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.

Stow on the Wold Meaning- Holy Place on the Hill

Doors of the Church, JRR Tolkien described these doors in his books. Beautiful, huh? These are the doors of St. Edward's Church, we didn't go in as they were having a funeral. Although Tolkien never lived in the Cotswolds, he had family not far away.

We started the day in Burford Village, the location of St. John the Baptist Church. This church was built by the wool merchants, with beginnings dating back to the 12th century. All the signs were about the merchants, mostly those that are buried here and in the churchyard.

On to Stow on the Wold, famous for their sheep market and sheep trading. A delightful town with cute shops and the beautiful church doors. Also a stockade in the town center. It has very narrow alleyways so they could count each sheep as it came into the square, making sure no one was 'fleeced'.

We had to stop at the Porch House for a half pint, this is the oldest tavern in England, established in 947 AD.

There was an afternoon walk option but 10 out of 12 of us chose to not go. Which finally gave me time to update this blog.

We moved on to Broadway town where our hotel, the 600 year old Lygon Arms stands in all its glory.

Our evening was for drinks at the hotel bar and as we traipsed across the lawn to our entertainment the staff went crazy, no drinks out of the bar! (Everything went into paper cups). Our delightful evening was provided by our new part -time guide Phil Collins, his real name by the way. He's an actor, musician and story teller. He gave us the history of an Italian puppet named Punchello. Later in England named Punch, who had a wife originally named Joan, who later became Judy.

Thames River and William Morris Estate- Kelmscott Manor

Our morning walk was along the Thames River amid the house boats and the beautiful swans. We started from Lechlade and walked to Kelmscot. Again, thru the fields and over the locks and bridges.

Father Thames watching over the river.

Lunch was at the Plough Inn, then on to William Morris estate, Kelmscott Manor. As some of you know, my tapestry, Tree Barks Thief is a William Morris design. I enjoyed learning about him and his great contribution to the Arts and Crafts movement during the beginning of the industrial age. That evening back in Cirencester, we all collapsed and barely made it out to a local dinner at an Italian restaurant.

A view out the window.