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A b o u t t h e a r e a
Beyond the fact that we just can't help ourselves when it comes to historical fun facts (we as in Jenna), this information will help give guests an idea of what to expect from the surrounding Cotswolds towns, and hopefully lend the Americans a hand with their "proper" English pronunciations ;)
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Village Map
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Sudeley (Sew-de-lee) Castle dates back to the 10th century and housed many of those closest to the crown. It’s where Henry VIII stayed when he decided to dissolve the monasteries and where Queen Catherine Parr, his last and surviving wife, once lived and where she remains today, entombed in the 15th century chapel where we are set to marry (marking Sudeley as the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds)!
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The castle is now the home of Lady Ashcombe and her family. In the 1980's the family carried out a major refurbishment to the property in an attempt to strike a balance between a visitor attraction and what remains primarily a family home.
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Sudeley Castle
Winchcombe
Sudeley Castle is situated on the edge of a small, medieval village called Winchcombe (Winch-cumb). Beyond its quintessential Cotswolds' charm, Winchcombe is a foodie destination with dining options ranging from traditional pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants. It's also a walker's haven and one of only 100 towns in the UK to hold the "Walkers are Welcome" status. It's in a prime location to help you get the most out of the Cotswolds and is ideal for those looking for an authentic English countryside experience.
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It's also steeped in some fun history -
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The town dates back to Neolithic times, with evidence (pottery fragments) of people settling there dating back to 3000 BC.
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It was the birthplace of Christopher Merret who discovered how to add fizz to wine - something we're very grateful for ;)
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Winchcombe made recent history with the arrival of the Winchcombe Meteorite, one of the oldest meteorites to land on Earth and thought to date to the formation of our Solar System 4.6 billion years ago!
Cheltenham
The nearest city (~8 miles) to Winchcombe is Cheltenham (Chelt-Num) which is a large and lively spa town. Famous for its horse racing course in Pretsbury Park, Cheltenham has hosted racing since 1815 and now showcases some of the best jump racing in Britain. The city is also world-renowned for its regency architecture, and is regarded as 'the most complete Regency town in England' with over 2,500 buildings listed. This edge-of-the Cotswolds spa town is hard to beat for refined elegance and is perfect for those looking for an all-around destination - shopping, food, drink, arts, culture, nightlife - while surrounded by glorious countryside.
Traveler's Map
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