Studio: international art (14.1898)

Evesham as a Sketching Ground

Much of the ancient Almonry still stands, with
its quaint gables and mullioned windows. It
contains a fine old fireplace and architectural
decoration of the time of the Tudors. The pic-
turesque old Booth Hall, with its overhanging
stories, is still beautiful, although sadly spoiled by
yellow-washing ; and it possesses that charm which
age alone can give. Then there are the Cloister
Arch and the Norman Gateway, which remain as
evidences of the former splendour of the ancient
monastery. The Cloister Arch, also known as the
Chapter-house Arch, was the entrance to the
chapter house. It is even now of great beauty
and must have been very fine indeed before its
twenty saints and martyrs became headless, or
otherwise mutilated. The oldest relic of the
Abbey is the Norman Gateway, which is supposed
to have been erected by Abbot Reginald in the
early part of the twelfth century. Its lower portion
is hidden in the earth, as the ground where it
stands has been greatly raised by the accumulation
of ages.

Two very picturesque streets are High Street
and Bridge Street. High Street, with its old
irregular houses, and the Bell Tower and churches
to be seen beyond, is one of the most beautiful
high streets in the country. Dresden House, with
its fine ironwork brackets and railings, and Alms-
wood, with its quaint old iron balcony, are pic-
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turesque examples of dwelling-houses of a bygone
age. Bridge Street is charming, with its tall,
narrow houses, ending in a stone bridge crossing
the river.

Much will be found to sketch and paint in and
around Evesham ; although, as I have said before,
market gardening is the chief industry of the
neighbourhood, and market gardens may not form
the most lovely landscapes; but market gardens
have a picturesqueness of their own, especially
when the fruit trees are in blossom. What a
glorious sight is the white blossom in spring against
the purple hills or blue sky! Japanese-like, in-
deed, are the effects of the orchards with the snow-
like blossoms of the plum, followed by the cherry,
and later on by the pink and white of the apple.
Many a delightful hour may be spent wandering
along the river’s side, watching the slowly flowing
stream, with myriads of insects playing above it
and admiring the lovely views of hills and dales,
of woodlands, fields, and gardens.

Evesham is encircled with pretty villages, rich
in cottages of half timber and stone, tiled and
thatched, and surrounded by pleasant gardens and
orchards. Such are Abbots Norton, Harrington,
Offenham, the Littletons, Cropthorne, and a dozen
more, all charming in their way. As one ap-
proaches Bredon and the main Cotswold chain
the character of the country changes and becomes