TEWKESBURY, a town in Gloucestershire, England, 151 mi. N.E. of Gloucester by the L.M.S.R., on the Warwickshire Avon, close to its junction with the Severn. Pop. (1931) 4,352. The Severn is crossed by an iron bridge of 17oft. span. Of the Benedictine abbey, one of the richest foundations in Eng land, refounded and enlarged in the 12th century on the site of an ancient hermitage and Saxon monastery, there only remain the gate and a few other fragments. The abbey church, consecrated in 1125, is a magnificent specimen of early Norman. One of the most remarkable features of the building is the unique western front, the central part of which is occupied by one vast arch extending from the ground to the roof. Originally it was filled in with Norman windows, but a Perpendicular window now occupies the space. The whole building underwent restoration in the Deco rated period, and of this style it is one of the finest existing examples. The Norman columns in the choir still exist; but above them rises a grand superstructure of Decorated work. The elegant clerestory windows are of the 14th century, with stained glass of the same date. There are two organs, one dating from the early 17th century. There are a grammar school (1625) and a number of charities and almshouses. Tewkesbury is chiefly dependent on agricultural trade and milling.
Roman remains prove that the earliest settlement near Tewkes bury was a military encampment against the British. It was the site of a Saxon castle and monastery, and its position led to the growth of a town, which was a borough with a market in 1087. It was subsequently granted to Earl Robert of Gloucester. Charters were granted in 1107, 1337, 1574 (when the borough was incorporated), 1609, 1685, 1698 and 1835. Several ancient fairs were granted, but one fair only is now held, on October io. It is a pleasure fair and a fair for hiring servants.
Cloth-making lasted from the 11th century until the 18th; gloving in the I 7th was followed by worsted-combing in the 18th; cotton-thread lace-making, introduced in 1825, collapsed about 1862, and the manufacture of mustard ceased at the end of the 18th century. Stocking-frame knitting was the chief trade in 183o, but has been replaced by the boot and shoe trade. (X.) Battle of Tewkesbury.—This battle, fought on May 3, 1471, closed the long conflict in England of the Wars of the Roses. The Yorkist victory at Barnet (q.v.), less than three weeks before, marked the ruin of the Lancastrian cause; Tewkesbury was a last desperate venture. Contrary winds had delayed the passage from France of Queen Margaret, wife of the imprisoned King Henry VI., and with a small body of Lancastrian supporters she landed in the West of England on the day of the disaster at Barnet. With her was her young son, Edward prince of Wales. The duke of Somerset and other survivors of the defeated army a few days later joined her standard. Margaret wished to return to France, but was persuaded that the Lancastrian strength in the West was unbroken. Adherents were recruited from Devon and Somerset as Margaret struck inland towards the Welsh border, hoping to join forces with Jasper Tudor. Edward IV., at Windsor, gathered
an army and moved westwards to intercept the invaders, who after forced marches found the city of Gloucester hostile and its gates closed against them. They struggled on to Tewkesbury, utterly exhausted. King Edward arrived the same evening.
Somerset, commanding the Queen's forces, accepted battle next morning. The position chosen was a strong one, on the gentle slope where the broad Severn flows through the valley. It was much cut up by dykes and hedges, and declivities, through which small watercourses passed, protected both flanks. The town and river were at the rear. As at Barnet, each opposing army was drawn up in three divisions, Edward commanding the Yorkist centre and Richard duke of Gloucester and Lord Hastings the two wings. Little impression was made by Edward's attack, till Somerset, whose ranks were being depleted by the fire of the Yorkist artillery and archers, led the Lancastrian right in an impetuous charge on the King's line. It was not supported. Lord Wenlock and the earl of Devon, with the Lancastrian centre and left divisions, kept their ground. The charge failed, and Somerset was driven back with heavy loss. He suspected treachery, and in the subsequent rout was said to have cleft the skull of Lord Wenlock with his battle-axe for not taking part in the charge. Pursuing their advantage in the confusion, the Yorkists broke into the Lancastrian main position, forging their enemy back to the town and Severn banks, where great slaughter ensued. A riverside field to this day bears the name of "Bloody Meadow." Edward prince of Wales was slain when crying for mercy; the earl of Devon and other nobles perished. Somerset himself, with Langstrother the treasurer and many fugitives gained sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey, from which they were forcibly taken and after summary trial were executed. Next day Queen Margaret, who had fled to a neighbouring convent, was made prisoner. On the night of Edward IV.'s return from the victory, King Henry VI. was murdered in the Tower of London. The death of Edward prince of Wales on the battlefield left the English throne with no direct heir in the Lancastrian line. (W. G. B.) TEXARKANA (tek-sahr-kap/a), an urban community formed of two cities, on each sid of the Texas and Arkansas boundary line, U.S.A., 165 m. E. by N. of Dallas; on Federal high ways 67 and 71, and served by the Kansas City Southern, the Missouri Pacific, the St. Louis South Western, and the Texas and Pacific railways. Pop. (1920) 19,737 (70% native white and 28% negroes) ; and 27,366 in 1930 by Federal census. The Texas city, Bowie county, had a population of 16,602 in 1930; Arkansas city, county seat of Miller county, had 10,764. Of necessity the cities have separate municipal governments, but commercially, indus trially, and socially they are a unit. The assessed valuation of Greater Texarkana was $19,739,732 for 1927. The first permanent settlement was made in 1874. Texarkana, Texas, was incorporated in 1875; Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1881.