Pershore
 |
 |
| Pershore | |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,304 |
| OS grid reference | SO945455 |
| • London | 104.5mi |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PERSHORE |
| Postcode district | WR10 |
| Dialling code | 01386 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Pershore is a small market town in Worcestershire, England on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population of Pershore was 7,304. The town is best known for Pershore Abbey, Pershore College (now a campus of Warwickshire College), and the plums and pears grown locally.
Pershore is 6 miles west of Evesham and 6 miles east of Upton-upon-Severn. The town lies near the A44 midway from Worcester to Evesham. The nearest motorway junctions are junction 7 of the M5 (South Worcester) or junction 1 of the M50. There is a railway station on the Cotswold Line, enabling direct travel to Paddington station, London, via Evesham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxford, Didcot and Reading, although Pershore station is more than a mile from the centre of the town towards Pinvin.
Facilities
Pershore lies in in the Vale of Evesham and is important as the centre of a district rich in fruit and vegetable production.
The River Avon runs through the town, which is a popular stop for boat traffic and fishermen alike.
Pershore is famous for its elegant Georgian architecture; it has been designated as a town of major architectural importance by the Council for British Archaeology, and listed as an outstanding conservation area. The town's crowning glory is Pershore Abbey, parts of which date back to the 11th century. The current structure is far smaller than the original building, which was plundered during the reign of Henry VIII at the Dissolution when the original nave was destroyed. The north transept collapsed later. The present nave occupies the western part of what would originally have been the choir.
The Abbey stands in a large expanse of public grassland close to the centre of the town. The Abbey Park includes a bowls club, children's play area, and skate board park (2006), consisting of a mini ramp and a street section.
Education
As it is situated within Wychavon District Council Pershore's schools conform to the three-tier model of First school (ages 5–9), Middle school (ages 9–12), High school (ages 12–18). Pershore has only one High School: Pershore High School which has its own Sixth Form, all weather sports pitches and sports hall. It also has only one middle school: Abbey Park Middle School. There are two first schools in Pershore: Abbey Park First School and Cherry Orchard First School.
Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Primary School, situated on Priest Lane beside Holy Redeemer, Pershore's only Catholic Church, stands outside the 3-tier model. It is a Primary School (ages 5–11) which acts as a feeder school to Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcester.
Following a 2007 merger, the agricultural and horticultural facility at Pershore College became an agricultural campus for Warwickshire College.
Arts
The community arts centre, Number 8, stands on the High Street.
Pershore Volunteer Centre is located on Priest Lane.
Pershore has its own morris dance tradition. [1]
Sport
Pershore's football club, Pershore Town F.C., belongs to the Midland Football Combination league. Also Pershore Sports club is situated at The Bottoms on Defford Road. They also have a Women's team, Pershore Town Ladies, who play in the new Herefordshire and Worcestershire Women’s County Football League. Pershore Rugby Club [2] are a popular active club with clubhouse and pitches by the river in nearby Wyre Piddle.
Multiple BTCC title winning team, Team Dynamics, are also based there.
Being situated on the River Avon , Wychavon Kayak & Canoe Club have a strong presence in the Town and have done since 1982.
Notable residents
Pershore is also home of actress and singer Toyah Willcox and her husband Robert Fripp of rock band King Crimson.[1]
Pershore is the home town of Claude Choules, the last veteran to see action in both World Wars.
Pershore is home to BBC Midlands Today news presenter Michael Collie.
Pershore is also home to Mrs Muriel Faizey, the married infamous lover to Frederick Thomas Hirons of local Murder of Brenda Dawn Hirons. Hirons bludgeoned his wife with a house brick at their house in Bretforton and then held her under water in the pond until she drowned. As the trial would show, Hirons had planned to kill his wife in January 1976 so that he could live with Muriel.
Twin towns
Pershore is twinned with Bad Neustadt in Germany and Plouay in France.