Evesham's Military Heritage

The picturesque Worcestershire town of Evesham, famous for gardening and its long-lost abbey, has a fascinating military heritage. It was the scene of the Battle of Evesham in 1265 where Simon de Montfort (the father of Parliament) suffered a violent death. During the English Civil War, in 1644, Charles I held court in the town, while in 1645 there was a fierce engagement between a Royalist garrison and Parliamentary forces. Like many other English towns, Evesham served and suffered during two world wars. While few bombs fell on the town during the Second World War, there was significant local activity including a Home Guard, anti-tank defence, a military hospital, barracks, local auxiliary units (maquis) and, later on, POWs. In this book author Stan Brotherton looks at some of the key moments in Evesham's military history, highlighting their impact on the town.