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From Coughton to Alcester 2 miles by enclosid ground. I markyd the contrye about
Coughton and Alcester to be meatly well woddid. Part of the forest of Feckenham in
Worcestershire is withe in 3 miles of Coughton. Alcester is a praty market towne in
Warwike-shire. The market is kept there on the Tuesday. The towne hathe bene a great
thinge. Some say that there hathe bene 13 paroche churches in it. Some say that the priory
of Alcestar, now a litle without the towne by este northe este, was in the midle of the
towne. Many tokens of buyldinges and bones of men to be found in placis without the towne,
especially in Blake-Filde. The people there speke muche of one S.Cedde Bysshope of
Lichefild, and of injuries there done to him.
The pryore was of auncyent time a great monastery, syns impropriate to Eovesham. The
Beauchamps were lordes of that towne, and they had a howse by Alcestar Priory caullyd
Beauchamps-Hawle. It came sence by mariage to the Lords Broko, and now by manage it is in
Fulco Gravill’s handes. Fulco now buildithe at Beauchamps Hawle, and takythe stones
from Alcestre pniorie the which he hath also. Alcester, as it is now, stondythe on the
rype of Arow water. Yet seinge that it berithe the name of Aulne, it is an evedent token
that the old towne stode most by Aulne.
John Leland. (c.1540)
© Alcester & District Local History Society