I can see why.
There are two features that are particularly notable in this town, once a center for weaver. (Again, another town in the Cotswolds built on the sheep industry.)
The first is Arlington Row. This is an area of cottages build aside a water meadow which is home to a number of trout. (There is also a trout farm nearby).
The water meadow is a habitat for birds and considered a National Trust Wildfowl reserve. We didn't have enough time in the town to really venture beyond the meadow section in the city and all I saw that day were the trout. The water was crystal clear.
The buildings are made from geological limestone quarried in the region and they are as charming as any fairy-tale town.
There was a Michigan connection to Arlington Row that particularly touched home for me. In Michigan we have a historical village created by auto pioneer Henry Ford called Greenfield Village. Many buildings of some historical significance have been moved there and when Ford saw Arlington Row, he decided he wanted to add that to the Greenfield Village attractions.
Fortunately, the Brits decided this could not happen. A group organized together to preserve Arlington Row as a historical monument.
The cottages were originally built in the 1300s but became cottages for the weavers in the seventeenth century. It has been in several films including "Bridget Jones' Diary."
We were lucky that the beautiful October was unseasonably warm and sunny and all the flowers were still in full bloom.
Many of the homes had climbing roses. Mine died out in the heat of July.
Theirs were much better tended!
The other building of note is the Swan Hotel. Colin said it had inspired Dickens for Bleak House but another inn also holds that honor.
I'll leave that one to the experts!
Inspirational or not, it was a lovely building!
I was ready to move here in a heartbeat, hang out the laundry to dry in the fresh air and spend my days making felted things from wool.
Alas, not to be.
Time to move on to another charming town!
Sharing with: Pink Saturday / Let's Add Sprinkles / Take Me Away!
43 comments:
The Cotswolds are just as I imagine; cute cottages, ivy, blooms everywhere...my dream! You really take wonderful photos. Do you keep any sort of physical album of your travel pictures?
Happy weekend!
Jane x
The first picture somehow reminds me of Snow White, I just expect some seven dwars coming out!
Wow, the water is invisible!
Crazy (or even understandable?) how some people want to take buildings to their own country.
Yes, autumn was unseasonably warm and now spring is way too cold. Crazy.
The laundry! Reminds of my hometown. Right opposite was a factory and at (unknown) times they made plum marmalade. You could do your laundry just yet again then ;-)
Looking again forward to your next post!
Those charming villages and stone houses with their fancy windows are so pretty, and those flowers!!??---so pretty. I've never been there, and will never go, but seeing it through your eyes and your camera brings it to life for me. I so enjoy the pictures, all of them...but that one of the the brilliant roses against the stone..THAT ONE IS outstanding. Please do something with that one! Frame it, enlarge it, paint it, just something, LOl!! Hope your upcoming weekend is real nice and hope Rick is doing okay.
Lovely village but it's that crystal clear water that really caught my eye. Simply amazing.
Wow, that town is really beautiful. One day I will visit the Cotswolds and this town would need to be on my list. And that water is clear and with the light that poor fish looks like he is swimming on the ground. I know it is just lighting, but that water had to be clear in order to get a short like that. Thanks for sharing. The Cotswolds are truly fascinating. Happy Friday. Hugs-Erika
I shouldn't be surprised that you went to Bibury as well! That's the picture that's on the sidebar of my blog. It's amazingly beautiful as well. I'm loving your posts, Jeanie!! -Jenn
It is a beautiful little village, picturesque to be sure. Thank goodness Henry Ford didn't get to carve it up the way he wanted. I, of course, would have made a beeline for the wildfowl area of the National Trust and would have skipped the village! But as I recall, this was a bus tour, so whatever you do is dictated by the schedule of the bus anyway. And just think, Jeanie, the whole country is filled with places like this, just waiting for you to return. How is Rick doing? Give him our best.
Absolute perfection! I love the fairytale vibe of Arlington Row. I love when old windows are surrounded by flowers and ivy. That water is amazingly clear.
I could live there too Jeanie..wonder what the moes are priced at? Loaded with charm♥♥♥♥
Hello, what a beautiful town and tour. I love the flowers and plants. The houses and hotel are charming. the shadows from the bridge is a great shot.
Thanks for sharing your visit. Happy Friday, enjoy your day. Have a great weekend!
Can't adequately tell you how MUCH I love your travelogues, all of them, but THIS ONE! THIS ONE! What a beautiful place! Your photos are wonderful. This is just to let you know that I will be moving into No.4 Arlington Row in my dreams tonight.
(P.S. I misread the historical monument plaque, thought it was the Royal Society of Ants. Thanks for the bonus giggle.)
I'm sure this must have been one of your favorite villages. So charming and beautiful. Fall is one of my favorite seasons for travel and I'm happy to see the flowers were still blooming. Thanks for the tour........
On the whole, it's really a good thing they stopped Henry Ford from moving their best buildings to Greenfield Village! Your photos are really beautiful.
best.... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Very charming village, the cottages and the Swan Hotel are very pretty.
Hey sweet lady, I've been crazy busy at work and home but wanted to touch base. I have not forgot your offer to help increase readership....I will email.
I've told you before but this post reminded me....you are the best tour guide. Do you rent out? I end up wanting to see everything you share! This post is no exception except on steroids....I want to go.
Hope you and yours are doing really well♥
Dreamy sigh, is there any place more enchanting? Your photos make me so very happy and ready to make plans to visit. I hope Rick is on the mend. Have a wonderful weekend.
Oooh I've seen that small houses as well. They're charming, but I think York is much more beautiful! You should go there next time! :)
Gah! So much charm and beauty! And it seems like you visited during and idyllic time of year, too! I can't believe how clear that water is!
Wow! That place really is storybook perfect! I would be sitting outside in front of a painting easel in period costume for the tours.
Just WOW!!! Once again, you have taken me there ~ gorgeous photography!
Beautiful photos. I could move there and also. I love all the flowers. That was a great bus tour.
The 'triangle' roofs of houses are quite an attraction to visitors outside of Cotswolds. Roofing seems to have been an important trade in the region.
I love the gardens and flowers in England. I am loving your photos of the Cotswolds.
Jeanie, you were right. I am in a quandry as to which I love the best. Let's just say the whole of the Cotswolds is my favorite. Your pics are so beautiful. Do you print any and have them hanging all over your house? I would!!..Happy Weekend..xxoJudy
Such a beautiful place!
Wow! I loved this! I love flowers too so seeing their plantings is a joy. That’s some crystal clear water!
Bibury is one of favorite Cotswold villages, Jeanie. Thank you for bringing back our memories of this charming place. Oh England, how I adore thee!
Well you are doing the charming felted craftwork anyhow. I'm realising how little I know the cotswolds.
By the way do you still use the wkar email? Don't have most of my contacts here
William Morris is so right!
So charming and quaint! I love places that appear frozen in time and that are swathed in flowers, especially roses!
Jeanie,
OMG!! This is amazing and right up my alley!! Loved seeing this beautiful area!! Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting on my post about blogging!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Bilbury looks so picturesque. Another wonderful post and photographs. I do like how you journal your travels …
All the best Jan
Oops it's Bibury not Bilbury!
Yes, I think William Morris described it very well indeed :)
All the best Jan
Oh Jeanie! I am packing my bags and listing our house. Idyllic. You said you were there in October? Wow! Thank you for your travel posts. Your photos capture the spirit of your journeys.
This is quite a lovely and enchanting village and you were there at a wonderful time of year, Jeanie.
You know I love those window shots! Nice.....and that trout, haha, I had to do a double take to be sure it was in water, wow, that was so clear!
I love seeing the flowers growing in front of the stone and the windows. The water is so clear that it is invisible!
Jeanie, such an interesting post, especially for me. I would have thoroughly enjoyed the visit to this charming place. I am a weaver and when we lived in Va. we raised sheep. Plus, I adore stone cottages. I absolutely love traveling with you! Have a wonderful week.
I loved visiting here soooo much. It is indeed quaint and gorgeous. Thanks for the fresh memories.
I've been to Bibury last year, on a holiday, and I loved it. It's such a wonderful village and it was lovely to see the pictures you've taken. If you didn't go to Castle Combe, keep it in mind for another holiday, because it is just as beautiful.
Gorgeous, love the flowers and the historic architecture!
So incredibly beautiful...definitely adding to my bucket list! Thanks for linking up to Take Me Away!
Shelley
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