Day 5 The Cotswolds

As we were going to wander around the Cotswolds for a couple of days, first stop was the burial place of Winston Churchill. He was grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and born at Blenheim Palace. It has 2100 beautiful acres of park-like grounds which we saw previously. On that prior trip I introduced Don to the habits of sheep. Ask him about that day!








After all the history we know about Churchill, his grave was at the small village church in Bladon. The tiny village was easy to find; the graveyard took us more time to find than to visit! I don't think the village really wanted visitors as the tiny brown sign pointed out the way. Only after finding someone to ask on early Sunday morning were we successful.


We continued driving around the Cotswold by getting lost numerous times. Susan, the GPS, kept saying "Turn around at your earliest convenience." I still believe I heard her muttering something about "stupid drivers" the 5th time. Rather than turning around, we just kept driving until she figured out another way from point A to point B, most times on unnamed "single lane" farm roads where one car must find a pull off place for the other car to pass. English drivers are SO courteous!


The Cotswolds are only 25-by-90 miles and all the guide books use "charming, enchanting and romantic" to describe the area. I have to agree--the scenery was so typically "English" with stone cottages, stone barns, stone fence rows and lots of sheep. (Too many BBC mysteries?) The villages were old fashioned but full of tourists. We looked as we drove around the block more than once and I took some photos on the fly. By the 12th century this area was very wealthy when wool was used all around Europe and Cotswold wool was considered the finest. But cotton and the Industrial Revolution changed all that. These small villages with their huge churches built with "wool money" just stagnated until 21st century tourists rediscovered the area.


Last stop for today was Gloucester Cathedral which started as an abbey church in early 1100. By 1216, the wealthy and powerful Abbey of St Peter had royal patronage; Henry III was crowned here and Edward II was buried here in 1327. Henry VIII ordered the monasteries be dissolved in his break with Catholic Rome but Gloucester's abbey buildings survived to become Gloucester Cathedral for the Bishop of Gloucester and the new Church of England.



Our hotel for this area was Wood Norton Hall in Evesham. I reserved a room in the former stables building where rates were reasonable. I think we were the only guests because we were put in the main house of a SPECTACULAR former hunting lodge built by a French nobleman with a claim to the throne of France! Our huge bedroom had oak paneled walls and ceiling, 2 wing backed chairs before an ornate fireplace, a wardrobe and a dressing table! Our bathroom had a claw foot tub AND EVEN A FIREPLACE!


After a walk around Evesham, The Swanne Inn was Don's choice for a pint and dinner. We waited 30 minutes for the server and finally ask the men at the next table. "You order at the bar with your table number and they bring it to you." Just like Wendy's with beer, table service and economical prices! This was a Weatherspoon pub, a chain all around the country. "Just look for the busy pub or ask a local--every town has one!" And the fish and chips were great!


We walked 4.2 miles today. It was time for bed.