Evesham is a picturesque market town that sits within a loop of the River Avon roughly halfway between Stratford-upon-Avon and Tewkesbury. The name of the town (from Eofs homme) evokes the Legend of Evesham, which tells how a swineherd saw a vision of the Virgin Mary. Evesham Abbey, founded by St Ecgwine in the early eighth century, grew into one of the most important abbeys in England. The iconic bell tower, completed c. 1532, stands as an imposing reminder of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Evesham grew from a small Anglo-Saxon settlement, centred on the abbey, into a thriving market town serving the surrounding Vale of Evesham. The temperate climate of the vale, nestling between Bredon Hill and the Cotswold edge, allowed it to develop into an important centre for horticulture. Indeed, Evesham is world famous for market gardening, especially the growing of asparagus. A tourist destination since the 1820s, Evesham continues to welcome visitors to its festivals, shops, cafes, inns and ancient churches.