Alcester

From Free net encyclopedia

For other places named "Alcester" see Alcester (disambiguation). Template:GBmap Image:Alcester.jpg Alcester (pronounced 'olster' or 'aulster') is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England, and situated approximately eight miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,214 in the town.

In Roman times Alcester (Aluana) was a walled town and fort of some importance, being located at a junction between the Ryknild Street Roman road and the ancient Salt way from Droitwich.

The town today includes a number of preserved Tudor and other houses, notably those 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 church also houses the tomb of Fulke Greville, grandfather of Fulke Greville 1st Baron Brooke

Until the 1960s Alcester was served by trains on the Redditch and Evesham Railway, with a connection to Bearley and Stratford-upon-Avon, originally provided by the Alcester Railway company.

Alcester is known for two nearby local stately homes, Coughton Court, north at Coughton, and (south-west), Ragley Hall. Kinwarton, which is just north of Alcester, contains a church of Saxon origin, and a historic dovecote — Kinwarton Dovecote — which is a National Trust property.

Alcester is also a significant town on the 100 mile-long Heart of England Way long-distance walking route.

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