Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth Roman Villa is one of Britain's largest Romanco-British villas situated at Yanworth not far from Northleach, near Cheltenham. The excavations provide a fascinating insight into this period of our history.

The site was discovered by a gamekeeper in 1864 who found fragments of pottery. The remains include over a mile of walls, mosaics, bath houses and a water shrine. There are various artifacts and the visitor centre provides an audio visual presentation.

Prior to the site being acquired by the National Trust, the Earl of Eldon provided the Museum and Custodians House and the roofing for many of the structures.

This is a National Trust site so the usual shop, tea and coffee facilities etc are all available. Parking is in a country lane so you may have to walk some distance on busy days.

In Roman times this site would probably not have had the dense vegetation that it does today. This is particularly true of the trees which would probably have been chopped down for building materials and firewood.

Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL54 3LJ

For more photographs of Chedworth Roman Villa click here or view on You Tube

Cheltenham

The Regency town of Cheltenham is worth a visit for many reasons. The town's architecture and attractive parklands are two good examples. Cheltenham has worked hard to maintain its reputation for the quality and sheer brilliance of its floral displays which can be seen in many locations and are particularly prominent along the promenade.

Cheltenham is an old established town dating back to Saxon times. It is the most complete Regency town in England. A visit to Pitville Park and the Pitville Pump Room soon reveal its history as a Spa town. King George III visited Cheltenham in 1788 and set the trend for the drinking of the healthy water with its supposed healing qualities.

Cheltenham is excellent for shopping. The town centre features all the modern shops and conveniences you would expect and a vibrant and busy shopping arcade. The Montpellier area of town (not far from the Queen's Hotel) is a haven for the more discerning shoppers who might be looking for their next antique acquisition.

The restaurants and facilities at Cheltenham are excellent. The town has its own very well known racecourse, an impressive Town Hall and an abundance of attractions and places to visit literally on its doorstep. Cheltenham is the gateway to the Cotswolds.

For more photographs of Cheltenham click here


 

Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury, a town in Gloucestershire, is located on the River Severn where the river Avon joins it and where the locks and weirs along the route of the Avon allowed river traffic to reach the Severn.

Tewkesbury takes its name from Saxon times where a Saxon founded a hermitage in the seventh century. Theocsbury, as it would have been referred to, owes its very existence and prosperity to its nearby rivers.

Visitors to Tewkesbury will find several Tudor buildings including Gloucestershire's oldest public house, The Black Bear. Tewkesbury High Street is unique in its mix of old and new buildings and upon exploration there is plenty of interesting architecture to see.

This former market town has seen its fair share of historic battles and if towns could talk this would have plenty to tell. The Abbey Mill just off the High Street served as a centre for flour milling for centuries.

Tewkesbury is popular with tourists during the summer months and with easy access to the nearby M5 motorway it acts as a conduit for traffic taking scenic routes through the Gloucestershire countryside.

Tewkesbury plays host to a number of festivals. From February to October visitors can take part in a Winter Beer Festival, a Medieval Festival with real battle re-enactments and a fair, a water festival and the annual Mop Fair. For such a small town it has a significant events diary.

The Medieval Fair at Tewkesbury is Europe's largest free annual medieval battle re-enactment and fair. Thousands of dedicated battled hardened participants turn up for this.

The spectacular scenes and focus of all this attention is to re-create the Battle of Tewkesbury which took place in 1471

The Tewkesbury Abbey or The Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the second largest parish church in England and was a former Benedictine Monastery.

Tewkesbury's importance as a market town would have been made all the more obvious to visitors by such an impressive structure. It's origins go back to the monastery when the Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII as part of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Generally the monastic buildings were demolished but this town managed to buy back the land and continue worshipping on the site. Although the Abbey has changed significantly over the years it still dominates the town.

Tewkesbury has its own modern industrial estate and the nearby Ashchurch army camp is one of the largest depots of its kind in the UK..

www.tewkesbury.gov.uk


For more photographs of Tewkesbury click here

 

Tewkesbury Floods

Tewkesbury suffered badly during the floods of July 2007. Whilst many counties were subject to particularly bad flooding during the year, the county of Gloucestershire was the worst affected.

June 2007 saw one of the wettest months on record for the UK. Rivers burst their banks and even flood defences in some locations did little to stem the flow of water which caused damage to thousands of homes.

At Tewkesbury the river burst its banks and part of the town and surrounding countryside became submerged. The flooding was so severe that Tewkesbury became completely cut off with little or no road access and parts of the town were under 3 feet or more of water.

Tewkesbury Abbey suffered its worst flooding in 245 years and the nearby Mythe Water Treatment Works was flooded and ceased pumping causing concerns for drinking water supplies. The army were called in to provide water bowsers and bottled water was shipped in to provide enough supplies while Severn Trent Water battled to restore service.

Emergency services struggled with unprecedented demand. The floods also caused problems and concern with electricity supplies.

 

Forest of Dean

The Royal Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley have an interesting and historical past. The beautiful forest and landscape provide breathtaking scenery and a popular recreation facility for the nearby town of Cheltenham and the City of Gloucester.

The Royal Forest of Dean covers around 27,000 acres. Unlike some forests in the UK this woodland has been well preserved and a wide variety of trees and shrubs make it a hikers paradise.

There is also plenty to do and see with an abundance of attractions which you can find all about by clicking on the links in the right hand column. The Wye Valley, best viewed from Symonds Yat Rock, separate England from Wales and provide spectacular views across the countryside.

In 1938 the Forest of Dean became the first designated National Forest Park in England.

The official Royal Forest of Dean website can be found at www.forestofdean.gov.uk/

For more photographs of the Forest of Dean click here

 

Gloucester

The City of Gloucester has a lot more to offer than people realise. It is within a few miles of the town of Cheltenham, famous for it's Regency buildings. The Forest of Dean with its breathtaking beauty and views over the river Wye is only a short drive away. It has it's own impressive Cathedral and the Gloucester docks are a popular tourist attraction.

Gloucester used to be a Roman fortress. It gets its name from the Roman name for the town which is Glevum. Today Gloucester is a city with a fine Cathedral and some very worthy attractions nearby. Gloucester Docks and the Forest of Dean are popular tourist destinations.

The Cotswolds and surrounding area of Gloucester is notably one of the most pleasant areas of natural beauty in the country and with easy access to all parts of the UK this city is well worth a visit. The links on this page will tell you a lot about the County of Gloucestershire and the nearby attractions that you might like to visit.

For more photographs of Gloucester click here

Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral was established in 1541 by King Henry VIII. However, long before this time there had been an Abbey and God has been worshipped on this site from early Saxon times. The Great Cloister by Abbot Horton, completed by Abbott Frouster is dated 1381-1412. Extensive work and restoration of the Cathedral took place in 1968 and the Cathedral was given a new roof.

This is a wonderful example of a Cathedral with a history going back 900 years. The magnitude and serenity of the building with its beautiful cloisters will leave a lasting impression on the visitor. The stained glass windows are intricate works of art in their own right. A visitor to Gloucester should certainly take in this impressive building with its close proximity to the main shopping centre of Gloucester and within easy walking distance of the Gloucester Docks.

Adjoining the Cathedral is King's School which has been educating children for hundreds of years. One feature of the Cathedral is the cloisters which apart from being in an excellent condition, lead through to a small courtyard where the full scale of the building can be viewed from within the cloister walls.

For more information visit the official Gloucester Cathedral website at www.gloucestercathedral.uk.com

For more photographs of Gloucester and the Cathedral click here

 

Gloucester Docks

Gloucester is an old Roman city. Its choice as a major centre for Roman occupation would have been based on its proximity to the River Severn. Gloucester Docks were once a hive of Industrial activity. Local products such as wool, cloth, agricultural products and iron would have been shipped from here in medieval times.

In 1580 Queen Elizabeth I bestowed upon Gloucester the status of a port and a new customs house was opened. This new status led to the expansion of Gloucester Docks and in the 1800's this was a busy and influential port for the region. The addition of a canal enabled the larger ships to travel without restrictions of the tidal flow. This canal runs from Berkeley directly to the Docks.

Gloucester Docks is one of the main attractions of the city of Gloucester. Old warehouses have now been converted and where there was once decay and dereliction, there is now a new kind of activity and renaissance of the shipping that these docks were famous for.

Today you will see leisure cruises, canal boats, motor launches and an array of shipping passing in and out of Gloucester Docks. Gloucester has done a fine job in revitalising its dockyard and utilising existing buildings for the purposes of museums, antique shops, restaurants and retail outlets.

The main attractions here are the National Waterways Museum, the shopping complex with its gift shops and woollen wares, the antique shops and the Gloucester Regiment Military Museum. Tall ships are seen from time to time at Gloucester Docks and the 'Onedin Line' was filmed here. Allow at least half a day for a visit round the Gloucester Docks. Ideal for families with small children. A river cruise should keep them amused for a while.

For more photos of Gloucester and Gloucester Docks click here or view Gloucester Docks on You Tube

 

Bishops Cleeve

Bishop's Cleeve is almost a town although it still retains its village status. Bishops Cleeve is close to Cheltenhanm but it falls under the Local Authority District of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The church, shown above is St Michaels and All Angels which is a Norman church rebuilt in the 17th century.

The village is situated alongside the village of Woodmancote at the foot of Cleeve Hill. The village of Woodmancote and Bishops Cleeve are separated by the railway line which also acts as the border for the two villages. Other villages close by include Southam and Gotherington.

The village can be traced back to the 8th century and the Domesday Book in 1086 shows that approximately 100 people lived in Bishops Cleeve. The village still has a Tythe Barn and some of the older houses date from the 12th and 13th centuries.

This is a busy and thriving community with major employers situated here. Smiths Industries and Zurich Financial Services along with new housing and shops have all led to the expansion of the village.

The old railway line that runs through Bishops Cleeve had been closed but is now part of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway ( GWR ) and steam trains are now a regular feature as they pass through the village on their way to the Cheltenham Racecourse.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is typical of that dreamy idyllic Cotswold village. With its small shops and lanes, the River Windrush running through the centre and the ornate footbridges, it is a popular destination for tourists. There are several traditional craft shops and plenty of places to eat. For such a small village it has a large number of tourist attractions'

Places to visit include the model village, model reailway, Cotswold Motoring Museum, Birdland and the Dragonfly Maze. There is also a farmer's market on the fourth Sunday of each month. Bourton-on-the-Water has a good number of local footpaths and the Fosse Way Roman road runs close by. For those interested in Roman history the Chedworth Roman Villas are only a short drive away from here.

The River Windrush, which starts in the Cotswold Hills near Guiting Power, flows for approximately 40 miles and passes through Bourton-on-the-Water, the village of Windrush and into Oxfordshire where it continues through Burford, Witney, Duckington and Standlake.

Further information on Bourton-on-the-Water can be found here:

http://www.bourtoninfo.com/

For more photographs of Bourton-on-the-Water click here or view on You Tube

Dryham Park

Originally a Tudor house the property was transformed into a mansion in the Baroque style in 1704. Dyrham Park is situated just 8 miles north of Bath and just 2 miles from Junction 18 of the M4. Dyrham Park is noted for its Deer Park which is one of oldest in England.

For more photographs of Dryham Park click here or view on You Tube

Crickley Hill Country Park

Come off at Junction 11a of the M5 Motorway and head towards Cirencester. The dual carriageway takes you to an island and a well known local pub the Air Balloon. Head towards Cirencester and the Country Park is signposted about a mile ahead on your right.

Crickley Hill is a beautiful country park with some spectacular views over the Severn Vale. The park is managed by the National Trust and Gloucestershire County Council.

Snowshill Manor

Snowshill Manor in the village of Snowshill dates back to the times of the Abbey and the old land and property was confiscated by Henry VIII with the dissolution of the monasteries. 

Snowshill Manor was gifted to the National Trust by Charles Paget Wade who had restored the property and turned the main manor house into a home for his vast collection of objects. Known locally as an eccentric he started his collection at the age of 7 and it know fills the entire manor house. 

The actual manor house that now stands in the grounds dates back to the 16th century. The outbuildings and particular a small cottage are where Charles Paget Wade lived until 1951 when he gifted the property to the nation. 

For more photos of Snowshill Manor click here or view on You Tube

Hidcote Manor Gardens

Hidcote Manor Garden is a National Trust property near Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. It is famous for its variety of hedged gardens and although the house is not open to the public there are displays, a shop and tea rooms.

For more photographs of Hidcote Manor Gardens click here or view on You Tube

Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh at the crossroads of the Roman Fosse Way Road on the A429 is a small Cotswold town at the head of the Evenlode Valley. This picturesque town  has many buildings made from Cotswold stone. There are a number of independent shops and local attractions include the Batsford Arboretum in nearby Batsford village.

The town gets its name from the old English meaning "Farmstead in Marsh". The town is a busy and popular market town with a history dating back 1000 years to the Saxon period. There is a large open air market in the town every Tuesday and the town holds a very successful agricultural show every September.

For more photos of Moreton-in-Marsh click here