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Bourton-on-the-Water Summer Holiday May 2018 Day 6

On the bus again but this time to Moreton-in-the-Marsh. From there it is a pleasant walk of 1.3/4 miles to Batsford Arboretum, the largest private collection of trees and shrubs in the country. It was developed in the late 19th century by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, grandfather of the Mitford sisters and very friendly with his wife's sister, who became the mother of Churchill's wife, Clementine.      The Arboretum was quite splendid although the weather was not at its best. We enjoyed our packed lunches in the Chinese Rest House, admired some magnificent trees and shrubs and did a bit of bird-watching. Mitford also imported several Chinese bronzes that appeared around the Garden. There is a falconry nearby and also a very good garden shop. We then split up with keen walkers going back to Moreton-on-the-Marsh the long way, others the short way and some even getting a lift! Once back in Bourton-on-the-Water the Chinese influence was still around, with tourists being photographed with the prettiest background in town, opposite Harrington House.

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Bourton-on-the-Water Summer Holiday May 2018 Day 5

We headed for Northleach to have a look at the Mechanical Music Museum which usefully had a bar for our first break of the day. The museum guide who showed us around was very entertaining and we all finished very impressed with the quality of workmanship needed to produce such amazing instruments many centuries ago.         Afterwards some of us headed for a circular route of about 4.1/2 miles towards Hampnett and then picking up the Monarch's Way to walk in the presumed path of Charles I on his route away from Stow-on-the-Wold. Hampnett Church was a surprise inside. This 12th century church received some extraordinary decoration courtesy of the vicar, Rev. William Wiggin. Inside the sanctuary, nave and windows there is some very elaborate medieval style stencilling which the parishioners were not at all happy with, but failed to raise sufficient funds to have it all covered up. It is assumed it didn't do much for attendance. However it is very striking and well worth a visit.        After dropping down into the village of Northleach we had a look at Northleach church. It is an oustanding example of the power of wool in the 15th century. The Cotswolds produced the finest wool and Northleach was the economic centre of Europe at that time. As one of the merchants had inscribed in his house " I thank God and ever shall, it is the sheepe hath payed for all"   They were very generous and paid for vast improvements to the church, paid the ransom for Richard the Lionheart, subsidised the military adventures of Edward I, and paid entirely for the early years of the 100 years war.

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Bourton-on-the-Water Summer Holiday May 2018 Day 4

Thursday was a day off from walking so we went to the National Trust house at Snowshill. A Manor House purchased by Charles Wade when he inherited a fortune gained from sugar plantations by his parents. He was an extraordinary collector of many things, from Japanese suits of armour to bicycles and most things in between. The Manor House was for his collection whilst he lived in a small adjacent priests house. Once we were back in Bourton-on-the-Water we were all very busy making boats for the weekly Harrington House boat race in the River Windrush. Materials were anything that could be found - one of the quickest boats was simply a triangular sandwich case with a sail on top. Along with Midhurst Footpath Companions entries, there was a good showing from the other guests. After an exciting 5 minutes with the lead changing several times, with great good fortune an MFC entry was the race winner and the best design also went to a MFC entry. Money to sponsor boats went to a footpath charity.

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Bourton-on-the-Water Summer Holiday May 2018 Day 3

We set out on a circuar walk from the House to go to Clapton-on-the-Hill.  Pleasant walk through farmland and we eventually reached our goal, a pretty, small village with a tiny church and an adjacent picnic area, ideal for a coffee stop. Splendid views towards Bourton as we made our way down the Diamond Way towards some fishing lakes. However access was fairly limited so we carried on after a lunch break to Bourton-on-the-Water, passing the splendid Manor House on the way back. Some of us took a diversion to the model village where the model Manor House was being cleaned from years of exposure to the elements - it did in fact look brand new. The man working on it said he was going round all the buildings in turn and hoped to finish them all in 10 to 15 years time!

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Bourton-on-the-Water Summer Holiday May 2018 Day 2

We started out at a convenient bus stop in Bourton to catch a bus to the nearby town of Stow-on-the-Wold. The market square was the site of the last Battle of the first English Civil War in 1646 but luckily it's been cleaned up since then. It also has several narrow passages, originally used to control sheep at the market. On a good day as many as 20,000 would be sold. We had an hour or so to look around and those wishing to walk then met up and headed for the Church. The rich wool merchants were often buried with a tomb lid representing a bale of wool - there was also a law which meant a body could only be buried in wool - hence the saying " you can't pull the wool over my eyes". From the church we headed south towards Lower Slaughter, stopping at the Cricket Club on the way for coffee. More refreshments in the The Slaughters Inn before walking upstream to the historic mill. Finally a pleasant walk taking us back to Bourton so we could follow the River Windrush back to Harrington House.

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