A
Cotswold Homes P U B L I C AT I O N
Your Guide to
THE NORTH COTSWOLDS
Part One CHIPPING CAMPDEN SHIPSTON ON STOUR MORETON IN MARSH S T OW O N T H E WO L D B O U R T O N O N T H E WAT E R UPPER RISSINGTON
The lakes and hills of the Windrush Valley (Image: Joro Todorov)
Welcome
To a New Perspective on the North Cotswolds In first of our special guides, we take a sky-high look at some of the best-known centres in the Cotswolds - Chipping Campden, Shipston on Stour, Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh, as well as the up-andcoming village of Upper Rissington - documenting the thriving streets and the rolling countryside that surrounds them. Our special guest, Mail on Sunday journalist and sub-editor William Trevethick, pays a special tribute to the festival spirit of Shipston on Stour in this first edition. But all of this is just a taster of all the information we’ve collected. Head to cotswold-homes.com and you’ll find a wealth
of knowledge about the North Cotswolds - from its major centres and most iconic villages through to its quaintest hamlets. Our Interactive Map gives you a birds-eye view of the North Cotswolds. It allows you to easily locate villages, new properties, businesses and events - and read articles associated with each area. Navigate your way around our map’s hotspots and you’re sure to discover just what makes the North Cotswolds unique. Visit www.cotswold-homes.com/explore-the-area/ to start your journey.
Cotswold Homes Magazine To speak to a member of our team, please telephone 01608 651000 or email: Editor’s Desk: matt@cotswold-homes.com Marketing & Sales: keelin@cotswold-homes.com Website & Admin: rachel@cotswold-homes.com Location Photography: rs@vortexcontent.co.uk
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
03
COTSWOLD HOMES
EXPLORE THE NORTH COTSWOLDS with our INTERACTIVE MAP There’s so much to love about the Cotswolds. Now you can get a whole new perspective on the area with cotswold-homes.com’s interactive map. Learn more about our beautiful towns and villages, locate the best new properties, discover exciting new events and lose yourself in our editorial features. With new properties, articles and events added daily, our map is a unique way of staying informed about all that’s going on in the Cotswolds. What’s more, our SHOWCASE section pinpoints the businesses and attractions that really make the area special. Head to www.cotswold-homes.com/explore-the-area/ to try it out.
VILLAGES: Information on towns and villages across the North Cotswolds
PROPERTY: Properties for sale and to let
ARTICLES: A wealth of interesting features and interviews
WHAT’S ON: Local news interest, events and competitions
SHOWCASE: The beating heart of our community
04
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
INTERACTIVE MAP
VILLAGES: Information on towns and villages across the North Cotswolds The picturesque village of Broadway, so known for the ‘broad way’ of its main street, is rightly known as one of the most attractive ... WHAT'S ON
Broadway Late Night Christmas Shopping WIN tickets to a film of your choice at The Regal Cinema LOCAL ARTICLES
How J.M. Barrie took celebrity cricket to the Cotswolds In the Studio with Jeremy Houghton
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
05
TOWN FOCUS
TOW N FO C U S
CHIPPING CAMPDEN A beautiful old market town distinguished by its artistic heritage
Chipping Campden is a small and enduringly beautiful market town. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century - testament to the extraordinary wool wealth generated by the area. In 1902, designer C.R. Ashbee and around 100 followers (including woodcarvers, cabinetmakers, bookbinders and jewellers) went to Chipping Campden as the Guild of Handicraft, where they produced and sold various items. Today the town remains associated with British design, with Hart Silversmiths’ traditional workshop and Robert Welch’s cutlery showrooms both visitable and an artists’ co-operative exhibiting regularly at The Gallery at the Guild. Chipping Campden enjoys a central location in the North Cotswolds with the nearby surrounding counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
06
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
CHIPPING CAMPDEN
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
07
CHIPPING CAMPDEN
Amenities Transport Links Chipping Campden is situated 5 miles south east of Moreton in Marsh, which is the closest main train station on the London Paddington line, the journey taking approximately 90 minutes. There is also a platform station on the same line located at Honeybourne which is north west of Chipping Campden and approximately 5 miles away. Johnsons offer a bus service (1 & 2) to Stratford upon Avon and Moreton in Marsh on an hourly basis, six days a week.
Things To Do The town’s 400 year old Market Hall is easily found, but Chipping Campden is full of interesting architecture. The magnificent St. James’ Church can be found at the north end of the town. It is a striking example of an early perpendicular wool church, and easily one of the most impressive churches in the Cotswolds - well worth a visit. The Gallery at the Guild is a ‘cooperative of artists, ceramicists, designers, furniture makers, glass makers, metal workers, photographers, sculptors, stone carvers, textile artists and wood carvers.’ Art lovers can’t afford to miss it - and then be refreshed at the Campden Coffee Company, also situated in the Old Silk Mill building.
08
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
C.R. Ashbee’s old silver workshop is still in use by the remarkable Hart Silversmiths. In 2015 the company was celebrated with a special exhibition at Compton Verney, entitled The Hart Silversmiths: A Living Tradition. Find out more about C.R. Ashbee and the Arts and Crafts movement with a visit to the Court Barn Museum, hosting many fine collections and telling the histories of the pre-eminent craftsmen who once lived and worked in Chipping Campden. The Cotswold Olimpick Games began in 1622, started by a lawyer named Robert Dover with the approval of King James. Today the games on nearby Dover’s Hill still draw thousands, and include such eccentric pursuits as the Shin-Kicking Competition.
Just a five-minute walk from the town centre, with immaculately kept lawns the size of two football fields - including an area for ball games and a beautifully designed playground - is an amazing local resource that won Gloucestershire Playground of The Year in 2011, perfect as a regular meeting point for family and friends..
Schools Chipping Campden School is situated within the centre of the town - a very good comprehensive school for children aged 1118. St. James & Ebrington C of E Primary School is the local primary.
Trivia The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien was fond of staying in the Red Lion Inn in Chipping Campden (it’s said that Tolkien signed copies of The Lord of the Rings for the owner in the 1950s).
Don’t Miss Chipping Campden Music Festival Once a year in May, world-class music comes to Campden. The town’s annual music festival is now widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading festivals with visitors coming from Europe, America and Australia, as well as from all over the UK.
Robert Dover’s Cotswold Olympicks A brilliantly bizarre event held annually in early summer on Dover’s Hill – for locals and visitors alike. The forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, see such games events as Tug O’War or Shin-Kicking!
TOWN FOCUS
TOW N FO C U S
SHIPSTON on STOUR Situated on the northernmost edge of the Cotswolds and true to its commercial roots with the Midlands, the lively market town of Shipston on Stour is chock-full of independent and specialist shops.
Known in bygone times as ‘Sheep-Wash-Town’ - thanks to its history as an important sheep market town – Shipston on Stour developed many wool skills, including tapestry-making. These skills are now commemorated by the traditional Wool Fair which is held every Spring Bank Holiday Monday (just one of the many thrilling events in Shipston’s calendar). Today, Shipston continues to flourish as a thriving working town and enjoys a multitude of facilities including various shops, pubs, restaurants and community-led services.
10
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
SHIPSTON ON STOUR
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
11
TOWN FOCUS
Transport Links Following a fall in the demand for wool in 1836, Shipston was in part sustained by the opening of a branch line running from the horse-drawn Stratford and Moreton Tramway. In 1889 the line was upgraded to allow the operation of steam trains from Moreton in Marsh to Shipston however, passenger services to the town were withdrawn in 1929. The line closed completely in 1960. Today, the nearby town of Moreton in Marsh can instead be easily accessed via the A429 and offers a mainline hourly train service between Worcester and London Paddington, via Oxford. The volunteer-run Shipston Link bus service provides regular trips from Shipston to Banbury, Moreton in Marsh and Chipping Norton. Stratford upon Avon is only 11 miles by car, with Banbury 14 miles away.
Things To Do There are several local attractions within Shipston on Stour, including the museum and heritage centre, both offering a host of unique artefacts and memorabilia from the town and surrounding villages, and The Stour Gallery, a contemporary art gallery located on the High Street. The town is an excellent centre for walking and cycling, whilst you can also often enjoy a spot of fishing along the River Stour with the Shipston on Stour Angling Club.
The town is an excellent centre for walking and cycling, whilst you can also often enjoy a spot of fishing along the River Stour with the Shipston on Stour Angling Club.
12
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
One of the main highlights in Shipston’s calendar is the Shipston Proms, a two week music festival showcasing local talent and culminating in a spectacular ‘Last Night of the Proms’ event held in the High Street.
Amenities Shipston on Stour enjoys a wide assortment of amenities, including a range of independent specialist shops and larger outlets, such as the local Co-op and an Aldi supermarket. Other amenities include a medical centre, community hospital, chemist, opticians, dentist, Post Office and police station.
The local leisure centre offers a swimming pool and gym, and there are plenty of sporting clubs to get involved with, such as the cricket club, rugby club and tennis club. Additional local associations include a reading club and music society. The town also has its own interactive online news page on Facebook called The Shipston on Stour Bugle.
Schools Shipston on Stour Primary School is a community school for children aged between 4-11 years old. The school’s traditional priority catchment area includes the parishes of Shipston, Barcheston, Burmington, Honington, Idlicote, Tidmington and the eastern part of Stretton on Fosse. Shipston High School is located on the edge of the town and provides education for pupils between the ages of 11-16. The school’s traditional priority catchment area includes the following primary schools: Shipston Primary School, Brailes C of E Primary School, Acorns Primary School (Long Compton), Quinton Primary School, Ilmington C of E Primary School and Newbould & Treadington C of E Primary School.
SHIPSTON ON STOUR
Shipston on Stour the Festival town Mail on Sunday journalist and Shipston resident/enthusiast William Trevethick celebrates the town’s festive spirit Could the fact that Shipston regularly scores high on the lists of best and happiest places to live in the UK be connected to the residents’ sense of fun? This little market town, nestling in South Warwickshire between the stunning beauty of the North Cotswolds and the historic importance of Stratford upon Avon, has a long and packed calendar of yearly festivals, fetes and fairs starting in early spring and continuing through to December. The town likes to party! And in between the well-publicised and planned major events, there is always something smaller going on. Usually there’s live music at one or other of the local pubs. In summer beware the Bladder Man – Morris dancers regularly play in the High Street. Should you be looking for a quiet drink in the pubs around Christmas time you are very likely to find yourself caught up in one of the ancient and traditional Mummers plays that tour the area. If you are very lucky you may find yourself in a packed bar with young Shakespearean actors in period costume mingling with customers and randomly reciting from the Bard’s work, bringing theatrical art and performance to the people in the highly popular way it has been done for nearly four centuries. And if you fancy something light-hearted, well, what could be more quintessential and eccentrically English than duck racing in the River Stour in August? It’s like a highly sophisticated version of Pooh sticks going under the historic bridge, using yellow plastic ducks. Locals and visitors alike sponsor each Day-Glo contestant in a chaotic float down from the Old Mill’s
... fetes and fairs starting in early spring and continuing through to December. The town likes to party! water race to a natural fish pool. There are cash prizes for winners and money raised goes towards the Angling Club’s Fish’n’Frolics event – another of the town’s festivals. But if you want to plan a trip to the town and be a bit more organised, than you must pick up the calendar. May is considered the start of the extended festival season in the town. Shipston is a corruption of the old English word Scepwaeisctune meaning Sheep Wash Town, and the clue to the town’s origin is in the name. Legend has it that sheep from Wales were driven into the Stour and ‘washed’ before being run into the market down the traditional alleyways you can still use to this day.
Since the first foot-weary and surprised ewe was dunked in the Stour’s cool waters, sheep have been very important to the town. The whole history of the community was built on sheep meat, leather, wool, oil, carpets and tapestry, so it is no surprise to find this blessed farm animal celebrated in the first major festival of Shipston’s calendar – the Wool Fair, on May Bank Holiday. It takes place over a three-day woolly weekend, when the town centre is closed to traffic and retailers open for trade. Of course there are stalls with local produce, local gins on sale, arts and crafts, proper hog roasts, hoggit rolls and barbecued lamb. There is live music and free entertainment, raffles and demonstrations. But the stars of the show are the sheep. COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
13
SHIPSTON ON STOUR
Not many places put on a major outdoor event in winter, but Shipston’s residents don’t let longer nights and a drop in temperature spoil their fun.
There are rare breeds, popular breeds, lambs, all scrupulously cared for under strict DEFRA and veterinary rules and all close enough to pet. This attracts professionals from across the world, and one of the big draws is to watch international seasoned shepherds sheer sheep in keenly contested contests – using ancient and modern equipment. The following month sees the now-famed Shipston Proms fortnight. This is what it says on the tin – a fortnight of live music in and around the town, culminating in a free open air concert on the first Saturday of July. This family friendly event welcomes a couple of thousand good natured and jolly concert goers, entertained by a series of live performances ranging from the winners of competitions held earlier in the fortnight through to the headline band. Previous years saw Dr Feelgood and the Animals, this year it was Laurence Jones, a local Shipston man now nationally recognised as a blues rock guitarist. Building up to the Last Night, music events take place at lunchtimes, afternoons and evenings in pubs, schools, churches and halls in the town and surrounding villages. Whatever style of music you like, from folk through to choirs, rock to school recitals, you will find it during this fortnight. Don’t miss the town’s brass band concert. The band has been a major fixture of the town since 1912, and has a history as colourful as it’s performances! Just a month after the Last Night of the Proms comes Fish’n’Frolics. The great duck race at the start of August heralds the approach of the event and the festival itself is a three-day spectacular over the Bank Holiday weekend. It is one of Shipston’s newest festivals but its instant popularity caught even the angling club organisers by surprise. Anglers from all over the country come for a weekend of free live entertainment, to taste the local
14
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
food from the stalls, visit the craft stalls and, of course, for the angling in the club’s three pools. Again it is a firmly family friendly event, and experienced local fishermen run free courses for children, to teach casting techniques and angling skills. This year the much-anticipated September Food Festival is taking a break, but that does not leave the town bereft in the autumn season of mist and mellow fruitfulness. Retailers and businesses have come together under the ‘Totally Locally’ banner to promote local commerce and local products.
Quick Calendar May: Italian market Craft market Wool Fair June: Mop Fair Proms fortnight July: Last Night of the Proms
Throughout the year they put on themed markets – including in September. These markets feature local products and the always popular Buskers in the Bury, but don’t require the town centre to be closed. The stalls are set up in the Market Place and the bottom end of Sheep Street – the Bury is the cut joining the two.
August: Fish’n’Frolics
October sees the second of two Mop Fairs during the year, traditionally designed to ‘mop up’ apprentices seeking employment and employers looking for youngsters, now more akin to a fun fair. November is respectfully kept for Remembrance Day, a big date in the town’s calendar.
November: Remembrance Parade
Not many places put on a major outdoor event in winter, but Shipston’s residents don’t let longer nights and a drop in temperature spoil their fun. Other places may have a ceremony of switching on the Christmas lights – Shipston holds a Victorian Evening, complete with stalls, many people dressing in Victorian clothes, switching on the Christmas lights and turning on the Tree of Life. This is a big Christmas tree swathed in lights, each one sponsored by somebody in memory of someone dear. Speak to the Rotary Club if you would like to sponsor a light this year. So is Shipston the best or the happiest place to live in the UK? It’s certainly one of the most fun places to live – all year round!
September: Food Festival Totally Locally market October: Mop Fair French market
December: Victorian Evening Chinese-speaking William ‘Trev’ Trevethick, 62, was born in Ghana, West Africa, and has worked in Europe, Africa and the Far East. He trained as a journalist in 1975 and works for The Mail on Sunday. He also runs his own business, Fleet Street Professionals Ltd, which ‘does anything to do with words’, including helping authors through the development, editing and production process of book publishing. He lives in Shipston, where he is chairman of the Shipston and District Tourism Group and a founder member of Shakespeare’s England, the regional body representing tourism. Contact: trevw@fsprofessionals.com
Capturing your heart from the moment you arrive
01608 698798 | blackwellgrange.co.uk
Blackwell, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 4jx Š JS Coats Photography
TOWN FOCUS
TOW N FO C U S
MORETON in MARSH London and Oxford links make Moreton the best-connected Cotswold town
Moreton in Marsh has been a prosperous market town for hundreds of years - and the commercial spirit survives today, with weekly Tuesday markets and a thriving high street that provides residents with a wide range of amenities, including an array of pubs and restaurants. Moreton’s train station offers fast, easy access to London Paddington and Oxford. A yearly agricultural show - the Moreton Show attracts thousands of visitors every year.
16
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
MORETON IN MARSH
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
17
MORETON IN MARSH
Transport Links Moreton in Marsh enjoys excellent public transport links including a direct rail link to London Paddington (via Oxford). There is also a bus service (21/22 Johnsons) which runs to Stratford upon Avon hourly (via Chipping Campden). The A44 leads West to Broadway and Evesham while East provides an easy route to Oxford. Stow on the Wold, Bourton on the Water and Northleach are short distances down the A429, while northward travel takes you to Stratford upon Avon and Leamington Spa.
Things To Do Moreton Show is held every year on the first Saturday of September. Hosts of stalls and tents provide visitors with a varied shopping experience, while livestock contests and ring entertainment pile on the spectacle. It’s the one occasion that much of the Cotswolds turns out for. Moreton in Marsh Fire Service College is found along the London Road, just outside the town, and hosts a number of leisure facilities, including a gymnasium and a swimming pool that is open to the public. Moreton neighbours three very worthwhile attractions - Batsford Arboretum (home to one of England’s finest botanical collections), the Falconry Centre (hosting regular displays with a variety of birds) and Sezincote House and Gardens (not always open to public, but its striking and highly distinctive India-inspired architecture makes it well worth a visit). Moreton’s proximity to Stratford upon Avon means that the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatrical offerings are within easy reach. Moreton is also an excellent hub for accessing the rest of the North Cotswolds.
18
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
Moreton Show is held every year on the first Saturday of September. Hosts of stalls and tents provide visitors with a varied shopping experience, while livestock contests and ring entertainment pile on the spectacle. It’s the one occasion that much of the Cotswolds turns out for. Amenities
Schools
Moreton has a large supermarket, Budgens, and smaller food stores from the Cooperative and Tesco Express. A new Aldi store is due to open on the edge of town near the hospital at the end of October. There’s also a healthy variety of tearooms, cafes, antique shops, takeways and pubs, as well as a bookshop.
Moreton in Marsh has two primary schools in the town; St. David’s Church of England and Dormer House (a private prep school). Moreton is also local to Blockley Church of England Primary School (4.2 miles) and Longborough Church of England Primary School (3.3 miles from Moreton).
On the southern outskirts of Moreton you’ll find the North Cotswold Hospital. A onestop Cotswold District Council Area Centre is found in the middle of town, where a Visitors’ Centre is also located. The stately Redesdale Hall - also found in the centre of town - often hosts craft fairs and other community gatherings. St. David’s Church provides a place for worship and plans and co-ordinates many clubs and activity groups.
Moreton is within the catchment area for both Chipping Campden Academy School and The Cotswold School in Bourton on the Water, both secondary schools. There is also a public bus (the 801 from Pulhams) which stops right outside The Cotswold School - and with the bus going to Cheltenham, there’s always the option to attend secondary schools outside of the two above.
Don’t Miss The Moreton in Marsh Show One of the country’s biggest one-day agricultural shows which has something for everyone to see, do, taste and buy. Held on the first Saturday of September.
Moreton Christmas Market Moreton’s festive market and Christmas lights ‘switch on’ takes place on the last Saturday in November.
TOWN FOCUS
TOW N FO C U S
STOW on the WOLD A thriving, historic market town that’s as cosmopolitan as the North Cotswolds gets.
Fringed with thriving coffee houses, restaurants, pubs, galleries, bakeries, boutiques and shops, Stow’s market square is the hub of the town. Once used to direct sheep to market, charming narrow alleyways (or ‘chures’) now take residents and visitors from the centre of town to the surrounding streets. The convergance of important routes at Stow makes the town an excellently-situated home. Direct trains to Oxford and London are accessible from Kingham Station, only six miles away, while buses run to Cheltenham and other Cotswold villages. Cheltenham, Stratford upon Avon, Chipping Norton, Tewkesbury and Bourton on the Water are only a short distance by car. Stow’s peaceful appearance belies a dramatic history. The final battle of the first Civil War took place just a mile north of Stow, with King Charles I’s Royalist forces surrendering to the Parliamentarians here in 1646. (Charles’ defeated commander, Sir Jacob Astley, sat down on the market cross, where he is reported to have said: ‘You have done your work, boys, and may go play, unless you will fall out among yourselves.’).
22
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
STOW ON THE WOLD
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
23
STOW ON THE WOLD
Things To Do The Parish Church of St. Edwards was built in the 15th century (with the tower reaching the final stage of construction in 1447). It can be seen for miles around Stow on the Wold, and is often used as a photo opportunity for visitors. St. Edwards is the centre of a prosperous village community and is one of 4 churches in the Stow, Condicote, Upper Swell and Lower Swell ministry. The town is full of wonderful eateries, cosy Cotswold pubs and modern gastro restaurants. These include the recently renovated Sheep Hotel which is the flag ship establishment for Brakespears and the cosy Bell Inn now owned by the prominent London brewery Young’s. There’s also an abundance of interesting antique shops and art galleries, making Stow a centre of culture. A thriving local farmers’ market is held on the last Friday of the month. There are three takeaway restaurants (Greedy’s Fish & Chip Shop, Prince of India and Jade Gardens). As a favourable place for a break or holiday, Stow also possesses its share of fine hotels.
The great geologist William Smith - who published the first geological map of England in 1815 - lived in the Manor House in Stow. King Charles I reputedly stayed in the King’s Arms.
Amenities There is a Tesco Superstore in Stow which is open from 6am till 11pm weekdays/ Saturdays and 10am till 4pm Sundays. The local high street banks are Barclays & Lloyds, both located in the town square. The Stow on the Wold social club is located on Well Lane - an ideal meeting place for locals. Stow Surgery (also located on Well Lane) and Badham Pharmacy serve the medical needs of the local community.
Schools Situated on St. Edward’s Drive, Stow Primary School is a community school for children aged 4-11. It’s a constantly-growing school that prides itself on providing the best possible education for the local community. The local secondary school is the Outstanding-rated Cotswold School in Bourton on the Water (4 miles) - recently named the best comprehensive school in the country by The Sunday Times.
Trivia John Entwistle - bass player from The Who - used to live in the local Victorian manor house of Quarwood. L.S. Lowry visited Stow in 1947 and produced several pictures of the town. The great geologist William Smith who published the first geological map of England in 1815 - lived in the Manor House in Stow. King Charles I reputedly stayed in the King’s Arms.
24
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
Don’t Miss Stow Cotswold Festival Held every other year on the third Saturday in July with the aim of promoting Stow and celebrating traditional Cotswold life, crafts and heritage. The next Festival will be held in July 2019. Gypsy Horse Fairs Held twice a year, on the nearest Thursdays to 12th May and 24th October. The fairs are held in fields between Stow and Maugersbury. Stow Christmas Tree Festival Held over a weekend in early December, this is a showcase of local creativity, which sees community groups decorate Norwegian spruces.
VILLAGE FOCUS
VILLAGE FOCUS
BOURTON on the WATER Perhaps the most iconic of all Cotswold villages, there’s much more to Bourton than its riverside shops and distinctive stone bridges.
Bourton on the Water attracts visitors from around the world, and for good reason. So named for the River Windrush that passes directly through the village, Bourton possesses a wealth of unique charms, including its distinctive stone bridges, Cotswold stone cottages and other idiosyncratic attractions (including a model village, bird reserve and maze trail). Bourton is far from just a tourist honeypot, however - it possesses a thriving local community and one of the best secondaries in the United Kingdom (the Cotswold School Academy, named as the best comprehensive in the country by The Sunday Times for 201516). For all its modern developments, Bourton remains a traditional Cotswold village - much unchanged at its centre even as newer homes have gradually appeared at its edges.
26
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
BOURTON ON THE WATER
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
27
BOURTON ON THE WATER
Transport Links One of Bourton’s strengths is its excellent position - the spa town of Cheltenham is only a half-hour drive along the A436. Travel south along the A429 and you’ll join the A40, with Cheltenham to the west and Oxford 40 minutes to the east. Head northward up the A429 and you’ll soon reach Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh, two historic Cotswold market towns with their own attractions (go northwest after Tredington and you’ll reach Stratford upon Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and home of the Royal Shakespeare Company). Northleach and Cirencester are reached via southward travel along the A429. Bourton itself is served via a number of bus routes, with regular buses to Cheltenham and other North Cotswold destinations.
Things To Do Famously, Bourton has a number of attractions - from Birdland (hosting penguins and flamingos amongst other rare species) to the Model Village (a one-ninth scale replica of the village), Model Railway and the Dragonfly Maze (designed by Kit Williams, artist and author of Masquerade) - making it perfect for families and visitors. There are a number of hotels, tea shops, restaurants and pubs in the village, many focused around enchanting new visitors to the village. Locals know that there’s more to Bourton than the High Street. Indeed, for many residents, it is not the High Street but the secret, quiet places that are the real delight – just a few minutes walk away from the bustle of the centre, the scene is bucolic and peaceful. Those who know the real Bourton on the Water prefer to paddle in the river beyond Sherborne Street – equally, they would advise an evening stroll along the leafy backwaters of Cemetry Lane and out over the flat fields into the setting sun towards Wyck Rissington or a brisk early morning dog walk touring the glittering lakes at the top of Rissington Road. Located just on the outskirts of Bourton is the tranquil sanctuary of Greystones Farm Nature Reserve. Boasting an
28
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
Bourton also holds an annual summer game of football in the River Windrush itself, all to raise money for charity (those watching at the front of the riverbank are apt to get splashed). archaeological walk, with a Neolithic age monument and visible ramparts, it is also home to a multitude of wildlife including heron, butterflies, otter and the muchthreatened water vole. Bourton’s Christmas celebrations are a sight to behold. Every year a large tree is raised in the River Windrush and festooned with colourful lights, becoming one of the iconic sights of the Cotswold winter season (its fayre is also one of the best). Bourton also holds an annual summer game of football in the River Windrush itself, all to raise money for charity (those watching at the front of the riverbank are apt to get splashed). The village is close to a number of interesting places. Horse racing fans will find it easy to get to Cheltenham for The Festival every year (or just for a trip to the cinema), while culture lovers are wellserved by Cheltenham’s many festivals (Literature, Science, Jazz and Music) which draw many celebrities and guest-speakers to the area, year after year. Nearby Stratford upon Avon, Chippings Norton and Campden, Cirencester and Stow on the Wold are all worth regular visits.
Don’t Miss Football in the River Held every August Bank Holiday Monday, this is an end-of-summer experience not to miss! Local lads make a splash when they make the River Windrush their pitch, trying not to punt the ducks as they go. Late Night Christmas Shopping On the first Friday in December, head to Bourton to see the lights and spend a few pounds on treats and gifts. Soak up the traditional fayre atmosphere and take a riverside stroll – admiring the tree stood in the centre of the River Windrush.
Amenities Bourton has its own leisure centre, gym, GP surgery, football club, pharmacy, Coop superstore and High Street shops.
Schools Bourton is served by a very popular primary school, Bourton on the Water Primary Academy, located on School Hill and aims for its pupils to be happy, motivated and inspired learners. With a catchment area across the North Cotswolds, the Outstanding-rated Cotswold School academy has a well deserved reputation, with many families moving into the area in order to send their children to this secondary school.
VILLAGE FOCUS
VILLAGE FOCUS
UPPER RISSINGTON An increasingly desirable place to live, Upper Rissington is the village of choice for family living in the Cotswolds
Perched high on a plain with stunning views and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Upper Rissington brings residents the pleasures of rural living – red kites and crows wheeling high in the sky during the day are replaced by barn owls and bats at twilight, while the local wildlife can sometimes be spotted exploring your back garden. If you wish to give your children a sense of connection to a natural environment, this is the place to live. Upper Rissington is a village seemingly of a different, more innocent time where children can safely walk or cycle from one end to another, go to the shop for a packet of sweets or on an errand for mum, take a sledge out with friends in the snow, build dens, climb trees and play in fields all within sight and touching distance of home, with friendly neighbours who keep a benign eye on proceedings. The original houses within the village are mostly on large plots - substantial, spacious, solid and traditionally built with fireplaces, big kitchens, roomy living spaces and great gardens. The new development is a great success story, offering spacious interiors and decent plots. Taking the original local vernacular as a blueprint, it’s equally surrounded by open spaces and mature trees.
30
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
UPPER RISSINGTON
COTSWOLD-HOMES.COM
31
UPPER RISSINGTON
Sunday strolls are easy when you live in Upper Rissington, since field and woodland walkways are within a five minute drive. Pub lunches await at Great Rissington’s The Lamb Inn, or in nearby Burford, Stow or Bourton. Transport Links Upper Rissington sits within a ‘golden triangle’ between Burford, Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water - ten minutes to Kingham Station, Oxford in thirty minutes, London in an hour and a half, only five minutes to the Fosseway, five minutes to the A40 – peaceful isolation with great accessibility and amenities within a stone’s throw.
Amenities A host of amenities are within a minute or two’s reach, including the village square equipped with gym, café, pharmacy, charity shop and a Co-op supermarket. The new Village Hall also serves a meeting place for locals. Children’s gymnastics and trampoline classes are held regularly, along with yoga and dance classes.
Schools The Rissington Primary school is a split site school, catering for children aged 4 - 11 at both Great Rissington and the new building in Upper Rissington, where there is also a thriving pre-school provision. As the children get older, happily Upper Rissingon sits within the catchment area for the coveted Cotswold School.
32
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
Don’t Miss Firework Display Don’t miss the village’s spectacular firework display, usually held the weekend after Bonfire Night in November. Thanks to David Harrison and Joro Todorov for use of their images
Estimate the value of your property in seconds with our online valuation tool Showcasing the North Cotswold property marketplace Search our brilliant interactive map for useful information on the North Cotswolds Discover our curated selection of local homes, handpicked for your wish list Get professional advice from our team of property experts, from mortgages to legal matters Estimate the value of your home in seconds with our online valuation tool
VILLAGES
WHAT’S ON
PROPERTIES
ARTICLES
Expertise at your fingertips - simply register online to find your perfect Cotswold home
www.cotswold-homes.com/property The best of both worlds ~ experts in local agency, online and on the high street Moreton in Marsh 01608 651000 | Bourton on the Water 01451 822977