This project has been set-up to photograph all aspects of Evesham and the Vale over a period of time.
At the end of the project there will be an exhibition of work and then all of it will be given to the Almonry for use in years to come.
Like all towns, Evesham is constantly changing. In the past few months there have been alterations to the play area in Abbey Park, the opening of a new leisure centre, enhancements to the High Street and the start of work on Evesham United's new Football Club; and these are just the bigger projects. Each year hundreds of smaller things happen: weddings, fairs, ice skating at Christmas, concerts, house builds. All of these add up to an ever changing landscape: both physical and social.
Once changes happen we soon forget what the old was like. A record over however brief a period of time will help give future generations an understanding of the past, and our generation memories.
Members of our group choose what they want to photograph and the geographical area they want to cover. Currently there are 30 members, but ‘the more the merrier’ and the richer the record will be.
This is a social record and not a photographic competition and members are expected to donate their photographs. We welcome all levels and ages, your photos are as valid to us if you use a ‘point and shoot’ or a top of the range job (Digital is preferred). Members devote as much time as they want, we are not setting targets. Really we just want to have fun and at the same time do something worthwhile. If you would like to join in use the contact us tab above.
This project is fully supported by the Evesham Town Council
Evesham is rich in history. The name Evesham is derived from “Eof’s Ham’: ‘Ham’ meaning homestead. Legend has it that Eof, a local swineherd, man had a vision of the Virgin Mary. He went straight to the Bishop of Worcester who also witnessed the vision and immediately founded the Abbey on the site. This Bishop was later to be canonised as Saint Egwin. This was around 701 AD
Only the main bell tower of the abbey: the lichfield tower, still remains. Remnants of the Abbey walls can still be seen as far away as Hampton Ferry, which demonstrated what a massive structure it once was.
Evesham was also the site of a major battle of the Second Baron's War in 1265. In this battle Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, lost his life in a defeat which saw Prince Edward (Later King Edward I) lead the forces of his father Henry III.
Over the years, Evesham town has grown. This growth has resulted in the villages of Bengeworth, Great and Little Hampton now sitting within the town boundary. The Hamptons only became a part of the town about 80 years ago. To celebrate the linking of the village to the town a new bridge was built: Abbey Bridge. This was the first all concrete bridge structure in the UK. This brings this all the way into the 21st Century. Abbey Bridge will soon be replaced as the concrete structure is crumbling. Yet more change and even more reason for a record to be kept.
Martin Hammon, who came up with the idea of a photographic history of Evesham, says,
"All towns change, and unless we keep a history, memories fade, and before we know
where we are, we forget.
I have lost count of the number of times I have had conversations in my shop, that run along the lines of "what was there before so and so?". The older we get, the more we live in the past (it's a lot nicer, and warmer, than the present!!). Keep a record of our past, and it helps to keep our present, and future, in perspective. Record it, or lose it.”
“With this in mind, I pestered a few of my customers and was pleasantly surprised just how many were interested. I followed this with an article in the local free press and I am pleased to say that from that the project has taken off. The Vale Magazine has shown great interest and support and has agreed to follow the project month by month over the next year. This is fantastic.”
If you think that you would like to get involved, we look forward to you joining us.
