• 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

23 September 2020 · Leave a Comment

Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide

Destinations· England

Share this post:

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

Upper Slaughter was one of my favorite villages in the Cotswolds. Even smaller than its tiny neighbor, Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter is a delight to any visitor. Despite its minuscule size, the village has plenty to offer visitors who love quaint villages and places steeped in history. This guide provides a history of Upper Slaughter as well as all the places of interest in the village.

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

Why is it called Upper Slaughter?

First off, why does a village in England have such a sinister-sounding name? Upper Slaughter is named not named after anything ominous; it actually derives from the Old English word “slough” meaning “wet land” or “muddy place. The “upper” bit was added to differentiate the village from its nearby neighbor, Lower Slaughter.

History of Upper Slaughter

Archaeologists have discovered Roman burials on Copse Hill in Upper Slaughter, suggesting a Roman presence at the site of the modern village. No presence of a subsequent settlement is recorded until the Domesday Book of 1086.

home in upper slaughter cotswolds

Besides dating back to the Roman times, the village also took part in important historical events, particularly surrounding the two world wars.

Between January and May 1944, the German Luftwaffe carried out a strategic bombing campaign across southern England called Operation Steinbock. It was nicknamed the ‘Baby Blitz’ as this campaign was much smaller than the Blitz, which occurred in 1940-1941. In February, German bombers strayed from their London targets and Upper Slaughter received 2,000 incendiary hits. While some property was damaged, no lives were lost.

Upper Slaughter is one of 14 villages in England and Wales that is considered Doubly Thankful – meaning that it lost no servicemen during World War I and World War II. Given there are tens of thousands of villages in England and Wales, it shows just how devastating the loss of life was in both wars.

Things to do in Upper Slaughter

Upper Slaughter offers many attractions for its small size. Most everything can be seen on a stroll around the village and with this guide to Upper Slaughter, you’ll know more about the fascinating histories behind important parts of the village.

Church of St. Peter

st peters church upper slaughter exterior

The Church of St. Peter dates to the 12th century and much of the building dates to that period. Fortunately, during extensive restoration in 1877, restorers used most of the medieval stonework. If it is open to visitors (it wasn’t when we visited), be sure to look out for the Tudor brass memorials to the Slaughter family, the 12th-century carvings on the tower, and the 17th-century memorials. Even if you don’t enter the church, be sure to approach it through the churchyard – you’ll feel as if you’re entering a different world.

See also  The BEST Christmas Decorations in NYC

Edwin Lutyens Almshouses

Famed architect Edwin Lutyens redesigned the cottages in the main square of Upper Slaughter in 1906. The village has not seen any new construction since that year.

Notably, Lutyens designed and built much of New Delhi, India, as well as several World War I memorials, and Castle Drogo, the last castle to be built in England (1911-1930).

home farmhouse upper slaughter

Castle Mound

Located next to the River Eye, Upper Slaughter Castle remains shrouded in mystery. Known as Castle Mound today, no one is exactly sure why this castle originated. One theory is that it was built by Roger de Lacy when he owned Upper Slaughter Manor. The likelier theory is that it was built for use as a local defense by supporters of Empress Matilda during the Anarchy, the period of civil war between King Stephen and Matilda that occurred between 1139-1153. No one knows when it was destroyed, but pottery findings date to the 12th and 13th centuries at the latest.

The castle is on private property today, but you can see it from the road. The ruins are of the Norman motte and bailey. For those who aren’t versed in castle vocabulary, a motte was an artificial mound on which castle buildings were built. A bailey was a fortified enclosure around the motte.

Upper Slaughter Manor

Like many historic sites in the area, Upper Slaughter Manor dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086. Roger de Lacy, a powerful Norman nobleman owned it at that time. By 1282, the Slaughter family came into possession of the house, though it seems that they took their surname from the name of the manor and not the other way around.

The house today dates back to the Tudor period, but the crypt was built in the 14th century, when the estate may have been a monastery. The house and property saw periods of decay from the 18th-19th centuries until it became a family home once more in the 20th century. Today, the home is open a few weeks each year for tours of the home and gardens. The Historic Homes website has opening information for Upper Slaughter Manor.

The Old Schoolhouse

Today just a normal house, the old schoolhouse dates to 1848. Located adjacent to the church. It still has the original school bell. This pdf from when the home was last for sale has pictures of the beautiful interior if you’re curious about what the inside of a Cotswold home looks like.

See also  10 Days in Scotland: Your Perfect Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

The Ford

Being American, I was surprised to learn about fords on my trip to the Cotswolds. Essentially, they are roads that run through shallow streams. Pedestrians cross using the historic footbridge adjacent to the ford and cars can drive through the stream of the River Eye.

There is an alternative route through Upper Slaughter that does not involve crossing the ford. If you are driving, you might want to avoid the ford as cars can get stuck going across. To avoid any potential towing fees, as well as disruption to the peaceful village, consider taking the alternative route. We avoided all fords on our trip through the Cotswolds as our car was very low to the ground and heavy rains had caused flooding and additional water in the fords and we didn’t want to risk getting stuck.

Eyford House

Located about 2 miles from the center of Upper Slaughter, Eyford house is best known for hosting John Milton and possibly inspiring him to write Paradise Lost. Country Life Magazine also named it England’s favorite house in 2011.

The house was designed by architect Guy Dawber in the late 17th century. It is a private residence but sometimes opens for a few weeks every year for visitors to experience the beautiful home and gardens.

wooded path between upper and lower slaughter

Walk to Lower Slaughter

You can’t visit Upper Slaughter without also visiting Lower Slaughter. Whether you choose to walk on the side of the road (as we had to do because of the several-inches-thick-mud on trails) or walk on the trail between the villages, the walk is easy and relatively quick. If you’re arriving at the Slaughters from Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold, it’s easier to park in Lower Slaughter and walk from there.

homes in upper slaughter in the cotswolds

Where to stay in Upper Slaughter

Lords of the Manor: While some sources I referred to listed Upper Slaughter Manor and Lords of the Manor as one and the same, this is in fact false. Lords of the Manor and Upper Slaughter Manor did form part of the same estate until 1852. Today, Upper Slaughter Manor remains a private home, while Lords of the Manor has been converted to a luxury hotel.

Lords of the Manor was also owned by the Slaughter family who began construction on it in 1649. It passed down family lines throughout the centuries, eventually landing in the Witts family, who saw it through the two World Wars. During World War II, the Army occupied the property. Lords of the Manor was converted into a hotel in 1972. Today, guests have access to beautiful gardens, luxurious rooms, and two restaurants. View availability and prices >

See also  Walking Around The Quiraing On The Isle of Skye

Jasmine Cottage: Jasmine Cottage is a mid-19th century 3-bedroom self-catered home located in the heart of the village. View availability and prices >

Getting to Upper Slaughter – What’s nearby

If you’re visiting Upper Slaughter alongside Lower Slaughter, the easiest way to reach the former is to park in Lower Slaughter and walk. The village is also a short drive from Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Moreton-in-Marsh.

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « 19+ Things to See in Winchester, England if You Love History
Next Post: Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury »

Reader Interactions

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