Winchcombe

The High Street, Hailes and Gloucester Street presently form the spine of this ancient town that can justly claim a thousand years of continuous occupation. At first sight Gloucester Street seems rather spartan and stark. It is a long curve of ancient cottages welded by time into a tight terrace of stone homes. Grapevines grow over the silvery gold walls. Stable doors are something of a tradition here. The frontages may seem quite bland, but each cottage holds secrets. Gothic doorways, massive timbers, gruesome gargoyles and mysterious carvings hide behind lace curtains. Inside, one may find cavernous Tudor fireplaces reappearing after long concealment. Newly rediscovered wells are sometimes revealed, and long lost wall paintings have been uncovered. There are still many more Winchcombe secrets to be found.

The town will not give itself to the passing motorist. It will not give itself to the tourist expecting a great architectural set-piece that can be inspected in fifteen minutes before speeding on to Stratford. Instant culture freaks will be disappointed. You must stop, look and linger. Take time to stroll down Vineyard Street to the Isbourne and cross the bridge into the grounds of Sudeley, then take the Old Brockhampton Road up into the glorious valley beyond the castle. Walk in the wood of Humblebee, the very woods that JRR Tolkien wandered before he created the magnificent "Lord of the Rings", if you look over your shoulder you may see Strider or even Gandalf himself. Search out Spoonley Villa, hiding in its dense wood, and sit in Roman rooms on mossy ways of fine, fallen masonry. Gently pull back grubby plastic sacks and you will find mosaics beneath your feet, if you listen you can hear the Romans whispering.

Kenelm

The Monk’s Tale of "Kingly" little St. Kenelm being butchered on the orders of his grasping sister has been shot full of academic holes. Dates and documents refuse to tie up! The little chap was more like 37 than 7. The monks of Winchcombe, with all the savvy of "The News of the World" news desk, realised that the savage murder of an innocent prince of seven would catch the imagination of the populace and draw in lots of pilgrims, hungry for miracles, with "dosh". Even now people stare at the stone coffins in St Peter’s with curiosity and take the story at face value.