| Alcester | |
|---|---|
|
Alcester's High Street |
|
| Alcester shown within Warwickshire | |
| Population | 6,273 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SP0957 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALCESTER |
| Postcode district | B49-B50 |
| Dialling code | 01789 |
| Police | Warwickshire |
| Fire | Warwickshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Alcester (
i/ˈɒlstər/ or /ˈɔːlstər/) is a market town and civil parish of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border. The 2011 census recorded a population of 6,273 in the town, up slightly from 6,214 in 2001.
The poet and antiquary John Leland wrote in his Itinerary (ca. 1538-43) that the name Alcester was derived from that of the River Alne. The suffix 'cester' is derived from the Saxon word ceaster, which meant a Roman fort or town.