The Cotswolds - FAQs

The Buttercross is a market cross in Witney, Oxfordshire. It is located at the junction of High Street and Corn Street, in the heart of the town. The Buttercross is a Grade II* listed building.

When was the buttercross built?

The Buttercross was built in the late 16th/early 17th century. It has a central stone pillar which is raised up on a bed of steps, and is surrounded by twelve pillars that support the roof. The clock turret was added later in 1683 following a bequest by William Blake of Cogges.

The inscription on the Buttercross says 'Erected 1683 by Gulilmus Blake Armiger of Cogges'.

What was the buttercross built for

The Buttercross was originally used as a market place, where people would sell perishable goods such as butter. It may also have been was also used as a meeting place and a place for public announcements.

Permalink: What is the buttercross in Witney?

Westonbirt Arboretum is located in Gloucestershire, about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the town of Tetbury. The address is Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS.

To get to Westonbirt Arboretum by car, take the A433 from Tetbury or Cirencester. By train, the nearest stations are Kemble and Yate. From either station, it is a 20-minute taxi ride to the Arboretum.

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Katherine Parr (1512-1548) was the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was the only of his wives to survive him.

Katherine Parr died on 5 September 1548, eight days after giving birth to a daughter, Mary. Katherine Parr is buried in St. Mary's Chapel on the grounds of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire,.

Today, Katherine Parr's tomb is a popular tourist attraction at Sudeley Castle. She is the only English queen to be buried on private land.

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Dursley is a market town in the Stroud District of Gloucestershire, under the northeast flank of Stinchcombe Hill. It is located between the cities of Bristol and Gloucester.

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Cirencester is a market town in Gloucestershire. This lovely town is located in the Cotswolds, about 80 miles west of London, 40 miles north east of Bristol and 50 miles south of Birmingham.

For more information on Cirencester, visit our Cirencester page or the Cirencester Website.

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Stroud is a market town ih the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, located below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, at the meeting point of the Five Valleys. The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounds the town, and the Cotswold Way path passes by it to the west.

Stroud lies 10 miles south of the city of Gloucester, 14 miles south-southwest of Cheltenham, 13 miles west-northwest of Cirencester and 26 miles north-east of the city of Bristol.

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Chipping Norton is in the West Oxfordshire area of the Cotswolds, about 12 miles south-west of Banbury, 15 miles north of Witney and 18 miles north-west of Oxford.

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Chastleton House was built by the prosperous wool merchant, Walter Jones.

Permalink: Who built Chastleton House?

Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612.

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Father Brown is a beloved BBC crime drama starring the wonder Mark Williams in the title role. Based on the novels by G. K. Chesterton, the series features the amateur detective adventures of the titular character.

Most of Father Brown's outside scenes are filmed in and around the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley doubling as Father Brown's own church, St Mary's Catholic Church in Kembleford.

Other filming locations in Gloucestershire include the Cotswold villages of Guiting Power and Upper Slaughter, the old hospital in Moreton-in-Marsh, Sudeley Castle and Winchcombe Railway Station. The Warwickshire village of Ilmington has also been used.

Episode 5 in season 10 of the series (The Hidden Man) filmed scenes at Cotswold Lavender.

In addition to the Gloucestershire filming locations, the series has also filmed at Oxfordshire locations including Chastleton House and Broughton Castle.

Permalink: Where is Father Brown filmed in the Cotswolds?

The Warwickshire town of Warwick is situated about 11 or 12 miles north of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). So no, Warwick is not in the Cotswolds, but it's certainly worth a visit if you are staying in the Cotswolds area.

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The Bicester Village shopping destination lies on the outskirts of the Oxfordshire town of Bicester which is about 12 miles east of Woodstock.

So Bicester Village is not in the Cotswolds, but it's very close!

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There are some stunning displays of snowdrops in the Cotswolds during snowdrop season. From formal gardens to woodland walks, there's no better sight than a sea of snowdrops to remind you that winter will soon be giving way to spring, warmer weather and longer days.

Link: Find out more about some of the best places to see snowdrops in the Cotswolds.

Permalink: Where can I see snowdrops in the Cotswolds?