THE COTSWOLDS
Following our cruise through the Baltic's we rented a car and headed for England's famed Cotswolds.
The"Cotswolds" refers to a region of gentle hilly English countryside occupying an area between Gloucester, Bath, Oxford and Stratford.
Because of it's many old homes, villages and beautiful rural settings, the Cotswolds have become one of England's favorite destinations for locals and overseas visitors alike.
The following is a photo record of some of the castles, manor homes and gardens we visited on our driving tour.
Photo memories of the Cotwolds
1300 year old Stanway house located at the village of Stanway and nearby church of St. Peter is the family home for the Earls of Wemyss .
The Church of St. Peter in Stanway village.
We found this churchyard wall at the Church of St. Peter . Around 1890 it was constructed from Norman stonework fragments originally part of a 13th century Benedictine Abby. We
couldn’t help wondering who the occupant of the stone coffin might have been
prior to being recycling as part of the wall.
The medieval Castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr the last surviving wife of King Henry VIII. Other notables associated with Sudeley Castle's history were Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III. The restored medieval castle and un-restored associated ruins are surrounded by elaborate award-winning Victorian gardens.
Standing 65ft high, the tower sits dramatically on top of an ancient beacon site and was the brainchild of the great 18th Century landscape designer Capability Brown.
Chedworth Roman Villa
Is a Roman villa located at Chedworth,
Pillar Hypocaust - also know as underfloor heating.
The Castle is steeped in nearly 1000 years of British history and is
best known as the scene of the brutal murder of Edward II in 1327 and for being
besieged by Cromwell’s troops in 1645. Over 24 generations of Berkeley ’s have gradually transformed a
Norman fortress into the lovely home it is today.
The state apartments contain magnificent collections of furniture, rare
paintings by primarily English and Dutch masters, and tapestries. Some of the world
famous Berkeley
silver is on display in the Dining Room and many other rooms including the
Great Hall, Morning Room and kitchens are available to view.
The castle is also surrounded by lovely terraced Elizabethan
Gardens with a lily pond, Elizabeth
I’s bowling green
and sweeping lawns. The Castle, its surrounding grounds and Meadow are used
throughout the year for special events such as Plays in the Gardens,
Compton Castle is a medieval fortress which was constructed in the 14th century then re-constructed in the 1950's and has been home for nearly 600 years to the Gilbert family, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert - half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
In the 1920s Rupert and Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte were
sailing along the South Devon coast looking for a country retreat when they were inspired to make this beautiful valley running
down to the sea the site for an elegant home.
Rupert was the son of Richard D'Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. What has been left for the visitor is a beautiful 1920’ Arts and Crafts style home and 30 acres of magnificent gardens featuring plants from the Mediterranean,South Africa and New Zealand thriving in this moist sheltered valley.
Rupert was the son of Richard D'Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. What has been left for the visitor is a beautiful 1920’ Arts and Crafts style home and 30 acres of magnificent gardens featuring plants from the Mediterranean,
Bicton Park Botanical
Gardens
Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these 60 acres of superbly
landscaped gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter
Valley , between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England 's
Jurassic Coast .
Above is the Parish Church of St Mary at Bicton Park constructed around 1843.
The old 15th century Holy Trinity Church at Bicton Park .
This is a "planned ruin" left when the nearby St Marys Church was
built in 1843.
Below is a watercolor of the old Holy Trinity Church by Rev. John Swete, March 1795.
Our next stop after the wedding is to pickup a narrow boat we have rented for a cruise from England to Wales.
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Please click on the picture below to view our other Jim & Joan adventures.
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