When a woman was crushed to death on the old bridge, they decided to build a new one...

It's fascinating stories such as this that make the history-rich Evesham suburb of Bengeworth a place that really spans the centuries, discovers Zeena Lemon

As any archaeologist will tell you, scratching beneath the surface can uncover amazing snapshots of times gone by. And in a county that is so richly blessed with history, it is not hard to conjure up pictures of life many hundreds of years ago.

The area of Evesham known as Bengeworth is no exception, and although its tangible history has faded with time, its documented past is fascinating.

Mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, the area that lies to the east of the River Avon has had more than its fair share of historic incident, not least when several of the arches that construct the bridge--now known as the Workman bridge but formerly called the Bengeworth bridge--were broken by Royalist troops as King Charles I fled from Evesham pursued by Waller and the Parliamentary forces.

The bridge itself tells other stories, too. Built to link Evesham with Bengeworth, the former medieval bridge of eight arches was replaced by the efforts of the Mayor of Evesham, Henry Workman. The old bridge was deemed too dangerous to remain after an incident in about 1850 saw a woman crushed to death against one of the walls by a passing wagon. Workman's lasting legacy to the parish is still evident today.

Most interesting, however, is the discovery that Bengeworth was once home to a castle. Cross the bridge and imagine a proud fortified manor house situated in the area between what is now Mortimers Quay and The Leys.

The land there belonged to the Beauchamps of Elmley castle and Bengeworth Castle was built and used to control land around it until the twelfth century, when it was attacked and destroyed by William de Andeville.

The area has also been a busy centre for trade throughout the centuries. From glove and parchment making to the more recent nail making, it's not hard to imagine the busy, bustling streets ringing with the sounds and smells of a bygone age. Many of the trades were begun in monastic times, in particular parchment making, which continued until the end of the 19th century.

Nail making was continued until the beginning of the last century and a row of nailer's cottages called Nailer's Row was only recently demolished.

We may take our history for granted but if you pause for reflection, the past is all around us. From the buildings that make up our towns and villages to the names of our streets, rivers and bridges, there is a tale to be told about almost everything.

If we just stop and do a little digging, it's amazing what can be uncovered.

How to get there

By car: From junction 7 of the M5, take the scenic B4084 through Pershore. At Evesham, go straight on past the first bridge and follow the river until you get to a second bridge. A right turn here takes you into the heart of Bengeworth. The journey takes about 25 minutes.

By train: Worcester to Evesham takes 20 minutes. Bengeworth is a short walk from the station, down High Street and over the bridge.