Winchcombe
Winchcombe
The town of Winchcombe was once the capitol of Anglo Saxon Mercia as well as one of the most important towns in the Cotswolds up to the middle ages. There was an Abbey here in the middle Ages but all that is left of it is a wall and the Abbey church now the parish church of St Peters.
The church has some interesting gargoyles called the Winchcombe worthies said to represent unpopular monks and a statement of dissatisfaction with the Abbey at the time.
The town these days is very much a normal place were people go about there business as usual there are all the usual shops to explore and some little gems such as vine street with its pretty little row of Cotswold cottages lookout for the sign on the wall which tells of a ducking stool on the river.
The tourist office on the main street is manned by helpful staff who have all kinds of leaflets about the area.
Once you have explored Winchcombe your next stop has to be Sudeley Castle once the home of King Henry VIII wife Katherine Parr she was the kings last wife and his widow.
Queen Elizabeth I also lived here for a short while but unfortunately Katherine’s second husband Thomas Seymour started paying her to much attention and acting inappropriately so Katherine sent her away.
The castle has beautiful gardens and some atmospheric ruins as well as the church where Katherine’s remains are interred.
Other place of interest include the Folk and Police museum in the town hall.
Old Jacobean school on Abbey terrace.
Activities in Winchcombe
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