Cotswold Churches
 

We spent a couple of short breaks in the Cotswolds in April, based at Burford and at Tewkesbury. The main purpose of the visit was to visit the great wool churches. My write up is here:
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...lds/index.html

The wealth of the area in the middle ages was based on wool and this is reflected in the grandeur of the big wool churches in places like Bloxham,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html
Burford,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ord/index.html
Chipping Campden,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...den/index.html
Chipping Norton
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html
Cirencester
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ter/index.html
Fairford.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ord/index.html

We also enjoyed the Norman architecture of places like Tewkesbury Abbey
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ury/index.html
and Malmesbury Abbey
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ury/index.html

There is a surprising amount of Norman work still in many of the smaller churches and I have to admit we preferred these to the splendour of the Perpendicular wool churches. Bishop’s Cleeve has a splendid Norman doorway,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...eve/index.html
Duntisbourne Abbots has a Norman font.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...and/index.html
Elkstone has a glorious Norman chancel arch,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...one/index.html
Eastleach Turville has a Norman tympanum above the door.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...lle/index.html

Several churches have the remains of even earlier Saxon work. St Mary’s Priory in Deerhurst dates from the C9th and is a delightful church.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...one/index.html
Daglingworth contains some wonderful Saxon carvings which look surprisingly modern with their bold simple outlines.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rth/index.html

Other churches contain unexpected treasures like the C15th altar cloth at Baunton,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html
and another in Winchcombe.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...mbe/index.html
Swinbrook Church has the amazing Fettiplace tomb in the chancel.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ook/index.html

Many churches still have the remains of medieval wall paintings. Some of the best are in St Mary’s Church in Kempley.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ley/index.html
South Leigh
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...igh/index.html
and South Newington.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

Perhaps the most unusual church we came across was in Beverston with its strange C19th wood beam roof.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

Some churches are no no longer used and gently mouldering away, like at Inglesham
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html
and Lower Oddington (make sure you find the old church on the edge of the village)
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

And finally, the short walk across the clapper bridge between Eastleach St Martin and East Leach Turville must be one of the most attractive short walks in the Cotswolds.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...tin/index.html

bmk for later

And annhig, we didn't suffer from extraneous clutter in any of these churches either!

thank goodness for that, ESW!

no extraneous AV screens then?

I'm tagging for later when I can do it justice.

You've got me dreaming . . .

looks like a labour of love, ESW. when you decide to study something, you certainly study it.

i envy the time that you have to take your trips; i can see retirement beckoning not too far away!

Oh good. After flanner's comments I wondered if I was wrong to have enjoyed the photos so much.

Thanks.

Thank you for your comment Fra_Diavolo. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I can't claim any credit for these as husband was the photographer. We were blessed with some good weather too which helps.

flanner took exception to a comment I made on the thread on Nottinghamshire churches when I complained that a huge AV screen in Southwell Minster obscured the view of the glorious chancel crossing and pulpitum. He was continuing his attack on this thread.