Monday April 11, 2005

The Obelisk and the Leicester Tower
are now accessible via a permissive path
created under a Forestry Commission
grant scheme  Photo: G Foard
13/06/2004; photo number: 082;
Grid Reference: 403037,245730
(Battlefield Trust)

This walk covers six miles. Starting from the Abbey Park in the centre of Evesham. There are several car parks near the centre. The route is partly along metalled footpaths beside roads, partly on un-metalled lanes and partly on well marked footpaths across pasture. Just one small area along the Avon bank can be boggy, especially after wet weather. There is a full range of facilities within the town of Evesham. The walk described here is meant to be used in conjunction with the Battlefield Explorer map, which can be downloaded from the left hand side of the screen.

If a much shorter walk is required then there is parking adjacent to The Squires which gives access to the walk to the Leicester Tower and the Obelisk. It is also possible to park on the old road beside the main road to Alcester, immediately to the north of the junction with the Squires.

From the abbey walk north along the High Street and north out of the town along the Alcester road, following the route taken by de Montfort’s army up onto Greenhill. Today the suburbs of the town stretch right up to the battlefield, but in 1265 the town stopped just a short distance north of the market place.

Just after reaching the brow of the hill, opposite Croft Road, is Battle Well House. It has the name on a stone plaque on the brick wall beside the gate.  This should not be confused with the site of the Battle Well. It was however close by here that burials were found some time before 1857 – possibly rebel troops killed during the pursuit. There is a small lane that gives access to the hilltop just to the south of Battle Well House, on the west side of the road, but this is not a public right of way.

Continue north. Just before Blayney’s Lane, which is on the east (right hand) side of the road, is a footpath that leads to the left between the houses to the site of the Battle Well. This is not a public right of way, although it is hoped that the new scheme being developed by the de Montfort Society will soon enable public access to this key location on the battlefield. This is where, according to tradition, de Montfort fell. Close by a chapel appears to have been constructed in the medieval period but its exact site is not known. You are now probably just to the north of de Montfort’s initial deployment a the beginning of the battle.

Continue north and turn left along The Squires. This is probably the location where the royal forces deployed, with de Clare’s division to the east, Mortimer’s to the west and Edwards perhaps across the line of the main road. The Squires footpath alongside the road is not well maintained and so, until the bypass is completed, care needs to be taken when walking here. Go past the entrance to Abbey Manor House. 200 metres further on there is a gateway on the left. If you look along the line of The Squires north westward you can see the wooded hills adjacent in the distance which lie close to the site of Mosham Meadow where Edward’s army rendezvoused before marching on the final approach to the battlefield. De Montfort’s army was probably already in battle array on Greenhill when Edward’s three divisions march up this road, the old Salt Street, to deploy.

From here there are waymark signs that lead you to the Leicester Tower and the Obelisk. Having passed the Tower and gone through the trees, when you reach the stile where the path turns north east up the slope to the Obelisk, look to the south east. From here it is possible to see the tower of the abbey in the valley to the south east and further eastward the rise up onto the top of Greenhill and around to the east the site of the Battle Well is just visible at the head of the small valley.

From the Obelisk retrace your steps to the top of the Squires. Take Blayney’s Lane on the other side of the main road. This leads you down the hill towards the site of Offenham ferry. The bypass now cuts across the line of the lane necessitating a slight diversion, Take great care when crossing the bypass. The path leads a short distance along the line of the old railway line. This is the site of the Siveldestone, the Saxon marker stone near which one of the accounts says the royal army deployed. Maybe the left wing of the royal army was indeed deployed well down the slop toward the stone. Take the path across the small pasture field towards the river. Deadman’s Aiyt, which was once a small island encompassed by the Avon, is the tree covered land immediately adjacent to the river. On the other side of the river, close to the site of the medieval bridge which used to give access across the Avon to Offenham, is a pub, but sadly for the thirsty walker it is no longer accessible from this side of the river!
 
From here follow the path south along the bank of the Avon. There are good view of Greenhill across the meadows, giving a good feel for the steepness of the slope, though on this side of the Alcester road the whole of the hilltop has been built over in the 20th century. Continue along the path until it takes you back into Evesham. Take the first opportunity of a linking path that takes you up onto the main footpath from Oxstalls Farm as this is as easier walk along the last short stretch into the town and back to the starting point.