Evesham

I had to go to Evesham this morning, to collect a letter that had been sent without a stamp (Kathryn Saunderson, see me later), and I thought I should use the opportunity to remedy the fact that I've never blipped a photo of the town. I know quite a few people who would say that this is because Evesham isn't worth photographing, but if you look beyond its slightly defeated air of being stuck in the 1960s, there's much to admire here. Certainly it does a good church!

From the left we have the Parish Church of All Saints, half-hidden behind the walk of pollarded trees; St Lawrence's Church, which was declared redundant in 1978, but is still open to the public and sometimes used for community events such as concerts; and the detached bell tower of Evesham Abbey, peeking over St Lawrence's shoulder. 

There is an interesting plaque in the entrance porch of St Lawrence, which states: "The first Church built on this site was consecrated by the Bishop of St Asaph in 1295. No feature of this building remains except possibly the crucifixion panel on the north external wall of this porch. It was replaced by the existing perpendicular building in 1470 and formed part of the conventual buildings of Evesham Abbey which was then the fifth richest in England. The Church was erected for the use of the multitude of pilgrims who piously came to worship at the Abbey shrines throughout many years of storm and calm alike. Many diseases being prevalent in these times made it necessary to isolate them from the townsfolk, who exclusively used the adjoining parish Church of All Saints. The bodily needs of the pilgrims were catered for at the Abbey Almonry nearby which is still standing. The Church had become sadly dilapidated and in 1730 an extensive and as it proved, disastrous reconstruction took place because owing to faulty construction and poor materials, the new roof collapsed before 1800. The Church remained in ruins until 1837 when it was restored and reopened for divine worship in its present form. In 1957 a further minor restoration took place."

The interior of St Lawrence is lovely, and it has some fine stained glass: on another day I will go back and take some interior shots. The Almonry is now a museum.