The Most Beautiful ENGLISH villages in the COTSWOLDS - Part 1

In this video we'll show you some of the prettiest villages, historical properties and the oldest pub in England. Let's get started right here in Castle Combe We're in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is an expanse of sloping green hills and ancient picturesque towns and villages, two hours west of London. Tt is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty and it's quintessentially English charm spans six counties predominantly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The tiny village of Castle Combe is our first stop and it has been called the prettiest village in England. Fairytale cottages, a parish church and a few pubs adorn this sleepy village, frozen in time and unchanged since the 1600s. The honey-coloured limestone brickwork synonymous with the Cotswolds give a warming glow even on a cloudy day. As with many villages parking is restricted and you'll need to use the free car park at the top of the village and walk down or try your luck with a few roadside spaces a little closer. The focal point of the village the 14th century medieval Market cross monument was sadly boarded up for repairs but you might recognize this area as used in Steven Spielberg's 2010 film Warhorse another notable movie filmed in the village was the 1967 hit Dr. Doolittle with Rex Harrison. St Andrews parish church is a grade 1 listed building and typical of village churches built around the 13th century. The medieval clock is one of the oldest in the country. Most of the building has been replaced or restored over the years to the same design but the tower is still the original 15th century structure. The village takes its name from the 12th century castle which stood about a quarter of a mile north of the village. Today there's nothing left of this structure. If you're here during lunch, afternoon or evening then a couple of pubs offer food and drink to a weary traveler and in summer you can sit outside. Walking down the hill to the river you will pass the Old Rectory tea room and gift shop. Cream teas are available but only if you pre booked. With all of our locations we'll put links in the description to help you. One of the classic and most photographed locations in the village is down on Water Lane and the weavers cottages that hug the by brook. Back in the 15th century weavers were deemed of high status for the felt work they accomplished on the cloth used in soldiers uniforms. They could therefore pick prime property locations near rivers due to the water they needed as part of the fulling process. This used hot water and agitation to shrink the wool into felted garments. Apparently one of the properties was home to the blanket brothers and it's believed to be the birthplace of the blanket! Driving the country lanes can be an adventure stepping just off the main road the narrow lanes can catch you out with oncoming traffic or locals walking their dogs. So take care and drive slowly especially if you used to driving on the other side of the road. Driving through the imposing gates we have arrived at Dyrham Park part of the National Trust collection and a seventeenth-century house garden and Deer Park. Entry is free to members as is parking otherwise, entry is £13.50 for adults and £6.75 for children. Due to the recent bad weather and flooding in the UK the park lands were closed to allow it time to recover. Walking down the sweeping path to the mansion keep an eye out for the fallow deer that roam the estate . So we've just parked the car, we are at Dyrham Park, its a National Trust property. The carpark is somewhere over the hill and then you have to walk it's about a 15 minute walk down to the main house.We did see a little courtesy bus but I don't know where that's gone now. So we're walking It's very windy!! The elegant Baroque house comes into view and you can imagine the horse-and-cart trekking down the track to bring guests for elaborate dinners or social events. The National Trust, the custodians of the property are in the midst of a 10 million pound renovation and preservation project to ensure future generations can enjoy the estate. It's worth checking the National Trust website for details of what areas are closed at any given time for work to be carried out. The property was created by William Braithwaite in the 17th century and the grounds are extensive. The gardens are quite spectacular and I imagine in spring and summer with better weather quite beautiful. Inside the house you can learn about the Braithwaite family, admire the architecture, ceramics and furniture whilst being whisked back to the 17th century. The interior is sumptuously decorated with wooden paneling and tiles of Delftware The collection of artifacts and furniture have a strong Dutch influence. The state bedroom with crimson and yellow velvet hangings was made in anglo-dutch style around 1704 Overall this is a delightful property to visit during your stay in the Cotswolds. The 19th century artists and craftsmen William Morris called bibury the most beautiful village in England when he visited it. The village is known for its 17th century stone cottages with steeply pitched roofs and the famous Arlington row weaver's cottages which supplied cloth to the nearby Arlington Mill. Parking can be tricky here with very few spaces in this chocolate box village developed long before the motorcar. The US car manufacturer Henry Ford thought Arlington RoW was an icon of England on a trip to the Cotswolds. He tried to buy the entire row of houses to ship it back to Michigan so that he could include them in Greenfield Village Museum. Luckily for us his bid was unsuccessful he did however manage to purchase Rose Cottage in the 1930s from the village of Chedworth, so a small piece of the Cotswolds made its way to America. Bibury has provided the backdrop of blockbuster films including Stardust and Bridget Jones Diary. Walking in a loop along the pretty paths by the river Arlington mill appears.This is now private residence but once housed a museum with a collection of period costumes produced by the Arlington Weaver's that lived in the cottages we just showed you. Bibury should definitely not be missed on your Cotswold tour. Burford is a small medieval town in West Oxfordshire and is often referred to as the southern gateway to the Cotswolds as people arrive from the east on the A40 from Oxford. The long sloping High Street is a mix of pretty cottages and ancient shops that have changed little since the Tudor times. There are numerous tea rooms craft stores pubs and antique shops are plenty to entice you. Don't miss out on the side streets which have charming cute stores to view. The 15th century parish church St John the Baptist is magnificent and well-preserved. Work started back in the 12th century originally funded by wealthy local farmers and merchants that had been successful in the local wool trade. They believed that making these donations would seal a place in heaven. A lengthy restoration of the church took place in the 1870s bringing criticism from William Morris. The vicar at the time responded "the church sir is mine and if I choose to I shall stand on my head in it" This inspired William Morris to establish the Society for the Protection of ancient buildings. The elaborate tomb of Saint Lawrence Tanfield and his wife can be viewed in the North Chapel. Tanfield was a prominent lawyer and politician who established a country seat in Burford in the 1580s, however his reputation for corruption and harshness with tenants was remembered long after he died. The church has some beautiful architecture and stained-glass windows and we highly recommend visiting on your walk around Burford. Next time in part 2 of this video we visiting more stunning villages, a motor museum, the oldest pub in England and the folly tower of Broadway. If you enjoyed part one please help us by liking and consider subscribing and clicking that Bell so you don't miss next week's episode and in future videos. Until the next time who travels from the MemorySeekers

Channel: MemorySeekers

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Id: v2A_b7T_jBY

Length: 14min 43sec (883 seconds)

Published: Sun Mar 08 2020