Broadway (Worcestershire)

Broadway is a town in the county of Worcestershire ( county ) in the West Midlands region in England and located in the extreme northwestern part of the Cotswolds. Seat of administration is Worcester.

History

Finds from the Stone Age evidence of earlier settlement. Also, Romans and Anglo-Saxons left their mark. In the 9th century the place as Bradsetena Gamere ( = Broad Village ) is mentioned. The present name is in use since the 16th century. Around this time the place was an important coaching inn on Route Worcester to London. Here the horses were changed before the road to Fish Hill, Broadway led up the mountain. About 30 Inns and hostels provided the traveler.

Many buildings in the High Street, built of local honey-colored limestone, date from this period and make Broadway to the typical towns of the Cotswolds. These here is the famous Lygon Arms Hotel, which is already mentioned in 1532 and housed, among others, King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. With the advent of the railway in the town experienced a devaluation of its importance.

In the late 19th century Broadway was a place for Victorian artists. The writer JMBarrie and Henry James, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar and the painter Edwin Austin Abbey and John Singer Sargent lively town again. By William Morris and Gordon Russell to design and crafts established.

In 2001, the population was about 2,100.

Tourism

Today, Broadway, famous in brochures as the jewel of the Cotswolds, a well-known international tourist destination. By this typical for the region village, a broad, fringed by greenery main road, in whose honey-colored houses numerous art galleries, antique shops, artisans and local gastronomy can be found pulling. Near the village is the 1794 built castle-like Broadway Tower.