Tewkesbury

2025-10-27T14:40:39Z

86.172.159.45: /* Modern governance */

{{Short description|Town in Gloucestershire, England}}
{{about|the town in England|other uses|Tewksbury (disambiguation){{!}}Tewksbury}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = Tewkesbury Abbey and Mill Avon from Ham path.jpg
| static_image_caption = [[Tewkesbury Abbey]] and Mill Avon from Ham path
| country = England
| official_name = Tewkesbury
| coordinates = {{coord|51.99|-2.16|display=inline,title}}
| population = 20,360
| population_ref = (built-up area, 2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Tewkesbury |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/gloucestershire/E34004442__tewkesbury/ |website=City population |access-date=6 February 2023}}</ref>
| civil_parish = Tewkesbury
| shire_district = [[Tewkesbury Borough|Tewkesbury]]
| shire_county = [[Gloucestershire]]
| region = South West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Tewkesbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Tewkesbury]]
| post_town = Tewkesbury
| postcode_district = GL20
| postcode_area = GL
| dial_code = 01684
| os_grid_reference = SO8932
| london_distance = {{convert|94|mi|km|0}} [[Boxing the compass|ESE]]
| type = Town and civil parish
}}
'''Tewkesbury''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|tj|uː|k|s|b|ər|i}} {{respell|TEWKS|bər|ee}}) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in the north of [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]]. The town grew following the construction of [[Tewkesbury Abbey]] in the twelfth century and played a significant role in the [[Wars of the Roses]]. It stands at the confluence of the [[River Severn]] and the [[River Avon, Warwickshire|River Avon]], and thus became an important trading point, which continued as railways and, later, the M5 and M50 motorway connections were established.
The town gives its name to the [[Borough of Tewkesbury]], a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] of Gloucestershire. The town lies on the border with [[Worcestershire]], marked largely by the Carrant Brook (a tributary of the River Avon).

The name Tewkesbury is thought to come from Theoc, the name of a [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] who founded a [[hermitage (religious retreat)|hermitage]] there in the 7th century, and in the [[Old English]] language was called ''{{lang|ang|Theocsbury}}''.<ref name=Leland>{{Cite book |last=Leland |first=John |url=https://archive.org/stream/itineraryofjohnl01lelauoft/itineraryofjohnl01lelauoft_djvu.txt |title=The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543. Edited by Lucy Toulmin Smith |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Lucy Toulmin |editor-link=Lucy Toulmin Smith |date=1909 |publisher=London G. Bell |others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tewkesbury |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SO8932/tewkesbury/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Open Domesday}}</ref> An erroneous derivation from [[Theotokos]] (the Greek title of [[Mary, mother of God]]) enjoyed currency in the monastic period of the town's history.

The [[Battle of Tewkesbury]], which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the [[Wars of the Roses]] and is marked annually by a medieval festival in the town, including historical re-enactment.

==Geography==
===Geographic position===
The town is situated approximately halfway between the cities of [[Gloucester]] and [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], positioned where natural rises in the land allowed early settlers of the town to avoid flooding, yet also to take advantage of the fertile soils and transport connections. The layout of the town centre and radiating trunk roads remains largely unchanged since medieval times.

===Expansion===
In 1965, Tewkesbury borough, Gloucestershire, was enlarged by incorporating the then-new Mitton housing estate, on land previously in Bredon parish, Worcestershire, as part of the West Midland Counties Order.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elrington |first=CR |date=1968 |title=A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 8 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol8/pp110-118 |location=London |publisher=Victoria County History |access-date=5 June 2020 |archive-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605113525/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol8/pp110-118 |url-status=live }}</ref> The estate now forms part of the "Tewkesbury Town with Mitton" borough council ward, which also covers Tewkesbury town centre. A further housing project in Mitton was completed in the first decade of 2000. Mitton is now a contiguous low-density rural suburb connected to Tewkesbury. Other suburbs include Newtown, [[Wheatpieces]] and [[Northway, Gloucestershire|Northway]].

===Nearby places===

* [[Bredon]]
* [[Bishop's Cleeve]]
* [[Cheltenham]]
* [[Evesham]]
* [[Gloucester]]
* [[Pershore]]
* [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]] (Great Malvern)
* [[Upton upon Severn]]
* [[Cotswolds]]
* [[Forest of Dean]]
* [[Malvern Hills]]
* [[Winchcombe]]
* [[Gretton, Gloucestershire|Gretton]]

==Demography==
At the [[2021 UK census]] the Tewkesbury parish had a population of 10,663. If the neighbouring parishes of [[Wheatpieces]] (3,582), [[Northway, Gloucestershire|Northway]] (4,859) and [[Ashchurch Rural]] (1,814) are added, the figure rises to 20,918. The Tewkesbury urban area is divided in two by the north–south running [[M5 motorway]], opened in February 1971. However, the town is generally considered as the built-up area to the immediate east and west of the M5 at junction 9, with the town centre, abbey and old town situated to the west. The close proximity of large areas of land that are prone to flooding, as evidenced by the severe floods that struck the region in July 2007, would make further expansion difficult. However, the present [[Borough of Tewkesbury]], created on 1 April 1974, also contains a large portion of rural north Gloucestershire, extending as far as the edges of Gloucester itself and also Cheltenham, and has a present population of 94,884.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tewkesbury District |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/wards/E07000083__tewkesbury/ |website=City population |access-date=6 February 2023}}</ref>

==Historical landmarks==
[[File:Tewkesbury War Memorial.jpg|thumb|right|Tewkesbury War Memorial (The Cross), and High Street.]]
The town features many [[Medieval]] and [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor]] buildings, but is most famous for [[Tewkesbury Abbey]], a [[Norman architecture|Norman]] abbey church.

===The Abbey===
The Abbey was built by the Normans and consecrated in the year 1121.<ref>Tewkesbury Abbey official website, https://www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk/history/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123100552/https://www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk/history/ |date=23 January 2021 }}</ref>
Originally the Abbey formed part of a [[Benedictine]] monastery and was saved from the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]] by King [[Henry VIII]] after being bought by the townspeople for the price of the lead on the roof to use as their [[parish church]].<ref>C. J. Litzenberger, ed. ''Tewkesbury Churchwardens' Accounts, 1563-1624'' (Stroud, Gloucester: 1994) vii.</ref>
Most of the monastery buildings, as well as the vineyards, were destroyed during this time. The Abbey Mill however still remains, resting upon the Mill Avon, a channel allegedly built by the monks. This channel represents one of the biggest projects in Tewkesbury's history, though the present weir dates only from the 1990s, replacing two sluice gates installed in the 1930s. The Abbey Mill is also sometimes known as "Abel Fletcher's Mill", but this is simply the name given to it in Dinah Craik's novel ''John Halifax, Gentleman'', whose setting Norton Bury is based on Tewkesbury.

The abbey is thought to be the site of the place where the hermit Theoc once lived{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}. The [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] arch and stained glass window has been restored. The monastery was founded by the [[Despensers]] as a family mausoleum, and the Despenser and Neville tombs are fine examples of small-scale late medieval stonework.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The tower is believed to be the largest Norman tower still in existence{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} (though that at [[Norwich Cathedral]] is another strong contender). The tower once had a wooden spire which may have taken the total height of the building to as much as 260 feet, but this was blown off in a heavy storm on [[Easter Monday]] 1559; the present pinnacles and [[battlements]] were added in 1600 to give the tower a more "finished" look. The height to the top of the pinnacles is {{convert|148|ft}}. The abbey is thought to be the third largest church in Britain that is not a cathedral (after [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Beverley Minster]]){{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}. From end to end it measures {{convert|331|ft}}, though prior to the destruction of the original Lady Chapel (also at the time of the dissolution), the total length was {{convert|375|ft}}. The abbey is a [[parish church]], still used for daily services, and is believed to be the second-largest parish church in England, again, after [[Beverley Minster]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jenkins |first1=Simon |title= England's Thousand Best Churches|year= 1999|page=228}}</ref>

===Pubs, inns and taverns===
Tewkesbury claims Gloucestershire's oldest public house, the ''Black Bear'', dating from 1308.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-14 |title=Thousands support Black Bear pub over possible closure |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-67402466 |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The pub closed in 2017 and after undergoing renovation from 2019 to 2022, reopened in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/gloucestershires-oldest-pub-set-reopen-4265975|title = Gloucestershire's 'oldest' pub set to reopen after revamp|date = 26 June 2020|access-date = 8 March 2022|archive-date = 25 September 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220925133552/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/gloucestershires-oldest-pub-set-reopen-4265975|url-status = live}}</ref> Other notable large hostelries are [[The Royal Hop Pole|the Royal Hop Pole Hotel]] in Church Street (which has recently been converted into a part of the [[Wetherspoons]] pub chain with the discovery of a former medieval banqueting hall in the structure), mentioned in [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[The Pickwick Papers]]'', the Bell Hotel, a large [[half-timbered]] structure opposite the Abbey gateway, and the House of the Nodding Gables in the High Street.

[[File:Royal Hop Pole.jpg|thumb|left|[[The Royal Hop Pole]], mentioned in [[Charles Dickens]]' ''The Pickwick Papers'']]

===Around the Abbey===
The Abbey Cottages, adjacent to [[Tewkesbury Abbey]], were built between 1410 and 1412. They were restored 1967 to 1972 by the Abbey Lawn Trust, a building preservation charity. They house the John Moore Museum, residential homes and commercial offices. The [http://www.johnmooremuseum.org/ John Moore Museum] was established in 1980 in memory of the writer and naturalist, [[John Moore (British author)|John Moore]]. The museum consists of three buildings: the main John Moore Museum, home to an extensive Natural History collection; the Merchant's House, restored to its Tudor appearance; and the [[Old Baptist Chapel, Tewkesbury|Old Baptist Chapel]]. The Old Baptist Chapel, located off Church Street, is a timber-framed building, formally a medieval hall house dating to the 1480s. Sometime in the 17th century, it was converted<ref>Secret meetings, codes & community: the story of the Old Baptist Chapel in Tewkesbury – official guidebook, {{ISBN|978 1 78442 134 2}}, published 2015</ref> for use as a Nonconformist meeting house. Including the original baptistery and pastor's room, the building is of significant historic interest.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} The building was restored to its 1720 appearance in the 1970s by Tewkesbury Borough Council. It was further renovated and interpreted in 2015 by the Abbey Lawn Trust and is used as a venue for a variety of cultural events. Behind the chapel is a small cemetery for those who were members of the congregation. This includes the grave of William Shakespeare-Hart, fifth great-grandnephew of William Shakespeare.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-gloucestershire-35438785|title=William Shakespeare's family roots traced to Tewkesbury|date=29 January 2016|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424062006/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35438785|url-status=live}}</ref> The cemetery is managed by Tewkesbury Borough Council.

===Along the river===
Just to the west of the town is [[Thomas Telford]]'s [[Mythe Bridge]] over the [[River Severn]], a [[cast-iron]] structure with a {{convert|170|ft}} span, opened in 1826. Tewkesbury's other notable bridge is the stone-built King John's Bridge over the Avon, commissioned by [[John, King of England|King John]] in the late 12th century as part of improvements to the main road from [[Gloucester]] to [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. Original stonework can still be seen on its north side; the bridge was widened in the 1950s to meet traffic requirements at the time.

The river was significant in the commercial development of the town.
The large industrial flour mill site, built in 1865 stands near the confluence of the Avon and Severn rivers, where barges were used to transport goods. The mill, known as Healing's Mill (and previously owned by [[Allied Bakeries]]) closed for milling in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tewkesburycivicsociety.org/borough-mills-redevelopment.html|title=Borough Mills redevelopment|access-date=8 March 2022|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308084519/https://www.tewkesburycivicsociety.org/borough-mills-redevelopment.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The mill building facing the river is now a well-known "at risk" structure, and can be seen clearly to have sunk on one end of its foundations.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59636858|title = Victorian Society: 'At-risk' mill, market and department store|work = BBC News|date = 13 December 2021|access-date = 8 March 2022|archive-date = 8 March 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220308090444/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59636858|url-status = live}}</ref>

The Gloucestershire Water Rescue Centre, also known as Tewkesbury fire station, is a combined project between [[Severn Area Rescue Association]] (SARA) and [[Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service]] (GFRS).<ref>{{cite web |title=Home / SARA Rescue Stations Map / SARA Tewkesbury Rescue Station SARA Tewkesbury Rescue Station |url=https://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/stations/tewkesbury/ |publisher=Severn Area Rescue Association |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702224659/https://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/stations/tewkesbury/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Mythe Chapel]], which was built in 1870, was deconsecrated in 1977.

==Governance==

===Modern governance===
[[File:Town Hall, High Street, Tewkesbury.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tewkesbury Town Hall]]]]
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Tewkesbury Town Council
| native_name =
| transcription_name =
| legislature =
| coa_pic =
| coa_res =
| coa-pic =
| coa-res =
| house_type = [[Parish councils in England|Parish Council]]
| body =
| houses =
| leader1_type = Mayor
| leader1 = Cllr Alan Hayes<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/councillors/ | title=Councillors – Tewkesbury Town Council | access-date=18 June 2022 | archive-date=8 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908154125/https://tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/councillors/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
| party1 =
| election1 =
| leader2_type = Deputy Mayor
| leader2 = Cllr Emma Ash<ref name="auto"/>
| party2 =
| election2 =
| leader3_type = Town Clerk and RFO
| leader3 = Mrs Debbie Hill
| party3 =
| election3 =
| leader4_type =
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| election4 =
| leader5_type =
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| leader6_type =
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| members = 16 Councillors
| house1 =
| house2 =
| structure1 =
| structure1_res = 130px
| political_groups1 =
| structure2 =
| structure2_res =
| political_groups2 =
| seats1_title = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|16|16|hex=#CCCCCC}}
| seats2_title =
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| committees1 =
| committees2 =
| joint_committees =
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality at large voting|Multiple non transferable vote]]
| voting_system2 =
| last_election1 = [[2011 United Kingdom local elections|4 May 2023]]
| last_election2 =
| next_election1 = [[2019 United Kingdom local elections|6 May 2027]]
| next_election2 =| session_room =
| session_res =
| meeting_place = Town Hall, 18 High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AL
| website = {{URL|www.tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/}}
| footnotes =
}}

Tewkesbury Town Council (not to be confused with [[Tewkesbury Borough]], which covers a wider area) has 16 members elected or [[Co-option|co-opted]] from the three wards of Newtown, Tewkesbury North and Tewkesbury South to serve four year terms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us – Tewkesbury Town Council |url=https://tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/about-us/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk}}</ref> The boundaries of these wards mirror the Tewkesbury Borough wards of Tewkesbury East, Tewkesbury North with Twyning, and Tewkesbury South. The Gloucestershire County Council divisions of Tewkesbury and Tewkesbury East are unchanged by the new ward boundaries at the Town and Borough Councils. Councillors were last elected in 2023, with all councillors sitting as independents. The [[Mayor]] of Tewkesbury, Councillor Alan Hayes, is the civic head of the council and chairs meetings of the full council. The council also appoints a Deputy Mayor who supports the Mayor in their duties and often succeeds to the office of Mayor in the following civic year. The council was formally established in 1974 following the dissolution of the municipal borough of Tewkesbury but continues to occupy [[Tewkesbury Town Hall]] and maintains the same civic role within the Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/venue-hire/|title=Venue Hire|publisher=Tewkesbury Town Council|access-date=29 May 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212422/https://tewkesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/venue-hire/|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Black & white Tudor buildings in Tewkesbury, England arp.jpg|thumb|left|Black and white buildings in Tewkesbury High Street. The left-hand one was built c.1510, with the exterior refronted in c.1650.]]
Tewkesbury is also covered by [[Tewkesbury Borough Council]] (district level) and [[Gloucestershire County Council]]. Tewkesbury is part of the wider [[Tewkesbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Tewkesbury constituency]] for elections to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. Prior to [[Brexit]] in 2020, it was represented in the [[European Parliament]] as part of the [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]] constituency in the European Parliament.

Through the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, a new District Council was created comprising the pre-1974 Tewkesbury Borough, Cheltenham Rural District and parts of Gloucester Rural District. In May 1973 a joint committee of the predecessor Councils recommended that a new Royal Charter be applied for. This Royal Charter conferring Borough Status was granted on 27 February 1973 and took effect on 1 April 1974. By virtue of this Charter the Borough appoint a Mayor and Deputy Mayor which results in there being two Mayors covering Tewkesbury at different level of government. The Borough Mayor being the first citizen of Tewkesbury Borough and the Town Mayor being the first citizen of the Town itself.

===Historical governance and town mayoralty===
The following table lists the Mayors of Tewkesbury between 1836 and 1973.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} After 1973 both [[Tewkesbury Borough Council|Tewkesbury Borough]] and [[Tewkesbury Town Council]] have appointed the Borough Mayor and Town Mayor respectively. The date of the Mayors Election changed from November to May in 1947/48 during the term of office of J.O. Martin.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Table 1: Tewkesbury Mayors between 1836 and 1973.
! Years !! Mayor
|-
|1836
|J.B. Lewis
|-
|1837
|C. Porter
|-
|1838
|S. Healing
|-
|1839
|C. Porter
|-
|1840
|R.Phelps
|-
|1841
|C. Porter
|-
|1842
|J. Packer
|-
|1843
|B. Trotter
|-
|1844
|J. Stevenson
|-
|1845
|I. Gregory
|-
|-
|1846
|J. Richards
|-
|1847
|H.P. Strickland
|-
|1848
|H.E. Strickland
|-
|1849
| rowspan="3" |N. Chandler
|-
|1850
|-
|1851
|-
|1852
| rowspan="2" |W.L. Chandler
|-
|1853
|-
|1854
| rowspan="2" |H. Brown
|-
|1855
|-
|1856
|S. Healing
|-
|1857
|G. Banaster
|-
|1858
|F.J. Prior
|-
|1859
|T. Weaver.
|-
|1860
|F.J. Price
|-
|1861
| rowspan="3" |S. Hitch
|-
|1862
|-
|1863
|-
|1864
|W. Allard
|-
|1865
|G. Blizard
|-
|1866
| rowspan="2" |J.F. Prosser
|-
|1867
|-
|1868
|G. Blizard
|-
|1869
|I. Nind
|-
|1870
|J. Hanford
|-
|1871
|W.G. Healing
|-
|1872
|J.F. Prosser
|-
|1873
|F. Thomas
|-
|1874
|J.F. Prosser
|-
|1875
|A. Healing
|-
|1876
|J.H. Boughton
|-
|1877
|J.F. Prosser
|-
|1878
|J.H. Boughton
|-
|1879
| rowspan="2" |J.F. Prosser
|-
|1880
|-
|1881
|W.G. Healing
|-
|1882
|M.C. Smart
|-
|1883
| rowspan="3" |J.H. Boughton
|-
|1884
|-
|1885
|-
|1886
| rowspan="2" |B.T. Moore
|-
|1887
|-
|1888
| rowspan="2" |E. Thomas
|-
|1889

|-
|1890
|T. Collins
|-
|1891
|M.C. Smart
|-
|1892
| rowspan="4" |T. Collins
|-
|1893
|-
|1894
|-
|1895
|-
|1896
|T.W. Moore
|-
|1897
|A. Baker
|-
|1898
|A. Baker
|-
|1899
|W.E. Hayward
|-
|1900
| rowspan="2" |T.W. Moore
|-
|1901
|-
|1902
|C.C. Moore
|-
|1903
|P.A. Pike
|-
|1904
|L. Jones
|-
|1905
|G.M. Rice
|-
|1906
| rowspan="2" |J. Willis
|-
|1907
|-
|1908
|G.C. Bayliss
|-
|1909
|F.W. Godfrey
|-
|1910
| rowspan="2" |A. Baker
|-
|1911
|-
|1912
| rowspan="2" |W.H. Hayward
|-
|1913
|-
|1914
|G. Hone
|-
|1915
| rowspan="2" |H. Bishop
|-
|1916
|-
|1917
|C.W. Jones
|-
|1918
| rowspan="2" |A. Baker
|-
|1919
|-
|1920
| rowspan="3" |W.T. Boughton
|-
|1921
|-
|1922
|-
|1923
| rowspan="2" |G.P. Howell
|-
|1924
|-
|1925
| rowspan="4" |W.T. Boughton
|-
|1926
|-
|1927
|-
|1928
|-
|1929
|G.P. Howell
|-
|1930
|L.L. Stroud
|-
|1931
| rowspan="4" |R.A. Gaze
|-
|1932
|-
|1933
|-
|1934
|-
|1935
| rowspan="2" |S.C.J. Moulder
|-
|1936
|-
|1937
| rowspan="4" |R.A. Gaze
|-
|1938
|-
|1939
|-
|1940
|-
|1941
| rowspan="4" |Rev. H.G. Brown
|-
|1942
|-
|1943
|-
|1944
|-
|1945
|H. Crouch
|-
|1946
| rowspan="3" |J.O. Martin
|-
|1947
|-
|1948
|-
|1949
| rowspan="3" |F.H. Knight
|-
|1950
|-
|1951
|-
|1952
| rowspan="4" |T.G. Bannister
|-
|1953
|-
|1954
|-
|1955
|-
|1956
|W. Bettany
|-
|1957
|F.H. Knight
|-
|1958
| rowspan="2" |W.E. Lane
|-
|1959
|-
|1960
| rowspan="2" |H.O. Workman
|-
|1961
|-
|1962
| rowspan="2" |L.G. Marston
|-
|1963
|-
|1964
| rowspan="2" |P.K. Holding
|-
|1965
|-
|1966
|G.S. Brown
|-
|1967
|G.M. Workman
|-
|1968
|J.R. Griffiths
|-
|1969
|G.P. Long
|-
|1970
| rowspan="2" |L.A. Webster
|-
|1971
|-
|1972
|M.R. Shepard
|-
|1973
|F.J.O. Martin
|}

==Transport==

===Railways===

Tewkesbury is served by [[Ashchurch for Tewkesbury railway station]], located {{convert|2|mi|km}} east of the town centre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashchurch and Tewkesbury District Rail Promotion Group|url=http://ashchurchandtewkesburyrail.webs.com/index.htm|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811220452/http://ashchurchandtewkesburyrail.webs.com/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It is served by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] services primarily operating between {{rws|Worcester Foregate Street}} and {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}} with some services operating to [[London Paddington]], [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] and [[Great Malvern railway station|Great Malvern]]. Limited [[CrossCountry]] services from [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]] to [[Nottingham railway station|Nottingham]] and [[Stansted Airport railway station|Stansted]] also call.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231221080040/https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:ASC/2024-01-02/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=call&order=wtt Services calling at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury on 2 January 2024] [[Realtime Trains]]</ref>

[[Tewkesbury railway station]] used to serve the town. It was opened by the [[Birmingham & Gloucester Railway]] in 1840 and was sited in the High Street. It was replaced in 1864 by a new station built for the [[Tewkesbury & Malvern Railway]]; this closed on 14 August 1961, when the Ashchurch to [[Upton-on-Severn railway station|Upton-on-Severn]] passenger service was withdrawn by [[British Rail]]ways (through trains to Great Malvern had ceased previously in December 1952). Freight traffic continued until final closure in December 1964. Removal of most of the railway embankment east of Mythe Road began in 2013 to aid flood prevention in the town taking about six months to complete.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final Tewkesbury flood defence work begins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-23431569#:~:text=Work%20has%20begun%20on%20a,take%20six%20months%20to%20complete. |access-date=14 July 2025 |work=BBC News |date=24 July 2013}}</ref>

===Roads===
Tewkesbury is served by the [[M5 motorway|M5]] and [[M50 motorway (Great Britain)|M50]] [[motorways in the United Kingdom|motorways]] and the [[A38 road|A38]], [[A roads in Zone 4 of the Great Britain numbering scheme|A438]] and [[A46 road|A46]] [[trunk road]]s. Congestion on the A46 around Ashchurch and junction 9 of the M5 is being addressed through a series of road works, which started in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a46-ashchurch-and-m5-junction-improvements |title=A46 Ashchurch and M5 Junction Improvements - Road Projects - Highways Agency |access-date=2014-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200651/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a46-ashchurch-and-m5-junction-improvements |archive-date=2 June 2014 }}</ref>

===Buses===
A network of bus services serve the town and surrounding district, operated predominantly by [[Stagecoach West]]. Services run to [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucester]], [[Bishop's Cleeve]] while [[Evesham]] can be reached using [[Diamond West Midlands|Diamond Bus]] service 540 which runs up to every 30 minutes Mondays to Saturdays. Buses run frequently from the town centre to Ashchurch railway station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tewkesbury Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/tewkesbury |quote=}}</ref>

===Cycling===
In Newtown, 10 per cent of all work trips are made by bicycle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/transport/gloucestershires-local-transport-plan-2015-2031/ |title=Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 |access-date=2019-07-01 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701100740/https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/transport/gloucestershires-local-transport-plan-2015-2031/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
There are some [[Cycling infrastructure|bicycle paths]] in the built-up-area of Tewkesbury.

==Culture==
*[[Roses Theatre]] combines an [[arthouse cinema]] and a live performance venue. The Roses Theatre is where comedian [[Eric Morecambe]] collapsed after a charity performance in May 1984.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-05-29 |title=ERIC MORECAMBE, 58, IS DEAD; A BRITISH COMIC AND TV STAR |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/29/obituaries/eric-morecambe-58-is-dead-a-british-comic-and-tv-star.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishmusichallsociety.com/ericmorecambe.pdf|title=The Night Eric Morecambe Died}}</ref> He died hours later in [[Cheltenham General Hospital]]. A conference/changing room was later named after him.
*[[Battle of Tewkesbury]], mentioned in [[Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]''.
*[[Raymond Priestley]], geologist on [[Robert Falcon Scott]]'s expedition to the [[South Pole]], left one of the sleds, used on that expedition, to the former Tewkesbury Grammar School (c. 1576 – 1972).<ref>Tewkesbury Grammar School 1576 – 1972, Paul Fluck, Grenfell Publications 1987</ref> It is now kept in the [[Tewkesbury School]]'s [[Humanities]] building.
*[[Tewkesbury mustard]], a blend of [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]] and [[horseradish]], made the town famous in the 17th century and is again being manufactured. The mustard was mentioned in some of Shakespeare's works.

===Festivals and fairs===
*Since 2005, an annual Food and Drink Festival has been held, in or near the Abbey grounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1645 |title= Tewkesbury Borough Council|website=www.tewkesbury.gov.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406044605/http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1645 |archive-date=6 April 2008}}</ref>
*On the second full weekend of July the town hosts [[Tewkesbury Medieval Festival]]. Thousands of re-enactors travel to the town from around the world to re-enact the [[Battle of Tewkesbury]] near to the original battle site. The festival includes a "living history" recreation of a [[medieval]] encampment, games, food and a large fair where re-enactment clothing, furniture and weaponry can be purchased. In 2008 the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary. It has been described by [[Footprint Travel Guides]] as one of the "ten most bizarre festivals" in the country.<ref name="Foot">{{cite book|last1=Godfrey-Faussett|first1=Charlie|url=https://archive.org/details/footprintengland00godf/page/46|title=Footprint England|publisher=[[Footprint Books]]|year=2004|isbn=1-903471-91-5|edition=Second|location=Bath, United Kingdom|page=[https://archive.org/details/footprintengland00godf/page/46 46]|chapter=Essentials|access-date=11 January 2011|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxvoSqcVvV0C&pg=PA17|url-access=registration}}</ref>
*In July the Water Festival takes place with events on the river and the banks including an evening procession of lit boats ending with a [[firework]] display. The festival started in 1996 but its future is now in question due to funding issues and the 2006 event was much reduced in scale. The event was cancelled in 2007 as it coincided with the Summer 2007 Flood (it went ahead later in the year). The event was scheduled for 2008 on Saturday, 20 September, but was again cancelled due to flooding in the weeks prior to the event.
*On 9 and 10 October, the town holds the annual [[mop fair]]. Originally a hiring fair where people came to seek employment, the event is now a large [[travelling funfair]] taking over much of the centre of town. The fair itself is also an underlining point of Tewkesbury's industrial past, as Walker Gallopers were produced in the area by Walkers in the early 20th century.<ref>Anthea Jones ''Tewkesbury''</ref> The fair is organised by The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (Western Section).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.showmensguild.co.uk/ |title=Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Central Office |publisher=Showmensguild.co.uk |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-date=16 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516060901/http://www.showmensguild.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The fair is never held on a Sunday.
*Every year at the end of July and into August the Abbey hosts a festival of liturgical music entitled ''Musica Deo Sacra (Music Sacred to God)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/musicadeosacra/|title=Musica Deo Sacra|access-date=28 July 2014|archive-date=20 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820022012/https://sites.google.com/site/musicadeosacra/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Local media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Ridge Hill]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ridge_Hill | title=Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref> However, [[BBC West]] and [[ITV West Country]] are also received through cable and satellite television such as [[Freesat]] and [[Sky UK|Sky]].

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Gloucestershire]] on 104.7 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio South West]] on 107.5 FM, [[Heart West]] on 102.4 FM and [[Gloucester FM]] on 96.6 FM.

The town is served by these local newspapers:<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2101604/gloucestershire-newspapers-october-2020.pdf |date=2020 |title=Gloucestershire Newspapers: A guide to national & local newspapers and their whereabouts |publisher=Gloucestershire Archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821033534/https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2101604/gloucestershire-newspapers-october-2020.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Gloucestershire Echo]]
* Evesham Journal.

==Cultural references==
*[[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[author]] [[Dinah Craik]] (1826–1887) visited Tewkesbury in 1852, and later set her most famous work ''[[John Halifax, Gentleman]]'' (pub. 1857) in the town, calling it "Norton Bury". There is a Craik House on Church Street, but Craik never lived there and has no other connection with Tewkesbury. Despite this, there is a memorial to her in the Abbey's south [[transept]].
*Author [[John Moore (author, British)|John Moore]] (1907–1967) was born and lived in Tewkesbury. He set his novel ''Portrait of Elmbury'' (pub. 1945) as a "fictionalised biography" of Tewkesbury, the town being the "Elmbury" of the book. Another of his books, ''Brensham Village'' (published in 1946) used nearby [[Bredon]] as its basis. A local museum has been named after him.
*[[A.E. Housman]]'s ''[[A Shropshire Lad]]'' also mentions Tewkesbury, as well as nearby [[Bredon Hill]], even though neither place is in [[Shropshire]].
*Four episodes of the children's TV programme ''[[Rosie and Jim]]'', aired in 1990 and 1991, are set in the town. [[Tewkesbury Abbey|The Abbey]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Rosie and Jim - Abbey - John Cunliffe - 1990 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOUjuype7gQ |language=en |access-date=2022-05-10 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510230434/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOUjuype7gQ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Mythe Water Treatment Works]] are featured prominently in an episode each.
*The opening scene of the 1995 film version of ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'' takes place at the field headquarters of King Henry's army at Tewkesbury.
*Two episodes of the [[BBC]] show ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'' series 39 are set on the Abbey grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 39, Tewkesbury Abbey 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tbsss |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510230436/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tbsss |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 39, Tewkesbury Abbey 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088pwbw |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510230435/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088pwbw |url-status=live }}</ref> One episode features a rare 18th-century dress which was valued at £40,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 39, Tewkesbury Abbey 2, A rare 18th century dress |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04t2sg3 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=BBC |date=16 February 2017 |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510230433/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04t2sg3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*The 2020 film ''[[Enola Holmes (film)|Enola Holmes]]'' features the disappearance of the fictional Viscount of Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether, played by actor [[Louis Partridge]].

==Notable people==
{{more citations needed|section|date=March 2023}}
* [[John Barston]] – English writer and law civic figure – born Tewkesbury c. 1545
* [[Robert Harold Compton]] – South African botanist – born Tewkesbury 1886.
* [[Henry Disston]] – American industrialist – born Tewkesbury 1819.
* [[Anna Ford]] – newsreader and TV presenter – born Tewkesbury 1943.
* [[Henry Green]] – author – born Tewkesbury 1905.
* [[Kathleen Hawkins]] - New Zealand poet – born Tewkesbury 1883.
* [[Alfred Jones (Northamptonshire cricketer)|Alfred Jones]] – cricketer – born Tewkesbury 1900.
* [[John Moore (British author)|John Moore]] – writer – born Tewkesbury 1907.
* [[Mel Nicholls]] – Paralympic wheelchair racer.<ref name="BBC News, October 2021">{{cite news |title=Mel Nicholls: Paralympian completes handcycle journey around UK |date=23 October 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-59021504 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=25 October 2021 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160637/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-59021504 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Raymond Priestley]] – Antarctic explorer – born Tewkesbury 1886.
* [[Eunice Spry]] – foster mother convicted of [[child abuse]] in 2007 – lived in Tewkesbury.
* [[Oswald Wardell-Yerburgh]] – vicar – 1899 to 1913.
* Simon Goodwin - professional footballer - Southampton FC and Cheltenham Town FC - lives in Tewkesbury, https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-southampton-prospect-cheltenham-towns-1319363 https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cheltenham-towns-youngest-ever-player-138919

==Sports and recreation==
*Tewkesbury has one of the 471 [[King George's Fields]] as its recreation ground.
*The football club, Tewkesbury Town FC have three men's teams in the Saturday Cheltenham Leagues, two teams in the Evesham Birdseye Sunday Leagues, a Veterans team for ages 35+ in the Gloucestershire North County League and hold weekly training sessions for Ladies in preparation for starting a team in the 2014/15 season. They are holders of the Gloucestershire County Cup as well as the Evesham Bluck cup, Pershore Hospital cup, are Evesham League Division 3 Champions and are the Evesham Leagues Team of the Year 2012/13.
*The [[cricket]] team, Tewkesbury Cricket Club 1st XI play in the Glos/wilts Division of the West of England Premier League.
*The [[Rugby football|rugby]] team, Tewkesbury RFC, plays [[Rugby Union]] in Gloucestershire Division One and has gained promotion to Gloucester Division Premiership
*The running club, Tewkesbury AC compete in local, national and international running events.
*[[Cheltenham College]] Boathouse is situated at Lower Lode
*Facilities at [[Tewkesbury School]] are used as a public sports centre for swimming, gym, squash and other sports.
*The Tewkesbury lawn green Bowling Club plays in the Gloucestershire men's and ladies leagues.
*The Tewkesbury swimming club is in Tewkesbury and trains at the Leisure Centre near the [[Tewkesbury Abbey]], and at the [[Tewkesbury School]] swimming pool.

==Twin town==
Tewkesbury Borough is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Miesbach]] in Bavaria, Germany.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bavarian twin has much in common with sibling|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Bavarian-twin-common-sibling/story-11900036-detail/story.html|publisher=Gloucester Citizen|access-date=30 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330173513/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Bavarian-twin-common-sibling/story-11900036-detail/story.html|archive-date=30 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Tewkesbury Town has had a sister city relationship [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Tewksbury Township, New Jersey]], United States of America since 2003 and also has ties with [[Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury]], Quebec, Canada. During the 1990s the relationship between the town of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire and [[Tewksbury, Massachusetts]] was strengthened and the possibility of a formal twinning was investigated. A formal twinning arrangement between the two towns was not progressed during the 1990s although a link was maintained during this time. The relationship between these two towns resulted in the placing of the Miko Kaufman sculpture called Touching Souls at Tewkesbury Abbey.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Collier's poster}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{Official website|http://www.tewkesburybc.gov.uk/}}
* {{Cite web |title=Day Out: Tewkesbury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/articles/2008/09/10/dayout_tewkesbury_video_feature.shtml |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=BBC |quote=Watch a BBC West programme made in 1984 of a day spent exploring Tewkesbury... }}

{{Gloucestershire}}
{{River Severn towns}}
{{Severn from Bewdley to Gloucester}}
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[[Category:Tewkesbury| ]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Severn]]
[[Category:Towns in Gloucestershire]]

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