Filkins and Broughton Poggs National Garden Scheme Garden Tour last weekend was an absolute delight. The gardens were wreathed in spring blossoms and the weather held with many glimpses of the sun before showers began at five o’clock.
It is a joy to visit the many beautiful private gardens on the NGS tours which cannot be seen other that through the open days organized by them.
The owners work hard to bring the gardens to their peak to be ‘camera ready’ for the public and the proceeds from ticket sales benefit several important charities. A visit to a beautiful garden with wonderful tea and cake makes for a lovely day out.
The Cotswolds setting of the two side-by-side villages of Filkins and Broughton Poggs could not be more picturesque with the River ……winding languidly between the gardens adding yet another dimension to their beauty. Filkins House’s gardens boasted glorious fruit tree blossoms and…….
a charming dry stone wall garden seat fashioned from Cotswolds stone. Perfect for lazy picnics or afternoon tea. The homemade cakes served at the tour in Filkins Village Hall were delicious, a highlight – Ginger fruit cake with Mascapone cheese spread liberally on top. This garden in Filkins featured a 200 year old apple tree which spread a mantle of delicate pink and white blossom on the lawn. The Grade II listed 18th Century Broughton Poggs Mill covered in Wisteria. For a list of open gardens throughout the summer visit National Garden Scheme’s website www.ngs.org.uk
Cotswolds Memoir:
Now available in Paperback, Kindle and Audio Book
Discovering a Beautiful Region of Britain
on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage
(Larrabee Libraries)
A portion of the proceeds of every copy of this author’s book COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: Discovering a Beautiful Region of Britain on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions. Available on
Many of Downton Abbey’s scenes are filmed in the medieval Cotswolds village of Bampton and as I was writing about this lovely place in the sequel to my book Cotswolds Memoir: Discoveringa Beautiful Region of Britain on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage I came across this appeal (below) by Hugh Bonneville for a donation to help restore Bampton’s Old Grammar School (Downton Cottage Hospital in the series).
After I made a donation I was thrilled to receive this reply (below)
Here is a revisit to my blog giving the history of ancient buildings used in scenes in Downton Abbey and lots more about the lovely Cotswolds village of Bampton.
A Downton Day Out
A Tour of Bampton’s Downton Abbey Locations
The charming village of Bampton in the Cotswolds is used as a background to a number of outdoor scenes in the immensely successful television series Downton Abbey and this lovely spot is well worth a visit. Not only is it interesting to see where scenes of Downton Abbey are shot but there are many other attractions in Bampton that would make a leisurely sojourn there very memorable.
Bampton, or as it was once known Bampton-in-the-Bush, is situated in the county of Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and is about four and a half miles southwest of Witney.
Visitors strolling around Bampton will recognize a number of buildings and streets that were used in scenes in Downton Abbey.
St. Mary’s Church
One of the locations frequently filmed in the series is Bampton’s church, St Mary of the Virgin which dates from the 12th Century. This church, like many ancient buildings in Britain was built on the foundations of an earlier structure and incorporates parts of the older building in the new edifice. In this case, St. Mary’s church was erected on the site of an Anglo-Saxon Minster. The tower was the only feature of the Minster that was spared and it is now part of the Church. St. Mary’s is also distinguished by its magnificent 13th Century spire.
William the Conqueror gave this church to the Bishop of Exeter and it has been rebuilt and added to many times through the centuries.
Cottage Hospital
Another location used in filming is Bampton Library which was used as the entrance to the cottage hospital that was portrayed in the second series of Downton Abbey.
According to Pevsner and Sherwood’s book The Buildings of England this library was once the Grammar school of St. Mary’s church and was built in 1653.
Isobel Crawley’s house
The Old Rectory which is close by St. Mary’s Church is used for the exterior shots of Isobel Crawley’s house in Downton Abbey. The south side of this building is late 17th Century and features five bays. The back of the house is older with a 16th century arched stone doorway and in the garden wall there is a stone inscribed with the date 1546. Next to the Rectory are 17th Century stables with a gabled dovecote built over them.
The interior scenes of Isobel Crawley’s house, however, are filmed at Hall Place near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.
Downton Abbey’s conception
The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house, the grand home of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives and fortunes of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants through the reign of King George V.
Gareth Neame of Carnival Films originally conceived the idea of an Edwardian-era TV drama set in a country house and suggested this concept to Julian Fellowes, who had won an Academy Award for Best Writing in the category of Original Screenplay for Gosford Park.
Shortly, thereafter, Julian Fellowes gave Gareth Neame an outline of the first series. Julian Fellowes writes the series, and his wife Emma acts as his story editor.
Bampton Annual Events
In addition to Bampton being used for locations of Downton Abbey this beautiful town features plenty of Cotswolds character and is well known for several quaint traditions that take place every year and have been doing so for the past several centuries. Visitors would do well to time a visit to take in one or more of these fun-filled events after viewing the Downton locations.
Bampton Shirt Race
Once a year, on the Saturday of the Spring Bank Holiday there is a bizarre pub crawl organized by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing known as The Bampton Shirt Race. In past times the runners in this race were dressed in night-gowns and would compete in pairs with one runner pushing the other in a trolley. There was a time when there were fourteen pubs in Bampton and the race stops at every location for the competitors to down a large quaff of beer. Many of those public houses have now been converted to private residences but a stop at these former pubs is still included in the race. Nowadays, the race consists of larger teams using many different kinds of cobbled-together wheeled vehicles, such as prams, wheelbarrows and even wheelybins. These are used to transport the competitors who are costumed in outlandish fancy dress. There are prizes for the best outfits.
Morris Dancing
Bampton is well known for its Morris dancing which has been practiced in the village since the late eighteenth century. The town supports three world-renowned Morris Dance teams and the dancing is performed throughout the Monday of the Spring Bank Holiday in the latter part of May, beginning at 8.30 a.m. In the evening, visiting teams join in the dancing. Much is made of the traditional fertility cake which everyone samples as it is carried around the streets with the dancers.
May Garlands
The charming tradition of May Garland making by the children of Bampton began several centuries ago. It takes place at 11a.m. in the market square on the Monday of the Spring Bank Holiday.
Donkey Derby
A Donkey Derby is run on the Monday of the August Bank Holiday, and organized by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing. This begins at 2 p.m. at Sandford’s Field. In addition to the donkey races (all the jockeys are children) there are bric-a-brac stalls, skittles, Aunt Sally, crockery smashing and much more.
The Mummers
The Mummers perform plays on Christmas Eve every year. These plays have been performed since the nineteenth century in Bampton but are most likely much older. These dramas have been handed down through family tradition by word of mouth as no scripts exist. In the Bampton version there are ten characters including Robin Hood, Father Christmas, a Prussian King, St. George etc. The plays are uniquely performed in two acts instead of the customary one. Pagan rituals may have figured in the original plays as the plot involves many scenes of characters being finished off and then magically being brought back to life. This could perhaps symbolize the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Watching the Mummers perform is a wonderful highlight of the Christmas season.
Ladies of Downton Abbey
Bampton Pubs and Restaurants
After all this fun a little refreshment might be in order.
The Romany Inn On Bridge Street in Bampton is an unassuming pub serving typical but good pub food. Accomodation available. www.TripAdvisor.com
The Horse Shoes On the High Street in Bampton. No food or accommodation http://www.bamptonoxon- parishcouncil.gov.uk
The Trout at Tadpole Bridge Is well known for its fine dining and serves the best food for miles around. It is just five minutes’ drive down the road from Bampton in Buckland Marsh Diners come as far away as London to eat at this excellent riverside gastro-pub. In summer there are tables in the garden which leads down to the Thames. Stroll by the river with a pre-dinner drink. Accommodation available. www.trout-inn.co.uk
Cotswolds Memoir:
Now available in Paperback, Kindle and Audio Book
Discovering a Beautiful Region of Britain
on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage
(Larrabee Libraries)
A portion of the proceeds of every copy of this author’s book COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: Discovering a Beautiful Region of Britain on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions. Available on
The shimmering, cool rivers, ponds and streams of the Cotswolds provide a wonderful mirror-image of the beauty of this forgotten-by-time region. Here are some reflections of the Cotswolds, captured in several of its most treasured landmarks.
Visit these lovely places and enjoy a few calming moments of contemplation by the soothing sounds of trickling water.
Kiftsgate Garden
Kiftsgate Garden, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
This garden, created by three generations of women, is a must-see. A series of interconnected garden rooms and descending terraces offer spectacular views, some of which are reflected in a pond overlooking an endless vista of the Cotswolds.
Cornwell Manor in the Cotswolds is a Grade II listed Manor House in West Oxfordshire
This lovely garden evokes images of Downton Abbey in Edwardian times with beautifully gowned women and suave men in tuxedos, chatting, as they drink a pre-dinner sherry. Perhaps these dinner guests stroll, on a warm summer’s evening by the reflecting waters of the fountain, before pairing up to take their places in the elegant dining room of this matchless 17th Century manor.
Prior Park Garden
This National Trust Grade I listed garden, Prior Park, just south of Bath, Somerset, is built high on a hillside with spectacular views of Bath as just one of its many attractions. It was created by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen and begun in 1734. There are few flowers and no formal beds in this garden; it is all about breathtaking views, restful green lawns, reflecting water from the lakes and a sculptural Palladian bridge, creating a mellow mood that is immensely pleasing.
Shilton Open Gardens
Shilton, tucked away in the Shill Brook Valley, near Burford, Oxfordshire is a charming village with much to boast about. There is a traditional pub, The Rose and Crown, which serves delicious food, and camera-ready ducks that occasionally cause cars to swerve out of their way as they cross a nearby ford. The flower-bedecked gardens are so beautiful that they are opened to the public once a year for the National Garden Scheme. It was at an open garden that this wrought iron bridge was glimpsed, its delicate pattern making a mesmerizing reflection in the stream below.
Westbury Court Garden
Westbury Court Garden near Gloucester and the Severn River on the edges of the Cotswolds is a revelation. It is the only 17th Century restored Dutch water garden in Great Britain. The National Trust rescued it in 1967 using an engraving of the garden from 1707 as a guide for its restoration. The calming trickle of the lily-covered canals, and the endless reflections from the gently rippling water make this garden a wonderful place for peaceful relaxation.
Little Faringdon Mill Near Lechlade
There has been a Mill on this site for over a thousand years which is evident from its Domesday Book listing. The two photographs of the mill, above and below, give an indication of its idyllic setting with a charming barn and weeping willow trees reflected in the streams that lazily weave around this lovely property.
2 (8-ribs) rack of lamb trimmed of all but a thin layer of fat.
Use Cotswold Lamb if possible
1 package of ready-made puff pastry
¾ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 egg. (Use Cotswold egg if possible)
Seasoning: 2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves of chopped garlic
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
1 ½ teaspoon salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 350F/200C/180Cfan/gas 6
Prepare seasoning
Add the garlic, salt and rosemary to 2 tablespoons olive oil,
mix ingredients together, mashing the garlic so that it blends with the oil.
Set aside.
Prepare lamb:
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over high heat until hot
Meanwhile, pat lamb dry and rub meat all over with salt and pepper.
Brown racks, in 2 batches if necessary, on all sides about 10 minutes per batch.
Divide each rack into 4 double chops
Transfer racks to a roasting pan.
Spoon the seasoned oil over the lamb racks
Place racks in preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes
Puff Pastry
As the lamb cooks roll out puff pastry to approximately ¼ inch (.75 cm) thick.
Cut the pastry into 8 rectangular sections of 3 x 5 inch (7.5×12.5cm) each
Beat the egg in a bowl with a dash of water.
After 40 minutes remove the racks of lamb from the oven
Place one section of pastry on each pair of chops and
brush with the beaten egg mixture
Decorate the top with extra bits of puff pastry
Return the lamb to the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes
or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
New! Cotswolds Memoir is now available as an AudioBook in addition to Paperback and Kindle
Click below to order
A portion of the proceeds of every copy of COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions.
Prior Park is a must-see landscaped garden built high on a hillside with spectacular views of Bath as just one of its many attractions. This National Trust Grade 1 listed garden was created by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen and begun in 1734. Allen, who made his fortune by reorganizing the post office, took advice from the poet Alexander Pope and the garden designer Capability Brown before creating this masterpiece. There are few flowers and no formal beds in this garden – it is all about breathtaking views, restful green lawns, reflecting water from the lakes and sculptural bridges – creating a mellow mood that is immensely pleasing. Meandering across the elegant Palladian Bridge, one of only four left in the world, is a joy and there is much more to discover including: a Serpentine Lake, a Cascade, a summerhouse, and a horseshoe walk. Winding and sometimes steep paths lead to hidden retreats, tranquil lakes, a ruined Gothic Temple, a Grotto and finally, stunning vistas over Bath. Prior Park was the matrix for style that became known as the “English garden”. The Palladian mansion, which tops one of the garden’s sweeping green slopes and overlooks Bath, now houses Prior Park College and was designed by John Wood, the Elder in 1742. He was commissioned by Ralph Allen to build a house “To see all Bath, and for all Bath to see”.
This house, with its classic symmetry, should be on the list of all the overseas visitors who, caught up in Downton Abbey fervor, are now interested in seeing other examples of the great houses of Britain.
Afternoon Tea can be taken at a tiny, clapboard tea house, with outdoor tables, tucked away in the foliage. A five-minute walk from the garden leads on to a six mile circular walk around Bath, with amazing views, that passes through woodlands, meadows, an Iron Age hill-fort, Roman settlements, and an 18th-century folly.
Prior Park Garden is south of Bath, Somerset, by Ralph Allen Drive, and 3/4 mile (1.2 km) from the Kennet and Avon canal path. BA2 5AH
Click here for National Trust Link
New! Cotswolds Memoir is now available as an AudioBook in addition to Paperback and Kindle
Click below to order
A portion of the proceeds of every copy of COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions.
Woolstone Mill House, Woolstone, nr. Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 7QL
Click here for NGS 2015 details
New! Cotswolds Memoir is now available as an AudioBook in addition to Paperback and Kindle A portion of the proceeds of every copy of COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions.
For a wonderful afternoon visit magnificent Stowell Park, near Northleach, surely the best private garden in the country. Stowell House crowns a hill commanding matchless views across the unspoiled Gloucestershire countryside. Velvet lawns carpet one elegant terrace after another as they unfold down the hill below the house eventually merging seamlessly into the rolling hills of the Coln Valley.
This open garden event was the Cobalt charity’s grand finale of their open garden programme for 2014 and they wisely appeared to have saved the best for last.
This traditional garden covers eight acres with many charming features including: three peach houses two vineries, three pot-plant greenhouses and a half acre of cut flowers in addition to an acre of fruit and vegetable gardens laid out in two walled gardens. A perfect parade of pleached limes frame the approach to 14th Century Stowell House and give way to a long rose pergola and wide, plant filled borders containing a fine collection of old-fashioned roses.
A woodland walk – a fountain garden with an almost two metre sturgeon swimming happily in the water feature also grace this beautiful garden.
Tea and delicious home-made cakes were served in the ballroom and taken on one of the sunny terraces. The lovely weather showed off the garden at its best.
This open garden event provided a rare opportunity for a visit in September. Lady Vestey and her head gardener, Neil Hewertson have created a wonderful and surprisingly diverse show of colour for this time of the year.
The tranquility created by Stowell Park Garden’s position and beautiful design make this a must-see garden.
COBALT CHARITY
Support the Cobalt Charity (Diagnostic Imaging for Life) providing faster, safer and clearer medical scans by giving generously. This charity made the Stowell Park open garden event possible. www.cobalt50.co.uk
fundraising@cobalthealth.co.uk
Stowell Park Yanworth, Northleach, Cheltenham GL54 3LE
The Lord & Lady Vestey, http://www.stowellpark.co.uk 8m NE of Cirencester. Off Fosseyway A429 2m SW of Northleach.
Stowell Park is open under the National Garden Scheme usually for two afternoons in June.
Click here for NGS 2015 details
New! Cotswolds Memoir is now available as an AudioBook in addition to Paperback and Kindle A portion of the proceeds of every copy of COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions.
Here (below) are my favourite five – all are included in the Travel Guide of my book COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: Discovering a Beautiful Region of Britain on a Quest to Buy a 17th Century Cottage. Now available on Amazon in Paperback, Kindle and NEW! Audio Book. www.DizWhite.com
Best COTSWOLD VIEW from a MANOR HOUSE
SNOWSHILL MANOR, Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12 7JU nationaltrust.org.uk
Gorgeous views across the Snowshill Lavender fields and surrounding rolling hills.
This National Trust property houses Charles Wade’s eclectic collection of craftsmanship from all over the world. Charming organic garden.
Best COTSWOLD VIEW from a COUNTRY INN
EDGEMOOR INN, Near Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6 6ND edgemoor-inn.com
Breath-taking views from the terrace as inn overlooks entire Painswick valley and is situated on the Cotswold Way. Great food and beer. Close to Haresfield Beacon.
Worth the climb up to the roof for unmatched views of the River Avon, the Castle grounds, the Mill Garden and surrounding countryside.
1,000 years of history. Well constructed tableaux. Great Hall. State Rooms. Jousting. Trebuchet. Great day out with the kids. PeacockGarden. Gives Disney a run for its money.
Best COTSWOLD VIEW from a HISTORIC SITE
BROADWAY TOWER, Middle Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LB broadwaytower.co.uk
Completed in 1798 this folly was built for Lady Coventry on a beacon hill. Spectacular views of more than a dozen counties. Over 17 metres high. Open to the public.
Best COTSWOLD VIEW from a NATIONAL TRUST SITE
HARESFIELD BEACON, 3 miles north west of Stroud (see website for directions) gloucestershire.gov.uk
National Trust site on the Cotswold escarpment with amazing 360 degree views, some reaching as far as Wales. Site of a Roman-British hill fort.
New! Cotswolds Memoir is now available as an AudioBook in addition to Paperback and Kindle
Click below to order
A portion of the proceeds of every copy of COTSWOLDS MEMOIR: is donated to Cotswold conservation institutions.
It is a joy to visit the many beautiful private gardens on the NGS tours which cannot be seen other that through the open days organized by them.
Filkins House’s gardens boasted glorious fruit tree blossoms and…….
This garden in Filkins featured a 200 year old apple tree which spread a mantle of delicate pink and white blossom on the lawn.
The Grade II listed 18th Century Broughton Poggs Mill covered in Wisteria.
For a list of open gardens throughout the summer visit National Garden Scheme’s website
Diz White 