Often called the quintessential English region, the Cotswolds is a picturesque range of hills in southwestern and west-central England, roughly 25 miles across and 90 miles long. During Pure Adventures’ newest self-guided hybrid bike cycling tour every day has a highlight, from the discovery of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, to the romantic water gardens at Sezincote and the Brailes, an area mentioned in the Domesday Book. You will be cycling through many iconic areas of the Cotswolds and even a cycle through Stratford-upon-Avon is included, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.While the Cotswolds is famous for its designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, history buffs and clothing aficionados will appreciate the region’s deep roots in the textile industry. Read on to learn more about this unique part of Cotswold’s past.
Woolly Wonderland
If you lived in the Cotswolds in the 12th century, the saying ‘In Europe the best wool is English and in England the best wool is Cotswold’ is one you would have heard bandied about or perhaps even sung by local weavers. At the time, nearly 50% of England’s economy was due to the wool trade, chiefly located in the Cotswolds. Abbies and monasteries raised huge flocks of native sheep, renowned for their long fleece and hardy nature. At the height of the wool trade, nearly 150 mills produced this famous fabric and enormous wool churches – opulent churches built by wool merchants – were built across the region. Today, the Cotswolds still produces fine woolen items and wool museums throughout England celebrate the significance of the wool trade.
Success in Silk
Silk may not be the first English made textile that comes to mind, but as far back as the 1200’s, silk was produced at mills in the Cotswolds region. The mills in Broadway (one of the towns on our self-guided cycling tour) were highly productive until they closed in the mid 1800s. Silk-worm attracting white mulberry bushes were planted on the grounds of where current-day Buckingham Palace is located, but were removed when the gardens became a meeting place for who historians call “women of ill-repute”. When the wool industry began to decline in the village of Blockley during the 1800s, the silk industry continued to boom, with gloves being one of the most popular items produced. Today, the Cotswolds are still considered important silk producers.
Gloves Galore
Built in 1787, Broadway Tower is one of the highest viewpoints in the Cotswolds. Today it is primarily a tourist destination featuring historical exhibits or serving as a filming location for TV and movies, but hundreds of years ago, Broadway Tower housed a glove manufacturing facility. Broadway Tower is a must-see for photographers wanting to capture the picturesque landscape on film – see it on day 5 of Pure Adventures’ bicycling tour.
Textile Trail
With roots deep in the textile industry, museums and churches in the Cotswolds are rich with items crafted by local weavers. Some items have historical significance, like the hundreds year old collection of Stonefield embroidery at the Oxfordshire Museum, to the detailed and community-crafted kneelers at St Mary Magdalen Church. A self-guided walking trail of these collections has been designed by the local tourism council.
Famous Festivals
For years, artists and though with a love of fabrics and textiles flocked to the Stroud International Textiles Festival. Recently the group moved to hosting smaller exhibitions instead, celebrate contemporary work that includes all applied arts and honoring to traditional textile culture.The SIT events calendar lists upcoming workshops and exhibits.
Pure Adventures’ 7 nights Cotswolds self-guided cycling tour itinerary starts at USD$1298 per person and includes accommodations, daily breakfasts, luggage transfers, route maps and more. Contact us for more details or to book this Cotswolds self-guided cycling trip.