Discover Offenham

Offenham lies in a bend of the River Avon, between the Avon and Badsey Brook. Its flat landscape is characterised by historic water meadows and pastureland. At the same time, the village is known in the surrounding area for its market gardening; much of the land is now cultivated under glass. The river landscape and market gardening give you two distinct ways to understand Offenham as a destination.

Landscape and character

The water meadows and pastureland reflect the historic use of the flat landscape, while cultivation under glass makes today’s market gardening visible. Offenham has no through road—a distinctive feature to bear in mind when finding your way around the village. If you are interested in rural landscapes, both its position between two waterways and its agricultural character are central here.

Historic sites and remembrance

The Church of St Mary & St Milburgh stands on a Saxon site and is listed as a Grade II* building. These two features point to different aspects of its history: its historic site and its listed status. Another place of remembrance is the Offenham War Memorial. Erected around 1920, it was designed by W. H. Gardiner of Evesham. The memorial commemorates 19 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Five more names were added after the Second World War.

The story of a former river crossing also connects Offenham with the surrounding area. Offenham Bridge, also known as Twyford Bridge, once spanned the river. After being damaged by floodwater, it was replaced by a ferry in the 18th century. At this crossing, supporters of Simon de Montfort were killed in 1265 during the Battle of Evesham. Another topic in local history is Dead Man’s Ait: the promontory in Offenham where numerous arrowheads and bones have been found.

Along Main Street, seven cottages form the longest continuous thatched frontage in Worcestershire. Another striking structure is Offenham’s maypole, described as 64 feet tall. It is said to be the tallest of only six permanently installed maypoles in England. Together, these sites and structures offer different ways to explore the village’s history—from remembrance and a former river crossing to its distinctive buildings and maypole.

Gathering and walking route

Time for Tea is a church gathering held on the first Sunday of each month from 14:30 to 16:00. Check the date before your trip. Another way to include Offenham in your plans is the Evesham Vale Circular Walk 3, a five-mile route that passes through the village. If you are planning the walk, check the route details before setting out. This lets you consider a scheduled gathering and a longer walking route in light of their different planning requirements.

Discover more destinations: Worcester, Pershore, Berrow, Bromsgrove, Alvechurch, Rock, Kempsey, Broadway

For the main travel overview: Worcestershire.