Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vineyard Street in Winchcombe leads down to the River Isbourne
SUDELEY CASTLE
The present Sudeley Castle dates from the 15th century, but this is a re-building by
Ralph Boteler of an earlier 12th-century castle. Boteler, who became lord chancellor
and was made Baron Sudeley, created a magnificent building, but he backed the
wrong side in the Wars of the Roses and his property was confiscated by Edward IV.
The castle eventually passed into the hands of Henry VIII, after whose death his wid-
ow, Katherine Parr, married Lord Seymour and came to live here. Shortly after giving
birth to a daughter, Mary, in 1548, Katherine died and was buried in a lead coffin in St
Mary's Chapel. Today the remains of the Elizabethan banqueting hall, the tithe barn,
Portmore Tower and St Mary's Chapel all survive and date from Boteler's time. The
castle and grounds are open to the public.
Walking up this drive the outer edge of Cleeve Common can be seen
above to the southwest. Pass a cricket pitch on the right, soon after which
the drive curves. Here you go through a kissing gate and walk up a slop-
ing meadow towards woodland, on the way gaining a splendid view left to
Sudeley Castle. At the head of the slope come onto a junction of lanes at
grid ref: 019263. Walk up the lane ahead (sign to Belas Knap) for a very
short distance to a signed path on the right opposite a lay-by. This lay-by
is about 400 metres from the site of
Wadfield Roman Villa
- not open to
the public.
The path rises through woods, and when you emerge from them, bear
left along the lower edge of another sloping meadow. On coming to a
corner turn right and walk up the slope, through a kissing gate at the
top and continue along the left-hand boundary of a hilltop field, alongside
