The Cotswold Way

We began our first cool morning with a walk from the Broadway Tower, the tallest part of the Cotswolds, to Chipping Camden. This area is called the fishing hills because people would have small ponds and keep fish.

The tower is said to be built as a gift from a mansion owner to his wife so she could see from her new home to her family's home, but it was probably really built as a lookout tower. It was used extensively as an observation and navigational point during the World Wars.

Chipping Campden was a wonderfully preserved town, most of the buildings on High Street were from the 1600's.

This first picture was the market place, in the center of town. In the last picture we ducked into a small garden tucked off the street. Built by a 'Chinese Wilson', a hometown gentleman who traveled extensively and returned with exotic plants.

We next visited St. James, another wool merchant church, mostly supported by the Greville's, a wealthy family, who were buried inside the church. They mostly acquired property and wool. They also created 12 apartments for 12 chosen poor people in town, which the community still cares for until this day. Here are the apartments.

These were the city gates.

St. James Church, also used in filming Father Brown.

This priest robe (a Cope) is the oldest existing robe from midieval times, it has elaborate embroidery and is preserved in this glass box.

The evening was on our own, I had dinner with two friends at the Tavern connected to the hotel. The mission was to find Stickly Toffee Pudding and our restaurant had it. This was so delicious and highly recommended.