The Almonry Heritage Centre

Loads of displays on different angles of history, spread across 12 interesting rooms and the garden. Join the Junior Almoners' Club for bonus trails and activities.

The Almonry exhibitions span 12 rooms and pretty much the whole of recorded time for the region, from prehistoric displays to Anglo-Saxon burial treasure, through to textile, horticultural and social history.

There is also a well kept traditional garden to explore too.

It's worth noting that there are no refreshment, car parking or bathroom facilities here, but there are apparently fairly local options for all of these.

This 14th Century building was once home to the Almoner of the Benedictine Abbey that was founded at Evesham in the 8th Century.

Following the closure of the Abbey by Henry VIII, the Almonry became the personal home of the last Abbot, Philip Ballard, whilst the rest of the Abbey buildings were sold to Sir Philip Hoby who arranged for the quarrying of the stone.

Today, the Almonry, two churches, bell tower and cloister arch are all that remain of what was reportedly the third largest abbey in England.

The Almonry has had a varied career: ale house, offices, tea rooms, private home, until it was finally purchased by Evesham Borough Council in 1929. In 1957 it opened as a Heritage Centre owned and funded by by the council: the Vale of Evesham Historical Society have acted as honorary custodians since the opening.

Today the Almonry houses a collection that spans the prehistoric to the 20th Century. Displayed over 12 rooms and a garden, the emphasis is on how Evesham has developed and grown during this time. There are exhibitions about the Abbey, the battle of Evesham in 1265, horticulture in the area, Anglo-Saxon burial treasure, 18th Century clothing and the impact of war upon this little market town.

For children, this is a wonderful place full of exciting treasures to discover: let Brother Oswald guide them through the rooms in their very own trail! Junior Almoners Club.

At the Almonry Heritage Centre, children can explore and enjoy local and national history. We seek to provide quality workshops with the emphasis on interactive, hands-on activities.

A session at the Almonry can enrich History in exciting ways, providing access to experts and to genuine artefacts, giving an experience unlike anything in a classroom!

We offer a variety of formats that can be tailor-made for your visit:

• Themed Days (museum led) for Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Victorians, World War II, Local Study, Spotlight on Pottery.
• Themed Half Days (museum led) for the above topics, plus Old and New, Toys, Tudors, Shapes and Patterns.
• Workshop Sessions (museum led) include History Detective, Archaeology, Victorian Washday, Dressing the Past (costume), Evesham in the Past, Pottery, Observational Drawing.
• School-led Visits – schools are welcome to bring classes around by themselves with the worksheets and trails provided by us.