Driveabout
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The Cotswolds Town and Village Guide
by Peter Titchmarsh and Nicholas Reardon
Published 1 August 2000
"The Cotswold Town and Village Guide: The Definitive Guide to Places of Interest in the Cotswolds" is the result of my continuing love affair with the Cotswolds, an area that I have known for most of my life and one that I have been visiting with my camera and notebook for well over fifty years. A glance at the maps contained in this book will soon reveal that the area covered extends well beyond the classic Cotswolds, but it never strays far from true limestone country with its typically lovely stone towns and villages. These are enfolded by rolling hills and quiet wooded valleys through which clear streams flow and all have a similar character to the better-known places of pilgrimage like Stow on the Wold, Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water or Broadway. Of course these favourites have not been ignored. The Cotswold countryside is as near to perfection as one could wish for, but it is still further enhanced by the treasures to be found within its towns, villages and hamlets. Here are some of Britain's loveliest medieval churches and domestic buildings, almost all of which are built of the marvellous honey coloured Cotswold stone that here lies so close to the surface.
When setting out on your journeys of discovery, savour each day and not try to cover too much ground - it has taken me most of a lifetime to get round it all! If possible buy a good map or maps ( preferably Ordnance Survey ones) and walk from village to village along a quiet footpath or bridleway, stopping beside a stream for a picnic, or at a pub for lunch. This is another book from Reardon Publishing the Cotswold Publisher.
When setting out on your journeys of discovery, savour each day and not try to cover too much ground - it has taken me most of a lifetime to get round it all! If possible buy a good map or maps ( preferably Ordnance Survey ones) and walk from village to village along a quiet footpath or bridleway, stopping beside a stream for a picnic, or at a pub for lunch. This is another book from Reardon Publishing the Cotswold Publisher.
Crime and Punishment in and about the Cotswold Hills This fully illustrated colour book written by Cotswold publisher Nicholas Reardon shows the reader in Photographs and Sketches old time punishments such as stocks, whipping posts and lock-ups along with stories of murdered Kings and Court Jesters, Highwaymen and War Crimes committed long ago, when the Cotswold hills were not so peaceful. Having lived in the Cotswolds all my life, and with a keen interest in history, I would like to share my love of this area with you by pointing out some of the hidden features to be found in this unique part of the English countryside. Over the years my father, the well-known Cotswold artist Peter Reardon, had drawn a number of little sketches showing stocks, whipping posts and old town lock-ups. These illustrated the historic types of punishment served up to those who broke the law in and around these lovely and now peaceful hills. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that even after so many years these objects that my father had drawn were still in existence; they had been well looked after and could be viewed by anyone interested in this type of unusual history.
Using the drawings as a starting point I photographed these objects to show how they look today. Then, along with a short description plus directions of how to find them, I produced the book you are now holding. Whilst reading this book you may notice that one of my personal interests is Gargoyles and I have scattered a few of my favourites throughout its pages. The Cotswolds contain a treasure trove of history: its grand stately homes and castles; the far older stone circles and ancient burial mounds; all in all, any visitor will be able to find something to delight them in these rolling hills. Nicholas Reardon
Using the drawings as a starting point I photographed these objects to show how they look today. Then, along with a short description plus directions of how to find them, I produced the book you are now holding. Whilst reading this book you may notice that one of my personal interests is Gargoyles and I have scattered a few of my favourites throughout its pages. The Cotswolds contain a treasure trove of history: its grand stately homes and castles; the far older stone circles and ancient burial mounds; all in all, any visitor will be able to find something to delight them in these rolling hills. Nicholas Reardon
These glorious hills, rightly described as an area of outstanding natural beauty, contain a treasure trove of spectacular views, along with flowers and wildlife just asking to be photographed. In the following pages I take you through the seasons, offering just a taste of what can be seen, in the hope that it will tempt you to explore this wonderful countryside for yourselves. From hidden gems like the stone crocodile head on a fresh water spring in Compton Abdale, and fearsome gargoyles staring down at you from ancient churches, to the grandeur of castles and the splendour of stately homes, I hope to bring the Cotswolds alive for you with the help of my camera. So as not to spoil the images with excess wording I have let the pictures speak for theirselves but at the back of the book you will find a page-by-page explanation of the photographs, along with the locations. This book was made possible by the help and kindness shown to me by the various attractions, allowing me to roam freely over their properties in search of interesting views, fascinating artefacts and plentiful wildlife.
An A - Z illustrated guide to what you can see in the Cotswolds, with word and pen the Author describes this wonderful part of England. From the strange sounding Cotswold towns and villages such as Acton Turville and Wyck Rissington with this guide you will be shown sides of the Cotswolds that the average visitor often misses, the text is brought to life with well over 100 pen and ink sketches of Gargoyles and Hobbit like church entrances, Public monuments to medieval punishment tools, Castles to Magic stones, a life time of local knowledge has gone into this book. This book is dedicated to the memory of a great Cotswold artist "Peter Reardon" Many people will remember seeing Peter's work not only in many Cotswold books, but also as regular features in local newspapers. The poem on the back cover The Cotswolds" is a special creation for us by Cotswold poet and family friend Alfred King This book is not only a great guide to the Cotswolds, but a real product of this wonderful part of England, as it has been written, illustrated, designed, printed and published all within the Cotswold area. The Cotswolds The beauty of the Cotswolds is not new.
It is not something that has just come about recently. It is, you might even say, as old as the hills themselves. To the visitor from other parts, it has a unique splendour all it's own. To those fortunate enough to live here, it is seen in a different way. Through the ages this beauty has been captured by the artist's brush, the pen of the writer and in more recent times, the camera lens of the photographer. There are many fine paintings in existence of the great country houses in wonderful settings, and much has been written of the towns and villages of the Cotswolds. But it is not only beauty to be found in these hills, they are rich in history also. The Romans came, stayed a while and then left. They were about the first to leave us monuments of their advanced way of life that we can understand today. Then came the Saxons, the Danes and the Normans. Each left something by which to remember them. In more recent times great houses have been built and are there for all to see, each giving something to history and in particular, the Cotswolds.
Some of these features have been included in this book, so that you can be acquainted in words and pictures, with but a few of the details that make up the wonderful story of these hills. The Cotswolds intriguing, majestic, even cruel in its own way. There is a bigness that is breathtaking, especially during the summer, a loneliness that can be frightening during the winter, but always a grandeur, as powerful as an exciting tale that not one little bit must be missed. Perhaps early man found the excitement of these hills a good reason for settling in them. They offered a natural fortification in many instances for settlements, often with views over the valley of the Severn, where animals could be hunted and fish caught in the river. There were also numerous small rivers which offered fish, water and game. It is hoped that your visit to the Cotswolds will be most enjoyable, and if, with the help of these pages, more memorable, then the object of this publication will have been achieved.
It is not something that has just come about recently. It is, you might even say, as old as the hills themselves. To the visitor from other parts, it has a unique splendour all it's own. To those fortunate enough to live here, it is seen in a different way. Through the ages this beauty has been captured by the artist's brush, the pen of the writer and in more recent times, the camera lens of the photographer. There are many fine paintings in existence of the great country houses in wonderful settings, and much has been written of the towns and villages of the Cotswolds. But it is not only beauty to be found in these hills, they are rich in history also. The Romans came, stayed a while and then left. They were about the first to leave us monuments of their advanced way of life that we can understand today. Then came the Saxons, the Danes and the Normans. Each left something by which to remember them. In more recent times great houses have been built and are there for all to see, each giving something to history and in particular, the Cotswolds.
Some of these features have been included in this book, so that you can be acquainted in words and pictures, with but a few of the details that make up the wonderful story of these hills. The Cotswolds intriguing, majestic, even cruel in its own way. There is a bigness that is breathtaking, especially during the summer, a loneliness that can be frightening during the winter, but always a grandeur, as powerful as an exciting tale that not one little bit must be missed. Perhaps early man found the excitement of these hills a good reason for settling in them. They offered a natural fortification in many instances for settlements, often with views over the valley of the Severn, where animals could be hunted and fish caught in the river. There were also numerous small rivers which offered fish, water and game. It is hoped that your visit to the Cotswolds will be most enjoyable, and if, with the help of these pages, more memorable, then the object of this publication will have been achieved.
An A - Z illustrated Town and Village guide to what you can see in the Cotswolds, with word and pen the Author brings to life this wonderful part of England, show and explaining what you can see as you explore the Cotswolds.
From the strange sounding Cotswold towns and villages with this guide you will be shown sides of the Cotswolds that the average visitor often misses, the text is brought to life with well over 100 pen and ink sketches of Gargoyles and Hobbit like church entrances, Public monuments to medieval punishment tools, Castles to Magic stones, a life time of local knowledge has gone into this book.
The beauty of the Cotswolds is not new, it is not something that has just come about recently, it is, you might even say, as old as the hills themselves.
But it is not only beauty to be found in these hills, they are also rich in history, the Romans came, stayed a while and then left.
They were about the first to leave us monuments of their advanced way of life that we can understand today, then came the Saxons, the Danes and the Normans. Each left something by which to remember them. In more recent times great houses have been built and are there for all to see.
The Cotswolds intriguing, majestic, even cruel in its own way. There is a bigness that is breathtaking, especially during the summer, a loneliness that can be frightening during the winter, but always a grandeur, as powerful as an exciting tale that not one little bit must be missed.
Perhaps early man found the excitement of these hills a good reason for settling in them. They offered a natural fortification in many instances for settlements, often with views over the valley of the Severn, where animals could be hunted and fish caught in the river.
It is hoped that your visit to the Cotswolds will be most enjoyable, and if, with the help of these pages, more memorable, then the object of this publication will have been achieved
From the strange sounding Cotswold towns and villages with this guide you will be shown sides of the Cotswolds that the average visitor often misses, the text is brought to life with well over 100 pen and ink sketches of Gargoyles and Hobbit like church entrances, Public monuments to medieval punishment tools, Castles to Magic stones, a life time of local knowledge has gone into this book.
The beauty of the Cotswolds is not new, it is not something that has just come about recently, it is, you might even say, as old as the hills themselves.
But it is not only beauty to be found in these hills, they are also rich in history, the Romans came, stayed a while and then left.
They were about the first to leave us monuments of their advanced way of life that we can understand today, then came the Saxons, the Danes and the Normans. Each left something by which to remember them. In more recent times great houses have been built and are there for all to see.
The Cotswolds intriguing, majestic, even cruel in its own way. There is a bigness that is breathtaking, especially during the summer, a loneliness that can be frightening during the winter, but always a grandeur, as powerful as an exciting tale that not one little bit must be missed.
Perhaps early man found the excitement of these hills a good reason for settling in them. They offered a natural fortification in many instances for settlements, often with views over the valley of the Severn, where animals could be hunted and fish caught in the river.
It is hoped that your visit to the Cotswolds will be most enjoyable, and if, with the help of these pages, more memorable, then the object of this publication will have been achieved