Winchcombe, Gloucestershire - Stop in For a Cup of Tea

Winchcombe is a charmingly small, neighborly town inmagnificent yet welcoming church began in the
West England, near the Cotswolds, seven miles south1470s, led by the Squire, Sir Ralph Boteler. It also
of Cheltenham. It is at the junction of many largeboasts a splendid (and much younger) brass
streets called "ways, " including Gloucestershire Way,chandelier in the nave, donated in 1753.
Cotswolds Way and Wychavon Way.Sudeley Castle is also well worth a visit. Built by King
Its main street, called The High Street, could star in aEthelred the Unready in the tenth century, it was
movie set in the Victorian era or even the 16thenlarged by Admiral Sir Ralph Boteler during the reign
century, with almost no touch-ups required. Paved inof King Henry V. Its rolling gardens and grounds are
cobblestone and fronted by several half-timberedjust half a mile from Winchcombe's town center.
shops and businesses, High Street presents a quietHowever, Winchcombe has not been content to
and relaxing ambiance compared to nearbydrowse in the past. Its business association has
Stratford-upon-Avon.proudly made Winchcombe a Fair Trade Town,
Winchcombe has been continuously inhabited for overwhere five retailers sell Fair Trade goods, and every
a thousand years, and has architecture to prove it.teashop in town sells Fairtrade beverages. Third
Spoonley Villa, a Roman habitation, is undergoingWorld producers of teas, chocolate and other
archeological restoration. Its delicate mosaics shelterexports get the fairest price possible for their
under plastic sacks laid down by excavators for theircommodities through the Fair Trade organization.
protection. St. Peter's Church has a formidable squareWhile visiting the west of England, stop in
Norman tower atop its nave, that can be seen fromWinchcombe for afternoon tea. You will want to stay
almost anywhere in Winchcombe. Construction of thisfor a day or two.