Moreton-In-Marsh to The Slaughters

Moreton-In-Marsh is another fine example of a Cotswold market town. The main street is along the 'Fosse Way' - an old Roman Road that runs south to Cirencester & north to Lincoln.

Redesdale Market Hall

In the town centre you will see a building on an island. This is the Redesdale Market Hall.

Market day is still held in Moreton town centre every Tuesday, from which you can purchase locally grown vegetables and clothes.

LinkTo: Moreton-In-Marsh Tourist Information

As you pass through the town centre you will see a bell tower on the corner of Oxford Street.

The Tower was a curfew tower, built during the 16th Centuary. This bell was once used to summon the Moreton-In-Marsh fire brigade!

Continue along the Fosse Way (A429), passing the villages of Donnington and Broadwell, until you reach Stow-On-The-Wold.
Curfew Tower - Moreton-In-The-Marsh

Stow Cross

 

Stow is the highest town in the Cotswolds, lying at 700ft, and was granted Royal Charter in 1107. The town centre lies on a junction of six roads, hence the old Cotswold saying 'All roads lead to Stow'.

Stow was once a major coaching stop. Today it holds a twice yearly horse fair (May and October), although it once thrived as a market town for the sale of sheep.

 

In 1646, Stow was the venue for the last big battle of the first English Civil War; where the Royalists were defeated. Prisoners were locked in the church and the streets were said to be 'awash with blood'.

The Guinness Book of Records lists The Royalist Hotel in Stow as the oldest English Inn.

North Porch - Stow Church
LinkTo: Stow Tourist Information ...............................................LinkTo: Walks around Stow-on-the-Wold
Today, Stow is an antiques hunters paradise and has plenty of Hotels for those who wish to stay and explore the area. The tour continues out of Stow along the B4068, through the village of Lower Swell where we turn left towards Upper Slaughter.