About the Society
Welcome to the website of our local history society. The Society was established to explore the local history of this ancient town and the surrounding villages, to encourage research, recording and publication of information for future generations.
Alcester and District Local History Society meets every month, with an invited speaker and guests are always welcome. See the EVENTS page for details.
We publish a monthly newsletter and a journal “Local Past” twice a year. We also produce “Occasional Papers” on specific areas of interest.
We also have an extensive and ever-expanding digital archive of photographs and documents of historical interest.
An Introduction to the Town of Acester
Alcester is a small market town in the south of Warwickshire. It stands at the junction of the rivers Arrow and Alne, and was once surrounded by the Forest of Arden. The town has Roman origins and was an important market town in mediaeval times. There are over sixty half-timbered buildings surviving. The town now has a population of around 12,000 and there is a bustling High Street dominated by the tower of St Nicholas Church.
The town hall was completed in 1641. The building was originally open underneath and market stalls were held there. There was a lock up for petty criminals. The arches were filled in in the 1800s to provide storage for the fire engine and a new courtroom. The upstairs room was for meetings and social functions, a purpose it still fulfils today.
A Short History
The first records of occupation date from the Roman invasion of AD 46 when a fort was built on a hilltop to the south of the town, to defend the river crossing. Two Roman roads crossed here, the Icknield St running north to south connecting Lichfield with Cirencester, and the Salt Way linking Droitwich with the Fosse Way. A small Roman town became established, which was later protected by walls and gates, and the earlier fort was abandoned. The Romans left in around AD 410 and the town appears to have been left almost deserted. Not much is known about the activity in the area until the Normans arrived in around 1080 and built a motte and bailey castle to the south-west of the town. The Norman lord of the manor also built a manor house at Beauchamp Court and paid for an abbey to be built near the river in 1138.
The town became more important after this as a weekly market was held in the streets selling a wide variety of products from cattle and leather to butter and ale. There were also a number of fairs through the year, which were larger markets with a better range of goods and entertainers. However, when transport links improved in the early 18th century the importance of the market began to diminish.
From the 1800s to the end of the second world war things stayed much the same, without the industrial development seen in surrounding towns. After the war things began to change. A new council housing estate were built to offer improved living conditions to many families living in overcrowded, poor quality accommodation. New private estates were built and many commuters moved into the town to take advantage of the low cost housing. Despite the influx of newcomers the town nevertheless lost its railway in 1963. But at least there is a bypass now and the heavy traffic on the busy A46 misses the town.
Today the old cottages around the town centre have been extensively renovated and many historic buildings have been saved. Alcester continues to flourish as a commercial centre, but retains a very strong sense of community.
Where to Find More Information
The local studies section of Alcester Library in Priory Road has an extensive collection of books of local interest and Society publications. Copies of the Alcester Chronicle from 1864 onwards are available for inspection on microfilm. In the same building as the library is the Roman Alcester Heritage Centre, admission is free. You can buy a leaflet here with a guided discovery trail around the town.