Day 34 Tuesday May 13

 Went to Bristol today. One of our prior hosts of air bnb said it was a great place. Must admit it has most probably been our least favourite place so far! Perhaps we were just in the wrong part but it just felt like a big city - difficult to get in and out of! 

We did see the Mary Redcliffe  Church - another amazing church! Elizabeth 1 called it the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England. 

It contained St John’s Font. It is the only surviving remanent of the medieval church of St John Bedminster, one of the oldest in Bristol. It is from the 15th century. 

The chapel of John Wesley

We also visited John Wesley’s first chapel and dwelling house. It was built by John Wesley in 1739. It was acquired for the use of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church in 1808. It was then given to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1930. 

This is the stable where John Wesley could keep his horse. It is estimated that in his lifetime he rode about 250,000 miles - the equivalent of ten times around the world. 

This statue of him became so famous worldwide that a full size replica of it was erected in Washington DC.

Headed off to Bibury, a little town that has been described as Englands most beautiful! It’s about 1 hour north of Bath. A definitely very pretty place. Has a trout farm there. Wandered around the town, found the traditional Cotswold stone buildings called Arlington Row, thought to be one of the most photographed row of cottages in the country. We contributed to that thought!

Arlington Row

Originally built in the 14th century as a wool store, the row was later converted into weavers cottages in the 17th century. Wool was washed in the cottages and hung outside to dry on racks, giving the meadow its name - Rack Isle. There is no access to the isle to protect fragile habitat.

Cast of an Anglo-Saxon grave stone  (about AD 1000) found in the churchyard and now in the British Museum 

A lead light window

The church itself

The ceiling of the roof

Another grave stone found in the churchyard

Wandered over to St Mary the Virgin Church. Built around 11th century. Met a character there who had travelled to Australia in 2010 for the Ashes - the year they won all five! He couldn’t stop talking about it! Mind you we had to remind him that it was likely the last time they won them! 

Lovely canal running by the road, lots of wildlife. Had to pop down and feel the water, bit cold! 

Nearly in the river

The river

Some of the buildings in Bibury

Note the height of the door - same architect must have designed the attic room we are staying in- for very short people!

This tree looks like a person! A very scary person!

The river again

Buildings behind the church

A swan on the river

From here onto Cirencester- what another amazing village on the way back to Bath! It is considered to be the capital of the Cotswolds. Its rich history dates back to the Roman invasion of Britain in Ad43 continuing through Saxon and Medieval times to the 16th and 17th centuries. 

St John the Baptist Church

Saint Mary’s Abbey or what’s left of it! It was founded by Henry 1 in AD 1117, and consecrated in the presence of Henry 11 in AD 1176 and destroyed by order of Henry V111 in AD 1539!

The beautiful streets

The Roman Amphitheater - was an important part of the Roman town. It is one of the largest surviving examples from Roman Britain. It was built in the 2nd Century for the people of Corinium Dobunnorum (the Roman name for Cirencester) as a stadium for public sport and entertainment. 

The Cirencester Obelisk - thought to date back to the 18th century. The style points to the 1740’s.

Back to Bath and stopped in the city again to check out the Pulteney Bridge, built in 1769 - 74. It was gorgeous! Shops built on the bridge! 

The bridge and the river Avon below

The back view of the bridge

Another view of the bridge

Another back view

Looking down the river

Another view of the river Avon

The River Avon complete with white swans.

Off to see Stonehenge, Weymouth and Glastonbury tomorrow! Hard to believe that will be the end of our driving part of our holiday! Where have these four weeks gone?