The Almonry, Evesham
Grade I listed medieval almonry of Evesham Abbey with a local history museum, currently closed for a major restoration project.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Almonry dates from the 14th or early 15th century and housed the almoner, the monk of the Benedictine abbey at Evesham who gave alms to the poor. After Henry VIII closed the abbey, its last abbot, Philip Ballard, made the building his private home. The abbey itself was largely quarried away, and today only the Almonry, two churches, a bell tower and a cloister arch survive. In later centuries the building served as an ale house, offices, tea rooms and a private residence.
Evesham Borough Council bought the Almonry in 1929 and opened it as a museum and heritage centre in 1957. Until its closure the museum showed the history of Evesham and the Vale of Evesham in a series of small rooms, covering the abbey, the Battle of Evesham in 1265, local agriculture and the effects of war on the town. The building also housed the town’s Tourist Information Centre.
The building is owned and funded by Evesham Town Council. It is now closed to the public and has been emptied for a restoration project. The first phase covers repairs to the timber frame, walls, roof and windows, supported by funding of £2.1 million from Arts Council England. A second phase is planned to refurbish the museum and shop and to redesign the garden, and development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund was announced in January 2026.
Highlights
- Medieval almonry of Evesham Abbey, Grade I listed
- Local history displays on the abbey and the Battle of Evesham in 1265
- Anglo-Saxon burial treasure and Vale of Evesham agriculture (before closure)
- Garden with a cannon captured at Sevastopol in 1855 (before closure)
- Founded
- 1957
- Operated by
- Evesham Town Council
Admission & discounts
The Almonry is closed for a restoration project, and no reopening date has been announced.
Accessibility
The Almonry is closed for a restoration project, and no reopening date has been announced.
Kids & families
The Almonry is closed for a restoration project, and no reopening date has been announced.
Getting there & parking
By car
The Tourist Information Centre at Merstow Green has no visitor car park; several public car parks are elsewhere in Evesham. Coaches can drop off on Merstow Green and park on Viaduct Meadow.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The gift shop is open at its temporary location at 1-3 Merstow Green while the museum is closed.
Events & venue rental
The website lists schools, groups and hire pages, but gives no details while the museum is closed.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Schools, group visits and hire are listed on the website, but no details are published while the building is closed. Visitors can offer objects to the museum through the donating objects page. |
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