Down Alcester way

In times gone by, one of Bromsgrove’s nearest neighbours was Alcester, a vibrant market town on the Warwickshire/Worcestershire border.

Alcester’s origins go back much further than those of Bromsgrove. It was founded by the Romans as a military fort around 47 A.D. Known to the Romans as Alauna, it grew into a walled town of some importance being located near several Roman roads, including Icknield Street (which ran from South West England up to Yorkshire), the Fosse Way, and the ancient Saltway from Droitwich Spa.

Archaeological digs suggest that the walled Roman town was surrounded by an extensive grid of workshops and associated housing. There is evidence for trades such as tanning, metal working and pottery manufacture being carried on here. Some of Alcester’s Roman houses appear to have been well endowed, with features such as heating, painted plaster and mosaic floors. Along with most Romano-British towns, Alauna went into decline in the fourth century when the Romans left Britain.

By the early Middle Ages, Alencestre (meaning fort by the River Alne) had become an AngloSaxon market town within the Kingdom of Mercia. Alcester Abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1138. After Richard de Tutbury, the last abbot, resigned in 1467 Alcester was absorbed into the neighbouring Evesham Abbey. It was later demolished under Henry VIII and the ruins were granted to the local Greville family, who used much of the stone to rebuild their family seat of Beauchamp Court.

Modern-day Alcester includes a number of preserved Tudor buildings, including the oldest inhabited Tudor house in Warwickshire. Several of these are near the parish church in Butter Street and in Malt Mill Lane. 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 Old Rectory, situated directly in front of the church, is an interesting example of Georgian architecture, with several Victorian additions.

Nearby are two stately homes, Coughton Court, a National Trust property, whose ancestors were key conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605; and Ragley Hall, which is the home of the Marquis of Hertford and houses the Jerwood Foundation’s sculpture collection.

Like Bromsgrove, Alcester retains its Court Leet, an ancient institution that is now dedicated to charitable works. Alcester’s Court Leet holds a charity street market in early June, with a procession and competitions for best stall and best fancy dress.

The history of Alcester will be explored at the Bromsgrove Society’s local history talk on Tuesday, February 21st, in a presentation by Alcester historian Alan Godfrey. Other talks in our spring 2023 programme are: A View from the Towpath by David Morgan, on March 21st; and on April 18th Robin Hill will present My Collection of Collections. All are evening meetings at the Methodist Centre, Stratford Road. For further details visit the Bromsgrove Society website, www.bsoc.co.uk

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