D is on holiday this week and we wanted to have a trip out yesterday. But where to go? Initial thoughts were Little Moreton Hall or Witley Court but when I checked the websites I discovered Easter events were being held which meant they would probably be heaving with people so in the end we went to explore a rather picturesque village in South Warwickshire.
Welford on Avon is just over 4 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon located in a loop of the River Avon. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book but there was a settlement here long before that. It is now part of Warwickshire but up until 1931 it was in the county of Gloucestershire.
The village was very quiet (thankfully no hordes of tourists!) and we parked by a small village green opposite the Bell pub.
Welford is well known for its thatched, timber-framed cottages many dating back to the 17th century
The church of St Peter is the oldest building in the village and it was built on the site of an earlier 12th century church. It is believed that centuries ago the church tower was used as a landmark for travellers crossing the ford over the nearby River Avon.
Tenpenny Cottage which gets its name from the quarterly rent charged for tenants is one of the most photographed cottages in England.
Opposite is another lovely building called Owl Pen.
We followed a footpath to the banks of the River Avon.
Dandelions and daisies were flowering everywhere and it
was lovely to see a few cowslips on the grassland.
White Dead Nettle
This looked like a community orchard.
We arrived back at the church and I agreed with B and D that I would have a quick look round the interior while they carried on exploring the village and I would meet them in half an hour at The Bell for lunch.
Norman South Door
Annoyingly the church was well and truly locked!! I had done a bit of research beforehand which suggested it is usually open perhaps it was closed due to repairs that are being carried out?. I am not having much luck seeing inside churches at the moment (remember Adderbury!). What did I miss inside? I gather there is a 13th century font, fragments of 14th century glass in the chancel and a 15th century grave slab of a priest.
I should have got Timothy to pose next to this little teddy.
I decided to have a quick look round the churchyard
A lovely manor house over the road from the church.
Onto The Bell and lunch - the pub dates back to the 17th century and local legend suggests that William Shakespeare met Ben Jonson here for a drink and on the way home he was caught in a rain storm and contracted a dose of fatal pneumonia.
The lunch was very good - Fougasse bread with pesto, roasted red pepper and goat's cheese served with red onion marmalade and we shared a portion of chips.
After lunch we continued to explore the village.
This house was for sale - I checked the price when we got home and it is well above our budget!
The 20 metre tall may pole is one of the tallest in England.
Hawthorn is coming into flower.
The Shakespeare Inn dates to the late 18th century.
Chapel House and the Wesleyan Chapel established in 1801.
It was a really enjoyable day out and perhaps one day I will return to see inside the church.
*D Photos taken by D with the Canon SX50 HS bridge camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.
