th anniversary of his death.

Of note in this room is an oil painting of c.1815 by William Robert Earl, which shows the view of Evesham from the battle-field (Greenhill) and which was exhibited in the Royal Academy.

Lecture Room

Around the walls of this room you will find items from the twin occupations of poaching and game-keeping.

There's is a large case which tells the story of Wood Norton home, in Victorian times, to part of the exiled French royal family and scene of Evesham's Royal Wedding.

You can also see the Almonry's collection of camera equipment, paintings and portraits.

Raymond Shaw Room

Named after the founder member of the Vale of Evesham Historical Society.

Here you can find a Georgian bureau, a portrait of Matthias Stratton of 1857, one time Chamberlain and Mayor of Evesham, and the last surviving uniform of the Deacle School, founded in 1736.

Telephone Room

Home to a collection of telephone instruments and equipment, built round the collection from the Post Office Engineering Museum, formerly house in the Evesham Telephone Exchange.

Of special note is the unusual telephone kiosk from the post office in the nearby village of Dumbleton.

Victorian School Room

Here you can pretend to go back in time to a Victorian School. Then, the children wrote on slates, not pieces of paper.

If they were naughty the teacher would hit their heads with the cane!

If they came to school every day, they were allowed a good attendance medal.

Victorian Boudoir

Displays part of a costume collection in the context of a Victorian lady preparing herself for a day out.

There's no electricity so gaslights flicker and if only the made could bring enough jugs of hot water up from the kitchen to fill the hip bath she could bathe.