Nigel's Photo Blog

  This afternoon, I am posting information on the popular Cotswolds market town of Chipping Norton. Chipping Norton has a population of about 6,000 persons. Here can be found a wide variety of shops ranging from supermarkets to craft outlets plus various hospitality venues such as pubs and hotels. The town lies 82 miles NW of London and benefits from good road access.The nearest railway station is Moreton-in-Marsh , some nine miles away. The locale has a history stretching back at least 2000 years. A Romano-British rural settlement dating from the 1st to 4th century AD has been found with evidence of possible Iron Age (750 BC-43 AD) origins.The site consists of the buried remains of rectilinear stone houses within walled enclosures with possible shrines, bathhouse and cemetery.Access via trackways or roads located to the east. The word 'Chipping' is derived from the Old English meaning 'a market' or 'market place'. This points to Anglo-Saxon origins in the firs...

  Introduction This evening, I am reporting on the Cotswold village of Long Compton (pop 900).  Information on Long Compton 'Compton' is a common place name meaning 'farmstead or village in a valley'. As is evident from the image above, the definition is apposite.The village probably has Anglo-Saxon origins from the first millennium.The affix 'long' refers to the length of the village. The village is focused on residential and farming activities.There is a village store and pub offering accommodation  Location offers easy access to such local towns at Shipston-on-Stour  6 miles north), Stratford upon Avon (17 miles North), Chipping Norton (5 miles south) and Moreton-in-Marsh   8 miles west.). Close by is the important prehistoric site known as the Rollright Stones.  Parish Church which dates to the 13th century Long Compton's famous Lych Gate which is not connected with the church behind and has origins as a cottage.   Here is a link to a day tour ...

This afternoon, I am reporting on Whichford Pottery in the English Cotswolds . Whichford is small village with a population of 336 persons.It is within range of such popular visitor sites as Shipston-on-Stour , Long Compton ,  Chipping Norton , Brailes , Banbury and Cherington . The strange juxtaposition of a cafe and restaurant seems to work well The cafe benefits from a good reputation in the local communities whilst the pottery products (mainly garden pots) are popular with garden owners for reasons set out in image no. 4 below. As illustrated by the images herein the facility is very colourful with ample products on display and the production area open to visitors.  Potter at work  Pottery products on display   Pottery products on display Commentary on pottery products  Work-in-progress  Colourful product presentation  Cafe with roof densely populated with solar panels. It is likely that the pottery kilns are major users of expensive electricity. ...

On April 10th I undertook a very pleasant 6 mile hike around a part of Warwickshire which was centred on the village of Brailes (pop 1100). Location is 11 miles west of Banbury which in turn is 80 miles NW of London. The weather was unusually favourable for the time of year with warm temperature, negligible wind and blue skies.  I followed a circular route obtained from the web which provided superb views, constant bird song, butterflies,various flowers in bloom, humming of bees, new born lambs, a single deer and a couple of horses. Start point of central Brailes    Ancient lane at start of walk Looking back on centre of Brailes. Looking back from hiking trail. Landscape view of Brailes View of nearby village of Sutton under Brailes Approaching Sutton under Brailes     Landscape View. Yellow flowers in some fields is Oil Seed Rape (Canola in USA). My target was hill summit 7 61 feet (232 m) high manifested in clump of trees in top right corner.  ...