View source for Pershore

{{Short description|Town in Worcestershire, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2010}}
{{infobox UK place
|country =                 England
|official_name=            Pershore
|coordinates = {{coord|52.114|-2.080|display=inline,title}}
|population =              8,406
|population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Pershore |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/wychavon/E04010425__pershore/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
|website =                 [https://web.archive.org/web/20210703055459/http://pershorepage.com/]
|civil_parish =  Pershore  <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pershore-tc.gov.uk/|title=Pershore Town Council|website=Pershore Town Council}}</ref>
|shire_district =           [[Wychavon]]
|shire_county =            [[Worcestershire]]
|region=                   West Midlands
|constituency_westminster= [[West Worcestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Worcestershire]]
|post_town=                PERSHORE
|postcode_area=            WR
|postcode_district=        WR10
|dial_code=                01386
|os_grid_reference=        SO945455
|london_distance=          {{convert|104.5|mi}}
|static_image_name =       Central Pershore - geograph.org.uk - 1449131.jpg
|static_image_caption=  Pershore town centre
}}
'''Pershore''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in the [[Wychavon]] district in [[Worcestershire]], England, on the banks of the [[River Avon, Warwickshire|River Avon]]. At the 2011 [[UK census|census]], the population was 7,125. The town is best known for [[Pershore Abbey]]. Pershore is situated {{Convert|6|mi|0}} west of [[Evesham, Worcestershire|Evesham]] and {{Convert|6|mi|0}} east of [[Upton-upon-Severn]] in the [[Vale of Evesham]].
==History==
[[File:Pershore Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 859999.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pershore Town Hall]]]]
{{See also|History of Worcestershire}}
The town contains examples of [[Georgian architecture]]. In 1964 the [[Council for British Archaeology]] included Pershore in its list of 51 British "Gem Towns" worthy of special consideration for historic preservation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isgap.org.uk/gem-towns|title = Gem Towns &#124; ISGAP}}</ref> and it has been listed as an outstanding [[conservation area]]. Parts of [[Pershore Abbey|the abbey]], which stand in an expanse of public grassland close to the centre of the town, date from the 11th century. The current structure is far smaller than the original building, which was plundered during the reign of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] at the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|Dissolution]]. The original [[nave]] was destroyed. The north [[transept]] collapsed later. The present nave occupies the western part of what would originally have been the choir. [[Pershore Town Hall]], which was originally built as the local post office, was completed in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pershore Post Office |url=http://britishpostofficearchitects.weebly.com/pershore.html |website=British Post Office Buildings and Their Architects : an Illustrated Guide |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
==Education==
Schools in Pershore follow the [[three-tier education|three-tier]] [[first school]] (ages 5–9), [[middle school]] (ages 9–12), [[Upper school|high school]] (ages 11–18) system practised by parts of Worcestershire County Council. [[Pershore High School]] has a [[sixth form]] with all-weather sports pitches and sports hall.
Abbey Park First School and Abbey Park Middle School are on Abbey Road, they are both situated down the same drive. Pershore High School is on Station Road, which is on the outskirts of Pershore, bordering [[Pinvin]], a small village.
Holy Redeemer [[Roman Catholic]] Primary School, situated on Priest Lane beside Holy Redeemer, Pershore's only Catholic church, stands outside the 3-tier model. It is a primary school (ages 5–11) which acts as a feeder school to [[Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College]] in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].
Pershore College, a school of horticulture and other land-based activities,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.warwickshire.ac.uk/colleges/pershore_college/study_options.aspx|title=Warwickshire College Group {{!}} Colleges {{!}} Pershore College {{!}} Study options {{!}}|website=www.warwickshire.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-06-03}}</ref> became a campus for [[Warwickshire College|Warwickshire College (now WCG)]] following a merger in 2007.
==Annual events==
===Plum Festival===
The Pershore Plum Festival is held in August to celebrate the local tradition of growing [[plum]]s including the local varieties Pershore Purple, Pershore Yellow Egg Plum and Pershore Emblem.<ref name="pershore plums"/> Activities include crowning the plum princess, a family fun run, plum themed art exhibition and the Plum Fayre. There is also a classic car rally and nearby [[Worcester Racecourse]] revived ''The Land O'Plums Chase'' from 72 years ago.<ref name="plum festival"/> The festival won the Best Tourism Event and Festival in the Worcestershire Welcome Awards 2011.<ref name="festival award"/>
==Pershore Carnival==
Every year on Spring [[ bank holiday]] there is a [[carnival]] in pershore with [[Float (parade)|Floats]] and Stalls and a duck race
==Sport==
Pershore Bowling Club is situated within Abbey Park; formed in 1928 following an invitation by the then Lord Abbott of Pershore to the tradesmen of the town to play bowls on the lawn at the monastery, long since demolished. The Lord Abbott accepted an invitation to
be the Club’s first President and continued to hold this office until 1936 when the monastery was closed and the monks moved to Nashdom Abbey in Buckinghamshire.
Pershore's football club, [[Pershore Town F.C.]], play in the [[West Midlands (Regional) League]] Premier Division. It also has a women's team, Pershore Town Ladies, who play in the new Herefordshire and Worcestershire Women's County Football League.
Pershore Sports club, which houses Pershore Cricket Club who play in the Birmingham and District League, is situated at The Bottoms on Defford Road.
Pershore Rugby Club has a clubhouse and pitches by the river in nearby [[Wyre Piddle]].
Pershore Tennis Club, based at the Horticultural College, has three indoor and five outdoor courts, with junior, social and adult sections.
Multiple [[British Touring Car Championship|BTCC]] title winning team, [[Team Dynamics]], is also based there. Wychavon Kayak & Canoe Club <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wkcc.org.uk/WordPress/|title=Home &#124; WKCC|date=11 February 2022}}</ref> is situated on the river at Pershore Riverside Centre. Pershore Plum Plodders is an England Athletics affiliated running club serving Pershore and the surrounding villages. The Abbey Park includes a bowls club, children's play area and skateboard park (2006), consisting of a mini ramp and a street section.
==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals can be received from either the [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] or Lark Stoke TV transmitters. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Lark_Stoke|title=Full Freeview on the Lark Stoke (Gloucestershire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
Local radio stations are [[BBC Hereford and Worcester]], [[Heart West Midlands]], [[Radio Wyvern]], [[Capital Mid-Counties]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands|Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]], [[Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]], and [[Smooth West Midlands]].
The town is served by the local newspaper, Evesham Journal <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-wmids/evesham-journal|title=Evesham Journal|date=18 February 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=19 November 2023}}</ref> and its own community based newspaper, The Pershore Times. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pershoreonline.co.uk/index|title=The Pershore Times|access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
==Transport==
The town lies near the [[A44 road|A44]], approximately midway between [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] and Evesham. The nearest motorways are the [[M5 motorway|M5]] and [[M50 motorway (Great Britain)|M50]].
[[Pershore railway station]] is located in the village of [[Pinvin]]. It lies on the [[Cotswold Line]] which enables travel to [[Paddington station|London Paddington]], [[Oxford]] and [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]].
==Pershore Old Bridge==
[[File:Pershore Old Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 497754.jpg|thumb|Pershore Old Bridge]]
About {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1}} outside the town is Pershore Old Bridge over the River Avon. A bridge was originally built on the site in the 15th century. It was remodelled in the 17th century, after damage in the [[English Civil War]], and again in the 18th century. It is a [[Listed building|Grade II* listed structure]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1386748|desc=Pershore Bridge|grade=II*|access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref>
==Notable people==
See also {{Category|People from Pershore}}<br />'''Natives'''
* [[Hugh Bennett (cricketer)|Hugh Bennett]] (1862–1943), cricketer.
* [[Claude Choules]] (1901–2011), was the world's last living veteran of both world wars and [[supercentenarian]].
* [[Giles Collier]] (1622–1678), [[Anglican divine]].
* [[George Dowty]] (1901–1975), inventor and businessman.
* [[Florence Feek]] (1876-1940)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3108286/feek,-florence-eliza/|title=Casualty|website=www.cwgc.org|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> suffragette
* [[George Mason I]] (1629–1686), progenitor of the politically significant [[Mason family]] in America.
* [[Janet Mary Salsbury]] (1881-1951) composer and organist
'''Residents'''
* [[Nigel Clark (musician)|Nigel Clark]], singer with pop band [[Dodgy]]<ref name='nigelclark'>{{cite web |url=http://uk.myspace.com/nigelband |title=Nigel Clark &#124; Free Music, Mixes, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos |publisher=Uk.myspace.com |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110064036/http://uk.myspace.com/nigelband |archive-date=10 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Michael Collie (journalist)|Michael Collie]] (1966–present), TV presenter, [[Midlands Today|BBC Midlands Today]].
* [[Kay Kinsman]], (1909-1998), visual artist and mature student at [[Bishop's University]], [[Lennoxville]], Quebec
* [[Maurice McCanlis]] (1906–1991), sportsman.
* [[Charles Shadwell (musician)|Charles Shadwell]] (1898–1979), musician.
* [[Toyah Willcox]], actor and singer, and her husband [[Robert Fripp]] of rock band [[King Crimson]].<ref name="wilcox"/>
==Climate==
Like much of the [[British Isles]], Pershore has a temperate maritime climate. Maximums range from {{convert|7.7|°C}} in January to {{convert|22.4|°C}} in July and minimums from {{convert|1.5|°C}} in February to {{convert|12.2|°C}} in July.<ref name="en.tutiempo.net">{{Cite web|url=http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-35290.html|title = Climate PERSHORE - Climate data (35290)}}</ref> The January record high strangely occurred when it was dark; On 9 January 2015, temperatures rose to {{convert|16.1|°C}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/01-2015/ws-35290.html|title = Climate PERSHORE (January 2015) - Climate data (35290)}}</ref> On 12 December 1981 the lowest reading of {{convert|-22.0|°C}} was recorded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/12-1981/ws-35290.html|title = Climate PERSHORE (December 1981) - Climate data (35290)}}</ref> The warmest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|37.1|°C}} on 19 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_day_record_tmax_map.php | title=Starlings Roost Weather }}</ref> On 31 March 2021 Pershore recorded its warmest March day on record, beating the previous record set the day before.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.meteomanz.com/sy5?l=1&cou=6040&ind=03529&m1=03&y1=2021 | title=PERSHORE - Month summary }}</ref> On 7 September 2021, Pershore recorded its hottest September day on record, beating the previous record set in 2005 <ref name="meteomanz.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.meteomanz.com/sy5?l=1&cou=6040&ind=03529&m1=09&y1=2021 | title=PERSHORE - Month summary }}</ref>
The lowest maximum temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-8.2|°C}} on 19 December 2010. This is also the lowest maximum temperature on record for December in England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-extremes|title = UK climate extremes}}</ref> On the same day Pershore recorded a minimum temperature of {{convert|-19.5|°C}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/12-2010/ws-35290.html|title = Climate PERSHORE (December 2010) - Climate data (35290)}}</ref> (one of the lowest December temperatures ever recorded here) and at the same time exactly 5 years later it was {{convert|15.9|°C}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/12-2015/ws-35290.html|title = Climate PERSHORE (December 2015) - Climate data (35290)}}</ref> (one of the highest December temperatures ever recorded here). The maximum amount of precipitation in one day was {{convert|120.8|mm}} on 20 July 2007<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heavy rainfall/flooding - July 2007 |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2007/heavy-rainfall_flooding---july-2007---met-office.pdf |access-date=19 Jun 2023 |website=Met Office |format=PDF}}</ref> and exactly 9 years later the highest minimum temperature of {{convert|21.4|°C}} was recorded on 20 July 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://climate-datas-weather.dynalias.org/station-2342-1659-2020.php | title=Météo climat stats &#124; Station Pershore / Données Météorologiques Gratuites }}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Pershore 35m amsl (1991–2020) (extremes 1957–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C= 16.1
|Feb record high C= 18.8
|Mar record high C= 23.2
|Apr record high C= 26.0
|May record high C= 28.4
|Jun record high C= 34.0
|Jul record high C= 37.1
|Aug record high C= 35.6
|Sep record high C= 30.3
|Oct record high C= 28.4
|Nov record high C= 18.6
|Dec record high C= 16.0
|year record high C= 37.1
| Jan avg record high C  = 13.1
| Feb avg record high C  = 13.7
| Mar avg record high C  = 16.8
| Apr avg record high C  = 20.5
| May avg record high C  = 24.8
| Jun avg record high C  = 27.7
| Jul avg record high C  = 29.2
| Aug avg record high C  = 28.3
| Sep avg record high C  = 24.4
| Oct avg record high C  = 20.1
| Nov avg record high C  = 15.6
| Dec avg record high C  = 13.7
| year avg record high C = 29.8
|Jan high C = 7.9
|Feb high C = 8.7
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 14.2
|May high C = 17.4
|Jun high C = 20.4
|Jul high C = 22.6
|Aug high C = 22.1
|Sep high C = 19.3
|Oct high C = 15.0
|Nov high C = 10.8
|Dec high C = 8.2
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 4.8
|Feb mean C = 5.1
|Mar mean C = 7.0
|Apr mean C = 9.3
|May mean C = 12.4
|Jun mean C = 15.3
|Jul mean C = 17.4
|Aug mean C = 17.1
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 11.1
|Nov mean C = 7.4
|Dec mean C = 5.0
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 1.7
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 2.7
|Apr low C = 4.4
|May low C = 7.3
|Jun low C = 10.2
|Jul low C = 12.2
|Aug low C = 12.1
|Sep low C = 9.8
|Oct low C = 7.2
|Nov low C = 4.0
|Dec low C = 1.8
|year low C =
| Jan avg record low C  = -5.5
| Feb avg record low C  = -5.1
| Mar avg record low C  = -3.6
| Apr avg record low C  = -2.3
| May avg record low C  = 0.3
| Jun avg record low C  = 3.9
| Jul avg record low C  = 6.7
| Aug avg record low C  = 5.7
| Sep avg record low C  = 2.4
| Oct avg record low C  = 0.2
| Nov avg record low C  = -3.2
| Dec avg record low C  = -5.7
| year avg record low C = -8.1
|Jan record low C= -19.4
|Feb record low C= -12.7
|Mar record low C= -10.1
|Apr record low C= -7.3
|May record low C= -2.5
|Jun record low C= -1.0
|Jul record low C= 2.7
|Aug record low C= 0.0
|Sep record low C= -1.0
|Oct record low C= -5.1
|Nov record low C= -10.5
|Dec record low C= -22.0
|year record low C= -22.0
|unit rain days= 1.0&nbsp;mm
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 56.1
|Feb rain mm = 40.9
|Mar rain mm = 39.5
|Apr rain mm = 47.8
|May rain mm = 54.0
|Jun rain mm = 52.0
|Jul rain mm = 55.1
|Aug rain mm = 61.3
|Sep rain mm = 52.3
|Oct rain mm = 64.8
|Nov rain mm = 64.4
|Dec rain mm = 58.9
|year rain mm=
|Jan rain days = 11.6
|Feb rain days = 9.4
|Mar rain days = 8.9
|Apr rain days = 9.5
|May rain days = 9.0
|Jun rain days = 8.8
|Jul rain days = 8.9
|Aug rain days = 9.4
|Sep rain days = 8.8
|Oct rain days = 11.1
|Nov rain days = 12.1
|Dec rain days = 11.6
|year rain days=
|Jan humidity= 85.6
|Feb humidity= 82.6
|Mar humidity= 77.3
|Apr humidity= 73.7
|May humidity= 72.2
|Jun humidity= 71.0
|Jul humidity= 71.5
|Aug humidity= 73.7
|Sep humidity= 77.0
|Oct humidity= 79.3
|Nov humidity= 83.4
|Dec humidity= 86.9
|year humidity=
|Jan sun = 57.0 |Jan percentsun = 21.9
|Feb sun = 77.3 |Feb percentsun = 27.3
|Mar sun = 120.5 |Mar percentsun = 32.7
|Apr sun = 163.0 |Apr percentsun = 38.8
|May sun = 204.8 |May percentsun = 42.1
|Jun sun = 200.8 |Jun percentsun = 40.1
|Jul sun = 209.4 |Jul percentsun = 41.7
|Aug sun = 187.4 |Aug percentsun = 41.5
|Sep sun = 142.6 |Sep percentsun = 37.7
|Oct sun = 104.0 |Oct percentsun = 31.7
|Nov sun = 67.7 |Nov percentsun = 25.6
|Dec sun = 48.9 |Dec percentsun = 20.2
|year sun =
|source 1 = Met Office<ref name = metoffice>{{cite web
| url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcq89t680
| title = Pershore Climate Period: 1991-2020
| publisher = Met Office
| access-date = 15 December 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = en.tutiempo<ref name="en.tutiempo.net"/><ref name="metoffice.gov.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/observation/map/gcq8uy4x6#?zoom=9&map=SatelliteVis&fcTime=1490929200&lon=-1.90&lat=52.20|title = Ragley Hall weather observations map}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/data/index|title=Data|website=Met Office}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB784GB784&ei=CBOMW7-7COTQgAbztLjgAQ&q=pershore+climate&oq=pershore+climate&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0.787.787.0.1485.1.1.0.0.0.0.55.55.1.1.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.53....0.Jq181MqRUFI|title = Pershore climate - Google Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bablakeweather.co.uk/1991-2020-30-year-averages|title = 1991-2020 30 year averages}}</ref><ref name="meteomanz.com"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/mintemp_map.php | title=Starlings Roost Weather }}</ref>
|date=December 2021}}
==References==
{{reflist
| refs=
<ref name="plum festival">{{cite web
| url=http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/
| title = Pershore Plum Festival
| access-date=2 September 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="pershore plums">{{cite web
| url=http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/about.html
| title = About Pershore Plums
| access-date=2 September 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="festival award">{{cite web
|url          = http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/index.php/2011/07/best-tourism-event-and-festival-in-the-worcestershire-welcome-awards-2011/
|title        = Best Tourism Event and Festival in the Worcestershire Welcome Awards 2011
|access-date   = 2 September 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110907095353/http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/index.php/2011/07/best-tourism-event-and-festival-in-the-worcestershire-welcome-awards-2011/
|archive-date = 7 September 2011
|url-status     = dead
|df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>
<ref name="wilcox">{{cite web
| url=http://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/news/1768065.toyah_at_taste_of_pershore/
| title=Toyah at Taste of Pershore
| publisher=Evesham Journal
| date=18 October 2007
}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
<!--	Wiki is not a link farm. Please do not add any more links here without a discussion. They will be deleted. -->
*[http://www.visitpershore.co.uk/ Pershore Tourist Information]
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Pershore|short=x}}
{{Worcestershire}}
{{Wychavon}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Pershore| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Market towns in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Wychavon]]
[[Category:Cotswolds]]