Friday September 6th. The Cotswolds

 

Today we booked a tour of the Cotswolds. Cot inferring small and wolds connected to the sheep trade. The area is full of rolling green hills with villages and small towns nestled among the hills. The entire area is home to only about 170,000 people. Thats about one person per 2 sheep in the region. The first village we visited, Snowshill, had a population of 184.  It had a church, a pub and a telephone.  (Joke from our driver Steve). In order not to bore you with little details here is an overview. Several of the other towns would have more like 3000 to 5000 population.

We visited Chipping Campden, Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold, Bibury and started at Moreton in Marsh. We drove through Dover's hill, Broadway, Great Barrington, Ablington, Winson Village and Coln St. Dennis.

                                    Old original market in Chipping Campden

A majority of villages have buildings made of limestone from local quarries. The stone is characteristically honey yellow. To maintain the historic,  cultural and touristy attractiveness there are building requirements to maintain these qualities in maintaining,  remodeling and new construction. A lot of honey limestone homes, roofs of limestone, thatch or slate. Some states were huge. Several for sale if you have 1 or 2 million £s. The Cotswolds are home to several rich and famous. 

Narrow street to heard the sheep through. Easier to count and control as they were going to market.

                   the town of Stow on the Wolds. Original stocks in town center

St Edward's church (Medieval church) had its first service in 986. Only a couple foundation stones remain of the original church. The church as it stands now is from the 1450s. The outside door (where they were doing some refurbishing) is said to have inspired JRR Tolkein's Doors of Durin.

Community of Bibury. The 14 c Arlington Row were the the homes/ workplaces for the local wool workers. Later in the 17th c they were converted into weaver's cottages. Very picturesque place. It has been said to be the most beautiful village in England. They also currently have a trout farm here.  Our guide thought that was pretty cool. But we from the NW were kind of ho hum about it.

Parts of the area also raised beautiful horses. Reminded me of the area as you drive to Wilsonville the back way.