Alcester

1. ALCESTER
Ancient roman town

2. ALCESTER
Alcester is an ancient Roman
town in a beautiful part of
south-west Warwickshire,
England with a population of
around 9000.
Alcester is a great alternative
to Stratford on Avon which
can be too busy and
commercialised for many
people visiting Shakespeare
country.

3. ALCESTER
Alcester's history extends
back to the Romans. The
town has been the subject
of numerous
archaeological digs and is
now one of the best
understood Roman
settlements in the country.

4. ALCESTER
It is situated approximately
8 miles (13 km) west of
Stratford-upon-Avon, and
8 miles south of Redditch,
close to the
Worcestershire border.
The 2001 census recorded
a population of 6,214 in
the town.

5. ALCESTER
The original settlement
dates back at least to
Roman times and there are
many archaeological sites
of interest in the town and
surrounding area. The high
street is reminiscent of a by
gone era and preserved
Tudor cottages and other
historical buildings are
dotted throughout.

6. ETYMOLOGY
The poet John Leland
wrote in his Itinerary (ca.
1538-43) that the name
Alcester was derived from
that of the River Alne,
suffix 'cester' is derived
from the Saxon word
ceaster, which meant a
Roman fort or town.

7. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
An important market town,
Alcester was the site of
Alcester Abbey a Benedictine
monastery founded in 1138
by Ralph le Boteler.
By 1515 Alcester Abbey was
in ruins brought about by the
neglect of diverse abbots,
and later during the
Dissolution of the
Monasteries Henry VIII it was
largely demolished.

8. ST NICHOLAS CHURCH
St Nicholas Church is the
Church of England Parish
Church in the town.
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.

9. THE OLD MALTHOUSE
The town today features
architecture from the
Medieval, Tudor,
Georgian, Victorian and
20th century, the oldest
house appears to be 'The
Old Malthouse' at the
corner of Church Street
and Malt Mill Lane, which
dates probably from about
1500.

10. COUGHTON COURT
The most of
all the building
itself inside
great insight
to the era the
time of the
gunpowder
plot. Outside
area for
children to
play and
plenty of
walks to
enjoy.

11. RAGLEY HALL

12. THE HEART OF ENGLAND WAY
Alcester is also a
significant town on the
100-mile-long Heart of
England Way long-
distance walking route.
The Heart of England Way
is a long distance walk of
around 160 km (100 mi)
through the Midlands of
England.

13. EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
Alcester has a two-stage educational system,
with students progressing from a primary to a
secondary school.
There are three secondary schools in Alcester:
Alcester Grammar School (a selective school),
Alcester Academy (non-selective), and St
Benedict's Catholic High School (Roman
Catholic school).

15. THE ALCESTER AND FOREST OF ARDEN
FOOD FESTIVAL
The Alcester and
Forest of Arden
Food Festival is
held every May and
October and
attracts thousands
of visitors who enjoy
local quality food
and produce.

17. «Thank you for attention»