Editing Alcester

{{short description|Market town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{about-distinguish-text|Alcester in Warwickshire|[[Alchester]] in Oxfordshire}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Alcester
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|12|54|N|01|52|11|W|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name = Alcester.jpg
| static_image_caption = Alcester's High Street
| population = 6,035
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021]])
| civil_parish = Alcester<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.alcester-tc.gov.uk/ |title=Alcester Town Council & Community Website |access-date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724225447/https://www.alcester-tc.gov.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Stratford-on-Avon District|Stratford-on-Avon]]
| shire_county = [[Warwickshire]]
| region = West Midlands
| constituency_westminster = [[Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency)|Stratford-on-Avon]]
| post_town = ALCESTER
| postcode_district = B49
| postcode_area = B
| dial_code = 01789
| os_grid_reference = SP0957
}}

'''Alcester''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-Alcester.ogg|ˈ|ɒ|l|s|t|ər|,_|ˈ|ɔː|l|-}} {{respell|OL|stər|,_|AWL|-}}) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Stratford-on-Avon District]] in [[Warwickshire]], England. It is {{cvt|8|mi|0}} west of [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], and 7 miles south of [[Redditch]]. The town dates back to the times of [[Roman Britain]] and is located at the junction of the [[River Alne]] and [[River Arrow, Worcestershire|River Arrow]].

In the 2021 census, the population of the parish was 6,035,<ref name="CPparish">{{cite web |title=Alcester Parish in West Midlands |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/stratford_on_avon/E04012351__alcester/ |publisher=City Population |access-date=3 May 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503075747/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/stratford_on_avon/E04012351__alcester/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with 6,421 in the built-up area.<ref name="CPbua">{{cite web |title=Alcester in Warwickshire (West Midlands) Built-up Area |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/warwickshire/E34004263__alcester/ |publisher=City Population |access-date=3 May 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503080928/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/warwickshire/E34004263__alcester/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Etymology==
The [[poet]] and [[antiquary]] [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]] wrote in his ''Itinerary'' (ca. 1538–43) that the name Alcester was derived from that of the [[River Alne]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PKW8PwnSiVMC&q=alcester+etymology%2F&pg=PA68 |title=Sixteenth-century Identities |first=A. J. |last=Piesse |date=25 January 2001 |publisher=Manchester University Press |via=Google Books |isbn=9780719053832 |access-date=29 October 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202031315/https://books.google.com/books?id=PKW8PwnSiVMC&q=alcester+etymology%2F&pg=PA68 |url-status=live }}</ref> The suffix 'cester' is derived from the [[Old English]] word 'ceaster', which meant a [[Roman fort]] or town, and derived from the [[Latin]] 'castrum', from which the modern word '[[castle]]' also derives.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/names.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027063501/http://www.localhistories.org/names.html |url-status=dead |title=Local Histories |archive-date=27 October 2014}}</ref>

==History==
Alcester was founded by the [[Roman Britain|Romans]] in around AD 47 as a walled [[fort]]. The walled town, possibly named ''Alauna'' developed from the military camp. It was sited on [[Icknield Street]], a [[Roman roads in Britain|Roman road]] that ran the length of [[Roman Britain]] from south-west [[England]] to south [[Yorkshire]]. The town was also just north of the [[Fosse Way]], another important thoroughfare in Roman Britain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.alcester-tc.gov.uk/information/history-of-alcester/ |title=History of Alcester – Alcester Town Council |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=19 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050535/https://www.alcester-tc.gov.uk/information/history-of-alcester/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of the [[2nd century]], Roman Alcester had developed into a bustling trading and market town: A small walled area in the centre of the town was surrounded by an extensive grid of roads serving a complex of workshops and their associated housing, which specialised in trades such as [[tanning (leather)|tanning]], metal working and [[pottery]] manufacture. Some of the houses of Roman Alcester appear to have been well endowed, with features such as heating, painted [[plaster]] and [[mosaic]] floors. Along with most Romano-British towns, it appears to have gone into decline in the [[4th century]] when the Romans began to leave Britain. Detailed [[archaeology|archaeological]] work began in the 1920s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Terry |title=A History of Warwickshire |date=1997 |isbn=0-85033-991-X |pages=25–29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Alcester Roman Town |url=https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/alcester-roman-town |publisher=Our Warwickshire |access-date=3 May 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519110758/https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/alcester-roman-town |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Early Middle Ages]], ''Alencestre'' had become an [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[market town]] in the [[Kingdom of Mercia]]. Alcester was also the site of [[Alcester Abbey]], a [[Benedictine]] [[monastery]] founded in 1138 by Ralph le Boteler.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/Alcester/Gaz1868 |title=Genuki: ALCESTER - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868, Warwickshire |website=genuki.org.uk |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125092834/https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/Alcester/Gaz1868 |url-status=live }}</ref> Richard de Tutbury, the last [[abbot]], resigned his office in 1467<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol2/pp59-61 |title=Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Alcester &#124; British History Online |website=british-history.ac.uk |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125092826/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol2/pp59-61 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Alcester [[Abbey]] was absorbed into the neighbouring [[Evesham Abbey]]. By 1515 Alcester Abbey was in ruins as a result of the neglect of various abbots, and later during the [[dissolution of the monasteries]] under [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] it was largely demolished. The ruins were granted to the local Greville family, who used much of the stone to rebuild their family seat of Beauchamp Court.<ref>{{PastScape|mnumber=328443/ |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref>

Alcester competed in the competition for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] as part of the [[Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alcester in the running for city status in Jubilee competition |url=https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/19807439.alcester-running-city-status-jubilee-competition/ |access-date=2021-12-28 |website=Redditch Advertiser |language=en |archive-date=28 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228193857/https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/19807439.alcester-running-city-status-jubilee-competition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable buildings==
[[File:Alcester Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 670199.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Alcester Town Hall]]]]
[[File:St Nicholas Church ^ Church Street, Alcester - geograph.org.uk - 2806974.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|St Nicholas’s Church, with its unusual corner clock]]
Today the town features architecture from the [[Medieval]], [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]], [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]], [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] eras and the 20th century. The oldest house appears to be The Old [[Malthouse]] at the corner of Church Street and Malt Mill Lane, which probably dates from about 1500.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol3/pp8-22 |title=Parishes: Alcester &#124; British History Online |website=british-history.ac.uk |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125092830/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol3/pp8-22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

St Nicholas's Church is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1200612 |desc=Church of St Nicholas |access-date=12 November 2023   }}</ref> Its clock is in an unusual position on the south-west corner of the 14th-century [[bell tower|tower]], to make it visible from the High Street. The church also houses the tomb of Fulke Greville, grandfather of poet and statesman [[Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke]]. The church's Georgian [[nave]] with [[Doric order|Doric]] columns and plastered ceiling is believed to have been designed by [[Francis Smith of Warwick]], supervisor of its rebuild by the Woodward brothers of [[Chipping Campden]] in 1729.

[[Alcester Town Hall]] was built between 1618 and 1641, and is a [[listed building|grade I]] listed building.<ref name="OWATH">{{cite web |title=Alcester Town Hall |url=https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/alcester-town-hall-5 |publisher=Our Warwickshire |access-date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204051718/https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/alcester-town-hall-5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transport==
Alcester was previously served by [[Alcester railway station]] belonging to the [[Midland Railway]] (later part of the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS Railway]]), on the [[Gloucester Loop Line]], branching off the [[Birmingham and Gloucester Railway]] main line at {{rws|Ashchurch}}, passing through {{rws|Evesham}}, Alcester and {{rws|Redditch}} and rejoining the main line at {{rws|Barnt Green}}, near {{rws|Bromsgrove}}. The loop was built to address the fact that the main line bypassed most of the towns it might otherwise have served, but it took three separate companies to complete, Alcester being on the Evesham and Redditch railway prior to absorption by the Midland.

In addition a branch line provided by the Alcester Railway Company (later part of the [[Great Western Railway]]) ran from {{rws|Alcester}} to {{rws|Bearley}}, thus giving access to {{rws|Stratford-upon-Avon}}. This line, however, was an early casualty, closing in September 1939. The [[Gloucester Loop Line|Midland loop]] was due to close between {{rws|Ashchurch}} and {{rws|Redditch}} in June 1963 but the poor condition of the track led to all trains between {{rws|Evesham}} and [[Redditch]] being withdrawn in October 1962 and replaced by a bus service for the final eight months. Redditch to {{rws|Barnt Green}} remains open on the electrified [[Birmingham]] suburban network.

Currently, Alcester is served by one regular bus route, the hourly [[Stagecoach Midlands]]-operated X19 between Redditch and [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]. The [[Diamond West Midlands]]-operated route 247 operates irregularly through Alcester between Redditch and [[Evesham]].

==Current attractions==
Alcester is also known for two nearby [[stately home]]s. To the north is [[Coughton Court]], the family seat of the [[Throckmorton baronets]] and a [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] property.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coughton-court/history/view-page/item563375/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101195912/http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coughton-court/history/view-page/item563375/ |url-status=dead |title=Coughton Court |archive-date=1 November 2014}}</ref> To the south-west is [[Ragley Hall]], the home of the [[Marquis of Hertford]], whose gardens contain a children's adventure [[playground]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ragley.co.uk/product/ragley-by-candlelight-430pm-tour/ |title=Ragley By Candlelight 6:00pm Tour Saturday 1st December |website=Ragley |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125092837/https://www.ragley.co.uk/product/ragley-by-candlelight-430pm-tour/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Kinwarton]], which is just north of Alcester, contains a church of [[Anglo Saxon]] origin and a historic [[dovecote]], [[Kinwarton Dovecote]], which is also a National Trust property. Alcester is also a significant town on the 100-mile-long [[Heart of England Way]] [[long-distance trail]]. Recent developments, carried out by a multi-agency partnership, include '[[Roman Britain|Roman]] Alcester', a [[museum]] exhibiting locally found archaeological [[artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] from the 1st to 4th century. 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of its opening.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://romanalcester.org/ |title=Roman Alcester Heritage Centre |website=romanalcester.org/ |access-date=17 June 2020 |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617101619/http://romanalcester.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Annual events==
In early June, Alcester holds the [[Court Leet]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alcestercourtleet.co.uk/ |title=Alcester Court Leet &#124; Maintaining Traditions |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230803/http://www.alcestercourtleet.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> charity [[street market]] with a procession and competitions for best stall and best fancy dress. On the first Monday and Tuesday in October, Alcester holds an annual [[mop fair]] where amusement rides, side stalls and food booths line the High Street, Church Street and [[Henley in Arden|Henley]] Street. The mop fair has gradually decreased in size over a period of years, likely an external influence since the people of Alcester still flock to the streets during the two nights.

The Alcester and [[Forest of Arden]] Food Festival is held every May and October.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alcesterfoodfestival.org.uk/ |title=Alcester Food Festivals |website=Alcester Food Festival |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125092834/http://www.alcesterfoodfestival.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Saint Nicholas|St Nicholas]] Night [[Fair]] is held on 6 December each year. The annual duck race takes place on the 2nd Saturday in July to raise funds for the summer [[Bunting (textile)|bunting]] and Christmas lights.

==Flooding==
[[File:Alcester Flood - July 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Flood in July 2007]]
The [[River Alne]] and [[River Arrow, Worcestershire|Arrow]], which join on the outskirts of Alcester, have occasionally [[flood]]ed and on a few occasions engulfed part of the town. The last occurrences were in 1956, 10 April 1998 (Maunday Thursday) and on [[2007 United Kingdom floods|21 July 2007]] when 200 homes were left uninhabitable.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=http://www.activetunnelling.com/news.asp?newsid=9 |title=Tunnelling |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101201522/http://www.activetunnelling.com/news.asp?newsid=9 |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the severe flooding of 2007 Alcester flood scheme completed an underground storage tank with a 3.25 million litre capacity in June 2011,<ref name="auto"/> costing just over £1 million. The scheme attracted funding from the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee's Local Levy with contributions from [[Warwickshire County Council]], [[Stratford-on-Avon District]] Council and Alcester Town Council. The scheme included work on the two [[pumping station]]s located at Bleachfield Street and Gas House Lane.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environment Agency |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/142209.aspx |url-status =dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123739/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/142209.aspx |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[Alcester Town F.C.]] has teams from Under-6 to Under-18 and senior players.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.marselli.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202035413/http://www.alcestertownfc.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |title=Home :: Marselli Aluminium London |archive-date=2 February 2012 |website=marselli.co.uk}}</ref> The town has a [[Rugby union|rugby]] club, and also used to have a [[golf course]] which closed and became the home of the [[football club]]. Alcester is also home to Alcester & Ragley Park [[Cricket]] Club, situated in the grounds of [[Ragley Hall]], the club has two Saturday teams who play in the [[Cotswold Hills League]] and two Sunday teams who play friendlies. There are also numerous junior teams (Up to U16), and a girls' team. Alcester [[Golf]] Club (now defunct) was founded in 1892. The club continued until the outbreak of the [[Second World War]].<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/central-west/warwickshire/705-war-alcester-golf-club-warwickshire "Alcester Golf Club, Warwickshire"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022956/http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/central-west/warwickshire/705-war-alcester-golf-club-warwickshire |date=24 September 2015 }}, "Golf’s Missing Links".</ref> Alne Cricket Club ([[Great Alne]]) is a cricket club about 2 miles from Alcester centre that play in local competitions and have a summer fun week for children. Adults can also play in their "Adult Team".

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=27 November 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC CWR]], [[Capital Mid-Counties]], [[Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire]], [[Fresh (Coventry & Warwickshire)]], [[Heart West Midlands]], [[Smooth West Midlands]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands]] and Stratford Community Radio, a community based station that broadcast from [[Stratford-upon-Avon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myscr.co.uk/ |title=Stratford Community Radio |accessdate=27 November 2023}}</ref>

The town is served by the local newspaper, ''Redditch Advertiser'' (formerly ''Alcester Chronicle'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-wmids/alcester-chronicle/|title=Alcester Chronicle (defunct)|date=3 May 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=25 November 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
The town has three [[secondary school]]s; [[Alcester Grammar School]], [[Alcester Academy]], and [[St Benedict's Catholic High School, Alcester|St Benedict's Catholic High School]].

==Places of worship==
*[[St Nicholas]] Church
*Our Lady & [[St Joseph]]'s [[Roman Catholic]] Church
*Alcester [[Baptist]] Church
*Alcester [[Methodist]] Church
*[[Kingdom Hall]] of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
*[[Howard Bennett]], cricketer
*[[John Bridges (Parliamentarian)|John Bridges]], [[English Civil War]] soldier and [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
*[[Russell Brookes]], rally driver
*[[Gilbert Cox]], cricketer
*[[Bernard Cuzner]], silversmith and product designer
*[[Francis James Davies]], [[First World War]] flying ace
*[[Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke|Fulke Greville]] (1554–1628), born at Beauchamp's Court, Alcester
*[[Frederick George Jackson]], [[Arctic]] Explorer, rescuer of [[Fridtjof Nansen]]
*[[Edward Scriven]], portrait engraver
*[[Nick Skelton]], [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] Gold Medallist
*[[Francis Summers]], cricketer
*[[Richard Waldron]], former President of [[New Hampshire]] Council
*[[Tom Wilkes (footballer)|Tom Wilkes]], footballer
{{div col end}}

==Town twinning==
Alcester is [[sister city|twinned]] with [[Vallet]] in [[Loire-Atlantique]], France.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
*Cave, Lyndon F., ''Warwickshire Villages'', London, 1976. {{ISBN|0-7091-5509-3}}
*{{cite book |title=Alcester—a History |author=George Edward Saville and Alcester and District Local History Society Staff |year=1986 |publisher=Brewin Books}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Alcester}}
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3812194 Photos of Alcester and surrounding area on geograph]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121017135633/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=56974&strquery=Alcester,%20Warwickshire British History Online : Alcester]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160310225051/http://tocacity.com/location/united-kingdom/england/alcester Alcester Community Portal]
*[http://alcesterminster.org/ Alcester Minster Churches]
*[https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/location/alcester Alcester Archives] - Our Warwickshire
{{Stratford-on-Avon district}}
{{Warwickshire}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alcester| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Market towns in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Stratford-on-Avon District]]