Eckington Bridge

One of many alleys in Tewkesbury

Spending a day in Tewkesbury was well worthwhile. After dropping 2 weeks washing off at the laundrette we went on to the Abbey, a spectacular historical church that seems much too large for a fairly small town. It had been the centre of an important monastery which was sold to the town's people on Dissolution. The nave is Norman and contains several 15th century tombs of notables. The tomb that particularly struck me was an unnamed one topped by a realistic carving of a long dead cadaver with various worms, beetles and other creatures crawling over it. According to the description this was a fashion of the time.

The next stop was the John Moores (a countryside writer who died in 1970s) museum which incorporated a timber frame shop which had been returned to the condition of the tudor period - again, well worth a visit. The town itself is attractive with many original timber frame buildings, little alley ways, and a good selection of small shops, though it suffers from heavy traffic passing through the centre.

Eckington Bridge with Bredon Hill beyond

This morning we refilled with water, bought some fresh provisions, and started our way north up the Avon. After a couple of hours along this lovely river we have moored at Eckington Bridge where we have decided to stay for the night. The journey was pleasant, the Avon being a river for dawdling rather than a motorway like the Severn. Along much the route the river was overlooked by Bredon Hill described by Houseman in a Shropshire Lad.