Aug 31 Castle Combe and Bath
We started the day leaving our B&B in Windsor and heading for our first stop in the Cotswolds. The little village of Castle Combe, population about 350. Fun fact: no new houses have been built in Castle Combe since the 1600s. So I guess we should stop complaining at home that it takes a long time to go through the building process! This little Cotswold village is a picture-perfect spot, where we felt like we had stepped back in time to Downton Abby; parts of which were actually filmed here.
After we had walked around the village, we headed back to the car and continued our journey to Bath. We parked, got on a bus into town and asked the driver where to get off to be close to a few land marks. He looked blankly back and said it was his second day on the job and he had no idea! Yikes!!! Luckily a lovely young man said we could follow his lead as he was getting off one stop before us.
Well, I thought I was prepared to host a nice 3 mile walking tour through Bath for us and all I seemed to do was succeed in making all four of us rather confused. Street names are a gift when they happen and a curse when there are none! I suspect there are cameras focussed on every street corner that record the crazy antics of tourists trying to get themselves oriented. These recordings would surely provide hours of entertainment to the citizens of Bath.
To top off the adventure, the streets were packed as a rugby match was scheduled to start in an hour.,there were blue, black and white striped shirts everywhere! We just had to stop and watch for a minute from an elevated vantage. The sounds of cheering heralded our opportunity to visit Bath for a couple of hours while the masses were otherwise occupied.
We stopped and visited some landmarks before taking another try at our self guided tour. Bev visited the famous Roman Baths (built in 70 BC) from which the city got its name while Don and Chris and I visited Bath Abbey. Beverley was blown away by the Roman influence and historical information presented. Debbie was mesmerized by the organ and choir practice in the Abbey. Chris and Don were simply astounded to walk into the Abbey and see a queen size bed made up and on a pedestal at a prominent location in the church. It turns out that Romeo and Juliet was being performed this evening in the Abbey. Though I am curious about a bedroom scene in the church…
When we began our tour again, it went much better. While Debbie followed the map and announced the upcoming site or monument, Beverley provided the Regency-era history. She is an amazing wealth of information. We may have a future together in travel.
After the less than satisfying bus ride into town, we elected to cab back to our hotel: the Old Mill. It sits on the Avon River and there is a functioning water wheel. It is also adjacent to a stone bridge built in 1872 which is privately owned and has maintained a toll since its construction. The toll is collected by the troll at the toll house at the end of the bridge. Or perhaps it was just a scary looking dude!
Well, that’s it for today. Next stop is Wales. Wish us luck with the road signs, I understand they can be lengthy!
Castle Combe
There must have been smaller people when these buildings were constructed!
The new and the old! And I’m not referring to Chris😉
St. Andrew’s Church Castle Combe
This church a most welcoming inscriptions upon its door:
Oh God make the doorway of this church
wide enough to receive all who
need human love and fellowship,
narrow enough to shut out envy, pride and strife.
Make its threshold be smooth enough to be no
stumbling block to children or
barrier to the elderly or disabled.
Let its doors be open and inviting to all who enter here,
and its walls resound with the praise and worship
of your people.
Market Square Monument
Images from Bath
Bath Rugby 24-21 Munster Rugby
The Circus (circular street and buildings completed in 1768)
The Old Mill
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