Pershore is a small market town in Worcestershire, England on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. The population of Pershore is approximately 8,000. The town is best known for the Pershore Abbey ruins, and is also known for the plums grown locally. Pershore is 6 miles east of Evesham and 6 miles west of Upton-upon-Severn. Pershore is famous for its elegant Georgian architecture and important as the centre of a district rich in fruit and vegetable production (it is in the vale of Evesham). Pershore has been designated as a town of major architectural importance by the Council of British Archaeology, and listed as an outstanding conservation area. The river Avon runs through Pershore and is a popular stop off for boat traffic and fishermen alike. Pershore's crowning glory is its Abbey, an architectural gem, parts of which date back to the 11th century. The current structure is far smaller than the original building, which was damaged when the Abbey was plundered during the reign of Henry VIII. The Abbey stands in a large expanse of public grassland close to the centre of the town.