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!
