Evesham which was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, with only Abbot Lichfield's Bell Tower remaining. During the 13th century, one of the two main battles of England's Second Barons' War took place near the town, marking the victory of Prince Edward who later became King Edward I. Evesham is derived from the Old English "homme" or "ham", and "Eof", the name of a swineherd in the service of Egwin, third bishop of Worcester. It was originally named "Homme" or "Haum" and recorded as "Eveshomme" in 709 and "Evesham" in 1086. The second part of the name ("homme" or "ham")
Economics of English towns and trade in the Middle Ages began to increase sharply. By 1297 a hundred and twenty new towns had established and in 1350, by when the expansion had effectively ceased, there were around 500 towns in England. Many of these new towns were centrally planned - Richard I created Portsmouth, John founded Liverpool, with Harwich, Stony Stratford, Dunstable, Royston, Baldock, Wokingham, Maidenhead and Reigate following under successive monarchs. The new towns were usually located with access to trade routes, rather than defence, in mind. The streets were laid out to make access to the town's market convenient. A growing percentage of England's population lived in urban