A Cotswold village
Bibury in Gloucestershire was described by William Morris (1834-96), the textile designer, artist, poet and craftsman, as "the most beautiful village in England". And, all these years on, it surely must still lay claim to that accolade.
Set in the Cotswolds region, this is Arlington Row in Bibury, a picture-perfect terrace of cottages built in 1380 as a monastic wool store. It was converted into a row of weavers' cottages in the 17th century, and today they are owned by the National Trust, who lease all but one to private tenants. Number 9 is available as a holiday rental.
Opposite the cottages (and in the foreground here) is a boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle, also owned and administered by the National Trust. And heading away from Arlington Row is Awkward Hill – nobody quite knows why it was so named, apart from the fact that it’s a steep climb!
All in all, Bibury is a picturesque and rewarding village to visit. But I can’t help thinking that to live here, among the hordes of tourists, must be a nightmare.
A Cotswold village
Bibury in Gloucestershire was described by William Morris (1834-96), the textile designer, artist, poet and craftsman, as "the most beautiful village in England". And, all these years on, it surely must still lay claim to that accolade.
Set in the Cotswolds region, this is Arlington Row in Bibury, a picture-perfect terrace of cottages built in 1380 as a monastic wool store. It was converted into a row of weavers' cottages in the 17th century, and today they are owned by the National Trust, who lease all but one to private tenants. Number 9 is available as a holiday rental.
Opposite the cottages (and in the foreground here) is a boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle, also owned and administered by the National Trust. And heading away from Arlington Row is Awkward Hill – nobody quite knows why it was so named, apart from the fact that it’s a steep climb!
All in all, Bibury is a picturesque and rewarding village to visit. But I can’t help thinking that to live here, among the hordes of tourists, must be a nightmare.