Vale of Evesham History Portal

There are a number of books, new, old and ancient, about Evesham Abbey. This page lists a useful selection for anyone who wants to investigate further into the abbey's life and times.

'The Lost Abbey of Evesham' by Maureen Butler

In 2002 Maureen Butler, features editor of The Cotswold & Vale Magazine, collaborated with the Vale of Evesham Historical Society to produce: "The Lost Abbey of Evesham".
 
Evesham Abbey was a victim of the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 by Henry VIII. A church existed on the site before 700, the site shown to St. Ecgwine in Eof’s famous "vision". The Normans replaced the existing church that had been consecrated in 1054 with a larger one. The abbey became one of the wealthiest Benedictine monasteries of the time, and catered for the local population that was divided into two parishes. Two churches were built very close to the abbey. They remain as St. Lawrence and All Saints. Apart from the two churches (All Saints is still in use as a parish church whereas St Lawrence is maintained by the Redundant Church's Fund) the only surviving sections of the abbey are the Great Gateway (converted into dwellings) the Bell Tower, which was built just before the Dissolution, parts of the Cloister Arch and the Almoner’s House (now the Almonry Heritage Centre).

Maureen's word picture of Evesham Abbey is painted with a broad brush, conjuring up a vivid mental picture of 900 years of development of the Abbey as the town grew and matured around it and under the protection of the Abbot of Evesham. The booklet is illustrated with drawings by Evesham artist, Michael Barnard and with photographs by Mike Hunt of the V.E.H.S. The V.E.H.S. also part financed the publication of the booklet as their contribution to the "Eof: The Vision" project. Of particular interest are photographs of Evesham today with Michael's impression of Evesham Abbey superimposed to create an unmistakable view of the grandeur of the abbey, and how it dominated the town (see our Gallery page).

"The Lost Abbey of Evesham" costs £4.50 and may be bought at bookshops throughout Evesham or direct from the Almonry Heritage Centre.

"The Lost Abbey of Evesham" is also available as an audio cassette.

'The Making of the Medieval History of Evesham Abbey' by Jane Sayers

In 2004 Jane Sayers, joint editor of Thomas of Marlborough's 'History of the Abbey of Evesham' (see below) contributed Worcester Historical Society Occasional Publication Number 10 (ISSN 0140-9913) as an analysis of the writing of Thomas's 'History'.
 
This 31 page booklet explorers the reasons for Thomas of Marlborough writing his 'History', his approach and the influence of his personal view.

This paper is available from the Almonry Heritage Centre of direct from the Society: Worcester Historical Society, Worcestershire Record Office, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP, United Kingdom at

'Thomas of Marlborough: History of the Abbey of Evesham' edited by Jane Sayers and Leslie Watkiss

The Evesham History is one of the last important thirteenth-century texts to be translated. This is also the first completely new edition of the Latin since that of 1863. The author, Thomas of Marlborough, was an educated and much travelled man and his work was written not so much in terms of a chronicle but as a history of the lawsuit between the monastery at Evesham and the Bishop of Worcester over the Bishop's right to visit or inspect the community. The case began in England, but was finally taken to Rome and battled out with much legal argument before Pope Innocent III's curia. Much of the History is an eye-witness account. It shows the development of canon law at this period and illustrates aspects of England's relationship with the papacy during King John's reign, including the period of the Interdict. It is valuable too for the light it sheds into the mind of its author, a Benedictine monk, who had pursued a career at Oxford before entering the community. It tells us much about institutional pride and of the use of earlier archives to help the case. In telling the story of the community of Evesham from its foundation by St Ecgwine in the eighth century, Thomas incorporated the work of earlier Evesham historians including the twelfth-century Prior Dominic who was responsible for the Life and Miracles of St Ecgwine. Marlborough also produced a most vivid and personal account of the tyranny of the scandalous Abbot Norreis and of the sufferings of the convent. He went on to recount the return of law and order to the community at Evesham, and the election of a new abbot with whom he attended the Fourth Lateran Council. The edition concludes with the death of Thomas as abbot in 1236. /continued...