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 the 12th century onwards, many English towns acquired a charter from the Crown allowing them to hold an annual fair, usually serving a regional or local customer base and lasting for two or three days. The practice increased in the next century and over 2,200 charters were issued to markets and fairs by English kings between 1200 and 1270. Fairs grew in popularity as the international wool trade increased: the fairs allowed English wool producers and ports on the east coast to engage with visiting foreign merchants, circumnavigating those English merchants in London keen to make a profit as middlemen.