• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

21 October 2020 · 3 Comments

A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds

Destinations· England

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds has always been a destination for travelers visiting the Cotswolds. It is said that at one point, each of the buildings surrounding Stow-on-the-Wold’s Market Square was either an inn or restaurant.

This legacy continues today in the town with multiple inns, cafes, restaurants, and shops catering to locals and tourists alike. This guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds examines the fascinating history of Stow-on-the-Wold as well as things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold and places to eat and stay.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.

lord of the rings door ancient yew tree door stow on the wold st edwards church cotswolds england

History of Stow-on-the-Wold

Why is it called Stow-on-the-Wold?

Stow-on-the-Wold was originally known as Edwardstow, after the town’s patron, Saint Edward. When Henry II granted the town a charter in 1107, he changed the name to Stow-on-the-Wold. Stow comes from the Old English word of the same spelling meaning place or locality. Wold comes from the Old English wald meaning forest. The name originally applied to high forest land but the meaning likely shifted to mean “open high ground” as the forested areas were cleared for settlement.

At 790 feet above sea level, Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest town in the Cotswolds, really embracing the “wold” part of its name. In fact, an 18th-century rhyme even describes the cold wind and cooler weather that resulted from the town’s higher altitude:

Stowe-on-the-Wold, Where the wind blows cold.
Where horses young and old are sold, Where farmers come to spend their gold.
Where men are fools and women are bold and many a wicked tale is told.
High on the freezing Cotswold.

The origins of Stow-on-the-Wold

Like many Cotswold villages, humans have settled in what is now Stow-on-the-Wold since the Bronze Age. Archaeologists have discovered the remnants of Bronze Age fort fortifications on top of a hill northeast of Stow-on-the-Wold known as Stow Camp. The shape, size, and location of the monument suggest it would have continued into what is now Stow-on-the-Wold. Learn more about the Bronze Age Stow Camp from Historic England.

The Romans destroyed Stow Camp when they were building their new highway, Fosse Way. Coming from the Latin word fossa, meaning ditch, this highway links Exeter to Lincoln. When you drive into Stow-on-the-Wold, you’ll likely drive on the modern version of this ancient Roman road. Today, just as in the past, the town sits at the junction of six major roads, including Fosse Way, making it an important town for trade and travel.

the organic shop in stow on the wold cotswolds

In 1107, Henry II granted Stow-on-the-Wold a charter. From that year until around 1900, Stow hosted a market every Thursday in its large Market Square. This 800-year tradition is somewhat carried on in the monthly farmers market that occurs in the town on the second Thursday of every month.

See also  Life in NYC: UNGA Edition

Stow Fair

In 1330, Edward III granted the town permission to hold an annual 7-day fair each August in its Market Square. Thanks to its strategic location, Stow Fair became the largest in the country, attracting people from neighboring villages and abroad.

During the time of the booming Cotswolds wool industry, Stow Fair saw the sale and trade of thousands of sheep. In fact, writer Defoe recorded that as many as 20,000 sheep were sold on a single day during the height of the Cotswold wool industry. The alleyways (or tures) around the Market Square were constructed purposefully to be narrow and winding to herd sheep into the Square.

In 1476, Edward IV changed Stow Fair into two 5-day fairs in May and October. Located in Market Square, both fairs occurred the weeks of May 12, the feast day of Saints Philip and James, and October 24, the feast day of Saint Edward the Confessor.

After the decline of the wool trade, people began to trade horses. Today, this tradition continues around the same dates of the 15th-century Stow Fair in May and October as the Gypsy Horse Fair, held in a large field closer to the village of Maugersbury.

Massacre in Stow-on-the-Wold

exterior of st edwards church in stow on the wold england
St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold

In 1646, Stow-on-the-Wold was the site of a bloody massacre during the last battle of the English Civil War, the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold. A Royalist army under the command of Sir Jacob Astley marched through the region in an attempt to meet up with King Charles in Oxford. Parliamentary forces stopped their advance and forced over 1,000 Royalists to Stow-on-the-Wold where they were slaughtered or imprisoned in St. Edward’s Church. The street leading from the Market Square became Digbeth Street, meaning “Duck’s Bath” because there was so much blood running through the street that ducks could bathe in it.

Things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold

St. Edward’s Church

lord of the rings door yew tree door st edwards church stow on the wold cotswolds england

While a church on this site existed as early as 986 AD, and possibly as early as 708 AD, the current building dates to the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Perhaps most famous is the arched north door, framed by two ancient yew trees, that is said to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s Doors of Durin in Lord of the Rings. Learn more about St. Edward’s Church.

While Tolkien did visit the Cotswolds several times, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest this beautiful doorway is the real inspiration to the Doors of Durin in his series. However, the door framed by the ancient yew trees does look as if it will transport you to another realm should you open it. Learn more about what places in the Cotswolds inspired Tolkien.

See also  Visiting Tintern Abbey: The Enchanting 13th-Century Monastic Ruins in Wales

The Porch House (Royalist Hotel)

Situated on Digbeth Street, this building is supposedly the oldest inn in England, with parts of the building dating back as far as 947 AD. The medieval fireplace in the lounge even has “witch’s marks,” carvings meant to ward off spells.

Aethelmaer, Duke of Cornwall, ordered the construction of the original Saxon timber-framed building in 947 AD on land belonging to Evesham Abbey. It originally served as a hospice to shelter lepers. Because the building belonged to an abbey, records of it were lost in 1537 during the abbey’s dissolution, so it is unclear what purpose(s) the building served after its time as a hospice and until the 16th century when a stone house incorporating the original Saxon stone building was built. The building has since served as a private home, various inns, and also as two private homes. It was converted into a hotel in 1970.

Interestingly, a former resident of the building found a shoe dating to the early 1600s in a hidden cupboard above a fireplace—shoes at the time were put in chimneys to ward off evil spirits. In addition, people have discovered several passages in the cellar, probably used for storage. One leads in the direction of Maugersbury and another leads toward St. Edward’s Church.

The Market Square

stow on the wold buildings surrounding the market square

The large Market Square, situated at the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold, testifies to its historical importance as a large market town. Today, it is encircled by townhomes, independent shops, teahouses, cafes, inns, and antique shops. Be sure to spot the medieval market cross and the historic village stocks.

Shopping in Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is filled with independent shops. While we didn’t have any spare money when we visited, we enjoyed window shopping around Market Square. For further shopping, head to Church Street. Stow-on-the-Wold is a major antique hub in southern England and many of the antique shops are on this street.

The Kings Arms

stow on the wold cotswolds england

This 500-year-old former coaching inn hosted King Charles I just before the Battle of Naseby in 1645. It has also seen the likes of James Corden and the hosts of Top Gear. The Kings Arms was used as a filming location in the BBC adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s “Mayor of Casterbridge.”

Where to eat in Stow-on-the-Wold

As one of the larger towns in the Cotswolds, there’s no shortage of places to eat in Stow-on-the-Wold. Whether you’re just popping through the town to visit the iconic St. Edward’s Church or spending your weekend relaxing in the Cotswolds, you’ll have plenty to choose from when it comes to delicious food to eat.

See also  Visiting Sudeley Castle: A Castle Hidden in the Heart of the Cotswolds

Pubs and restaurants include:

  • The King’s Arms
  • The Porch House
  • The Bell at Stow
  • The Old Stocks Inn
  • Queens Head Inn
  • The Hive
  • The Old Butchers

Tearooms and coffee shops include:

  • Lucy’s Tearoom
  • New England Coffee House
  • The Old Bakery Tea Room
  • Le Patissier Anglais

Getting to Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is centrally located in the Cotswolds, making it the perfect place in which to base yourself for a weekend in the Cotswolds. It is about four miles from the nearest railway station in Moreton-in-Marsh and five miles from Kingham railway station. Both stations are on the Cotswold line from Hereford to London Paddington, making it one of the Cotswold villages more easily accessible without a car.

At a crossroads of major roads in the Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold is also very easy to reach by car. It is four miles from Bourton-on-the-Water and three miles from Lower Slaughter.

Limited parking is available in the town, but I suggest parking in the free visitor parking by the Tesco on Fosse Way, about a 5-minute walk from the Market Square, especially if you visit Stow-on-the-Wold during the busier months.

Where to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold

exterior wyck hill house hotel in the cotswolds england
Wyck Hill House Hotel

As one of the larger Cotswold towns and one with a history of hospitality, you’ll find plenty of places to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold. We opted to stay at Wyck Hill House Hotel, a lovely hotel about a 6-minute drive from Stow-on-the-Wold. If you’d like to base yourself in Stow-on-the-Wold, I recommend staying in either The Porch House or The Kings Arms.

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. simoon tempest says

    4 January 2021 at 19:11

    I live close to “Dunny on the Wold”. (Southwold/Dunwich) It is a magical place too . . . . .

    Reply
    • almathews says

      5 January 2021 at 09:45

      I will add Southwold/Dunwich to my travel list!

      Reply
  2. Bea Adventurous says

    12 October 2022 at 19:10

    You’ve really shown why this is a must visit place when in The Cotswolds!

    It’s such a gorgeous spot, full of things to see and explore!
    I love how you’ve included how to get there and where to stay!
    Love this!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in 1376, it is one of the oldest in the Low Countries and has been used as the seat of the city government for over 600 years. 🤓
Inside City Hall is the beautiful gothic hall. It was remodeled in the 19th century and decorated with beautiful murals and woodwork from floor to ceiling. The ceiling dates from 1385. The murals were painted in the 19th century and depict different people from Belgian history, including Jan Van Eyck, Brueghel, Rubens, and more. 😍 #lifewellwandered
If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spir If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spiral staircase, then consider visiting the Belfry in Bruges. From the top, you'll see just how beautiful Bruges is, with its winding streets and orange rooftops. 😍
Dating back to the 13th century, the Belfry is the most important tower in Bruges. At over 83 meters (272 feet) tall, it was an important status symbol in the Middle Ages. It formerly housed the treasury and city archives, as well as a market for the town. 🏰
At the top of the tower, you'll find a carillon—47 bells playable by hand with a keyboard—with bells ranging in weight from two pounds to 11,000 pounds. Historically, the bells were used not only to mark the passage of time but also to alert residents of fires, work hours, or important events. Today, if you visit at the top of the hour, you'll get to experience the ringing of the bells. 🛎 #lifewellwandered
In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around E In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around Europe to date. We had about 5 weeks off (during which we were supposed to be revising for exams) so my friend and I took the opportunity to see as much of Europe as possible while also getting to know each stop as well as possible. A hard balance to strike, but we did the best we could! 🇪🇺
Our first stop was Bruges. We visited on the day of a solar eclipse, but it was already cloudy and foggy so the lack of sunlight wasn’t noticed. We spent our day in Bruges wandering around the streets and eating waffles - not a bad start to a trip around Europe that would be characterized by eating and wandering! 🍽 #lifewellwandered
The last stop on my series of day trips around Eng The last stop on my series of day trips around England was Windsor. I had been close to Windsor once before but had yet to visit Windsor Castle or the town. Windsor Castle was overwhelming. 🏰
It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror and the home of 39 monarchs. We spent hours walking around the various wings and exhibits, trying to absorb everything we could. Have you visited Windsor Castle before? 👑 #lifewellwandered
Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As a Roman history nerd, Bath was on my to-visit list for ages and I spent my entire visit to the baths geeking out over all of the artifacts and ruins. 🤓
For thousands of years, 240,000 gallons of 115ºF water has risen into this spring, known as the Sacred Spring, daily. In Roman times, this phenomenon was believed to be the work of the Gods, so Romans built a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers, around the spring. Water from it feeds the Roman baths. 🛁 #lifewellwandered
Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbe Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbey since 757AD. There was first an Anglo-Saxon monastery, then a massive Norman cathedral (the foundations of which can be seen underground in one part of the Abbey) and then the present abbey church from the 1600s. ⛪️
The first King of England, King Edgar, was crowned here in 973 - his coronation set the precedent for the current coronation ceremony of all kings and queens of England. 👑 #lifewellwandered
I visited Winchester on what felt like the first w I visited Winchester on what felt like the first warm, sunny day in months. When you live in a place without regular sun, you always take advantage of beautiful days. Winchester made the perfect destination for a beautiful day spent walking around and exploring. 🤗
Winchester’s High Street is built along the original Roman street that led through the town. Today, it has buildings dating from the 16th century. The clock was presented after a visit from Queen Anne in 1713. 🕑 #lifewellwandered
Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Round Table. Did you know that the Round Table of King Arthur can be found in the Great Hall in Winchester? ⚔️
While this table was created around 1290, well after the death of King Arthur and his knights, it’s still impressive to visit. Weighing over one ton, it is thought to portray King Arthur on his throne surrounded by 24 places for his knights. King Henry VIII added a Tudor Rose during his reign. Swipe for a closer look at the table! 🤓 #lifewellwandered
In another edition of always visit the cathedral i In another edition of always visit the cathedral in the town you visit, I bring you Winchester Cathedral. One of the reasons why I chose to visit Winchester of all places was its connection to Jane Austen. Jane Austen spent the last weeks of her life in a house in Winchester and was laid to rest in its cathedral in 1817. ⛪️
Have you ever traveled somewhere because of a favorite author? 🤓 #lifewellwandered
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316