Population: 8,500
Eat at… Eckington Manor (01386 751600)
Why? This country house manor, farm and restaurant is renowned for its field-to-fork ethos, and has a cookery school.
Drink at… The Pickled Plum (01386 556645)
Why? It’s a lively High Street pub selling real ales and ciders, craft lagers and interesting botanicals. Plus, there’s food and entertainment on hand.
Stay at… Woodlands 159 B&B (01386 642109)
Why? Perfectly placed on the High Street, with a walled garden and parking, you’ll get a hearty breakfast made with local produce.
Think Pershore, think purple! The town has a close association with fruit growing, particularly plums, and in springtime is surrounded by blossom. The town is a key part of the Vale of Evesham trails as a result. Pershore grew up around its abbey, a former Benedictine monastery, which was founded more than 1,000 years ago. The 16th-century half-timbered building on Newlands, known as the almonry, is on the site where monks hosted visitors and handed out alms. Stretch your legs and walk up nearby Bredon Hill – at 961ft it’s one of the Cotswolds’ highest points and is home to three Iron Age forts. Its folly was built to be 39ft tall, tipping the hill to the 1,000ft mark. The heritage centre in the High Street town hall is the best place to find out more about Pershore’s past. (pershoreheritage.co.uk)
Most noted for… Pershore college, a national centre of excellence in horticultural research and study, with its own agri-tech centre. Past alumni include multi-gold-medal winning garden designer, Chris Beardshaw.
While you’re here… Try to see the real flower confetti fields in nearby Wick. They are open briefly in June and July. (confettidirect.co.uk/flowerfields)
But try not to… Slip in the river. Word has it Pershore’s old bridge replaced stepping stones in 1413, the site of an abbot’s mishap and drowning.
Who’s who:
Actress, author and singer Toyah Wilcox lives in Pershore with her husband, the songwriter and King Crimson guitarist, Robert Fripp. Singer Nigel Clark, of the pop group Dodgy, also lives here. Poet John Betjeman was inspired by Pershore's beauty.
Pershore Abbey
A Benedictine order was founded at the Abbey in 972, with evidence that land was given to found a monastery in 681. Fire and earthquake – and Henry VIII – damaged the building over the centuries, but the townsfolk saved the east end, crossing and tower during the Reformation.
Pershore Old Bridge
The bridge spans the River Avon and is featured on Pershore’s town sign. After the Civil War, the bridge was repaired with stones from the Abbey and Elmley Castle. It became a footbridge in 1926.
Plum-tastic
Pershore equals plums – it even has three varieties of the fruit named after it. Pershore celebrates with an annual plum fair and farmers’ market over the final weekend of August, appointing a plum princess to oversee the events. A classic car show is held on the bank holiday Monday too. (pershoreplumfestival.org.uk)
