Jubilee Bridge Picnic Place

There was a ford here in the Middle-Ages, and travellers crossed on horseback or on foot when the river was not in flood. On a warm summer’s day, as you sit by the riverbank with your picnic or feeding the ducks, it's not hard to imagine horses splashing across the river where the bridge now stands. At that time shallows like this prevented boats from using the river when the water was low, so in 1635 weirs and locks were built along the Avon. This made it possible for boats up to 30 tonnes to travel up river as far as Warwick.

The previous Jubilee Bridge, also called Fladbury Bridge, was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, her fiftieth year of reign in 1885. The present bridge replaced it in 1935.

Wildlife on the Avon is very rich. There are Otters here, though they are shy and unlikely to be seen in daytime. Dragonflies, swans, fish and Sedge Warbler, are all much more likely observations. In the summer you may be treated to the sight of Swallows and House Martins swooping low over the water for a drink or to catch insects.

Just upstream from Jubilee Bridge, the village of Fladbury has many fine black and white buildings and quaint alleyways.  The Doomsday Book records a mill here in 1086, used for grinding corn and later crushing apples for cider. In 1900 two turbines were installed in the mill to supply the village with electricity. This continued until 1927. Just downstream is the attractive village of Cropthorne, worth a stroll around, with its half-timbered cottages and their lovely gardens.

Site Information

Jubilee Bridge Picnic Place is located on a minor road linking the A44 and B4084, between Evesham and Pershore.  Grid reference: 000456. Height barrier 2m.

Opening Times

Open daily, 24 hour pedestrian and vehicular access.

OS Maps

Explorer 205

Site Facilities

For further information contact the Countryside Service on 01905 766493.