Hidden Cotswold Tour 8th October 2023
I had taken Judee on a tour of the Cotswolds back in May so, it was a great pleasure to see her again this time withย three other friends.ย Debbie, Patti and Mary.
We loaded their luggage into the back of the car and discussed the route.
I had to think on my feet as the day before they had been on an intrepid bicycle ride to my first two planned stops.ย ย
So with Swinbrook in our sights, we set off.
Swinbrook
I chose Swinbrook as the pub, The Swan was the location in Downton Abbey. where Lady Sybil and Tom Branson planned their elopment.
Taking a little tour inside the pub they spotted pictures of the six Mitford sisters and short biographies.
So we took a gentle stroll to the churchyard to see some of their graves.ย It was a perfect sunny, Sunday morning and as we approached the church we could hear the good parishioners singing their hymns.
In 1926, David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale had Swinbrook House built 1.5 miles north of the village. Four of his six daughters (the “Mitford sisters”) are buried in the parish churchyard: Nancy, Unity, and Diana are buried side by side, while Pamela is buried northwest of the tower.
Minster Lovell
From Swinbrook it was a shourt journey to Minster Lovell and an opportunity to have a short walk around the spectacular ruins.
Apart from the odd child crying it was very tranquil.ย
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ย Minster Lovell Hallย and Dovecote are extensive ruins of a 15th-centuryย manor house, once belonging to William Lovel’s descendant,ย Lord Lovell. There is aย medievalย dovecoteย nearby. There is a legend that in 1708 the skeletal remains of Lord Lovell were discovered in a secret chamber in the manor house. Lord Lovell had fought in theย Battle of Stokeย in 1487, and had been seen escaping from the battle, but was never afterwards heard of. It is supposed that he had hidden himself there and died of starvation.
Bampton
And now onto the second stop of the Downton Abbey journey at Bampton.
We visited the Church of St Mary which was the location for many a wedding and funeral.ย Just out from the church is the house that was the residence of the Crawley Family.
And then on to the village library and little gift shop.ย This building was the cottage hospital in the series and the film.
Bampton is variously referred to as both a town and a village. Theย Domesday Bookย recorded that it was aย market townย by 1086. It continued as such until the 1890’s.ย It has both aย town hallย and aย village hall. It is now associated with Downto Abbey as the location of the Church and village life.
Millets Farm Shop
It’s amazing how time goes when you are enjoying yourself!ย So, I though we could get a quick bite to eat at Millets Farm Shop.ย Well, that was not going to happen!ย So, we fought our way through the crowds and bought some things for a picnic lunch with a view to having it at Highclere.
I failed completely with Judee as there was nothing, gluten-free, that she wanted and she made do with a small packet of crisps ๐
From Millets to Highclere
OK, back in the car and heading down the A34 to Highclere and we were confronted by a huge traffic jam in front of us.
Fortunately the Sat Nav had anticipated this and directed us away and on to a more rural route to by-pass the jam.ย The only issue was that it was directing traffic coming the other way as well and we all met head-on along the single-track road.
But, I was on a mission to get my guests to Highclere and we squeezed and pushed our way through, eventually coming out the other end.
Picnics were eaten in the car as we drove, which turned out to be a wise choice.
Highclere Castle
With the traffic jam and the divesrion we arrived before just before 3pm and I unloaded my guests and left them to wander around the castle on their own.
Here I noticed a sign “No Picnics”
I think it lived up to their expectations and it couldn’t have been a nicer October day if it tried.
A small diversion to Castle Combe was cancelled as they wanted to go straight to Bath.
Highclere Castle is a Grade I listedย country houseย built in 1679 and largely renovated in the 1840s, with a park designed byย Capability Brownย in the 18th century. It is the country seat of theย Earls of Carnarvon. Highclere Castle has been used as a filming location for several films and television series, including 1990s comedy seriesย Jeeves and Wooster, and achieved international fame as the main location for the ITV historical drama seriesย Downton Abbeyย (2010โ15) and theย 2019ย andย 2022ย films based on it.
Route
It was a quiet journey along the M4 as my precious cargo of 4 delightful ladies snooozed most of the way.
Arriving at the Gainborough Hotel (eventually!)
It was a lovely day with all of you and such a joy to spend the time with you on the most beautiful October day.ย I hope you had a fabulous day in Bath.
Word of the day: Crikey! ๐