WARWICKSHIRE

 

BROOM

WARWICK CASTLE

WROXALL ABBEY

BROOM

Actually, although mostly old, it's not that remarkable a place. However, it's a convenient place to stay, being equidistant from both Stratford-upon-Avon and the glorious Cotswolds.
Ah, but on the edge of Bidford, within easy walking distance of the town centre, I found a lovely pub to stay in.
Broom Hall Inn is a sixteenth century inn, and very attractive.
The large tree in the car park, is a holm oak

WARWICK CASTLE

The history stretches back almost 1,100 years. In 914AD Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, ordered the building of a 'burh' or an earthen rampart to protect the small hill top settlement of Warwick from Danish invaders.

William I ordered a wooden motte and bailey fortress to be built on the same site. This led to the building of a magnificent stone fortress in the 1480s.
It is now owned by the Tussauds Group, and is constantly being voted as England's Best Historic Attraction - a title it richly deserves.

These are pre-digital pictures. I really need to go back and have a good look round. Without having the pictures to show, it's pointless going into the rich trappings of history that marked Warwick Castle and its' owners as a vital part of British History through the centuries

WROXALL ABBEY

Now, this isn't a visitor's attraction, it's a hotel. However, it does have a good history behind it.
Once the country seat of Sir Christopher Wren, Wroxall boasts a magnificent collection of listed buildings and private grounds. The House itself, is beautiful. The stables and coach house have been sympathetically turned into further accommodation for the hotel. In the grounds, are a private chapel, and the ruins of Wroxall Abbey itself.
I had the pleasure of staying here a couple of times on business, and the hotel lived up to my expectation of how a country house hotel should be.
And it has a one-eyed cat called Nelson!

(below) the tower of the 14th. century church, which was altered by Christopher Wren.

The ruins of Wroxall Priory in the grounds of Wroxall Abbey. When Christopher Wren came here, he designed the gardens to enhance what was left of the priory.