Oh to live in the 1600's ! That's where Castle Combe, up in the Cotswolds, took us! It is touted by alot of people as being the most beautiful village in England. We took a jaunt up there on our pday and had a jolley ol' time!
They have not allowed any new buildings to be constructed since about 1600. They are not allowed to have any "wiring" like phone or electricity lines or satellite dishes showing on the exterior of any of the buildings, thus why a handful of movies have been filmed here, most recently War Horse. The 1967 tv show Dr. Dolittle was filmed here, but it was too rainy, so they took it back to LA & recreated the village for the rest of the production.
There was a 12th century castle here at one point, but nothing remains of it today, so the village basicaly consists of 2 small, blissful streets that are often full of tourists.
That is the Market Cross is the background, the pointed pavillion type building.
Tony nailed our overnight accomodations at the Castle Inn. Our room was the top floor, corner room, covered in red ivy with the the 3 windows overlooking Market Cross and Water Street.
Castle Combe has a Market Cross (think like a village center) where the villagers would bring their sheep and wool cloth to be sold. The wool industry started to leave Castle Combe around the 1700's.
one of 2 the main streets in the village, called Water Street
The 2021 census listed the population of Castle Combe at 356. There seemed to be 2 'offical' hotels and 2-3 restaurants, but I'm sure there are plenty of air bnb's for rent as well.
view of St Andrews Church from the Castle Inn restaurant
our sweet "suite" overlooking the town square
looing down Water Street from our window
Market Cross out our window
Water Street again.
Water Street..... again
Looking 'up' Water Street
the famous "instagramable"shot everyone needs to get when visiting Castle Combe
looking up Water Street to Market Cross
the second street in Castle Combe- can't find what it is called
The yellow house, the Dower House, was featured in Dr. Doolittle and was built around 1700
This (below) is called the Manor House, its a 17th century manor that now functions as a luxury hotel and golf club. It also hosts a Michelin 4 star rated restaurant.
This sequoia tree on the Manor House Property, is estimated to be about 600 yrs old.
We were also able to tour the village of Lacock that is just up the street from Castle Combe. Lacock is touted as the birthplace of modern photography as the first, ever, photogaphic negative was taken in the abbey by Fox Talbot in 1835.
Lacock village is also featured in the shows Downton Abbey, Pride & Prejudice and Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince.
past thru Tiddleywink to get to Lacock - haha - all 5 houses of it!
village street of Lacock
entrance to the Abbey/Estate
a 600 yr old door !
Lacock Abbey started in 1232 as a nunnery cloister and then became a tudor home in the 1500's. In 1714 the Talbot family bought it and transformed it even more. In 1944 the last Talbot, Matilda, gave the estate to the care of the National Trust.
On to MISSIONARY NEWS !!
We were able to participate in a Stake Youth Fireside for the Bristol Stake. Our Stake center is about 1.5 hours away, up north in Bristol. So they had all the missionaries in the Bristol stake come and do some activities for the youth prior to their Fireside. So our little Taunton District was assigned to come up with an activity to help the youth learn "unity as a future missionary". So we got all the ingredients to make PB & J sandwiches, we then paired the kids into "companionships" and together, they were to instruct us step by step in making a pb&J. We the missionaries were to act like we had never made one before and to follow their instructions exactly, no matter what they said. They then had to relate how working together to "teach" something related to being a missionary. We think the kids had a great time!
We continue to help our 2 closest elders teach lessons, and had a lesson this week where we were teaching our "friend" about tithing, fasting and fast offerings. She already has a christian backgound and had been taught the principles of fasting and tithing by her mom! She has been giving "tithing" to random churches and to other needs back at home in Nigeria, so she asked us if she could start paying her tithing to our church and asked "why do I have to wait until I'm baptised to pay you my tithing?!" We don't even have a baptism date for her yet ! haha - the elders were so pumped walking out of that lesson!
We also came up with the idea to do "Sweets for a Scripture" at a beautiful park here in Taunton. So we meet up with the elders and spent 2 cold hours giving "sweets' (that is what candy is called over here) to as many people as would let us, followed by a scripture !
We have been challenged as a mission to have 20 baptisms for each of the months of Oct, Nov AND December! That may not sound like a lot to many of you, but for some reason, in this part of the world, missionary work is hard. Many of the people who are on date to get baptized are not even native Englanders, but are from other countries. 20 is a lofty goal and we are trying to find creative ways to get people to engage with us and look for ways that the members can be engaged in helping us get members to return or find friends who may be interested.
Lastly - I was challenged by the young Sisters in our Zone to drive the car- because some of them are going to have to drive, so I should be the example ! So I waited for a really "calm" day out there on the streets and I drove to our little grocery store just 5 minutes away ! I think it may have had only 1 roud about...... Hahaha - Tony was shaking in his seat the whole time ! I thought I did pretty good and it wasn't as strange as I thought it would be !
Cheers until next time!
Love your updates and these pictures just look dreamy! I love the little English towns!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I feel like, well, I know we have just scratched the surface of so many villages to see!
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