Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
having been visited on Section 7, now 10 miles (16km) distant as the crow
flies, but no less than 18 miles (29km) along the Cotswold Way.
TYNDALE MONUMENT
The Tyndale Monument on Nibley Knoll is a prominent and impressive landmark that
can be seen from a huge distance. Standing 111 ft (34m) high, it was designed by S.
S. Teulon, and erected in 1866 in memory of William Tyndale who translated the Bible
into English. While a plaque here suggests he was born at North Nibley, there is no
firm evidence to substantiate this claim. Apparently a Tyndale did live nearby at about
the right time, but he was not even related to the William Tyndale who was born in
1484 and martyred in Flanders on 6 October 1536.
From the monument bear left along the scarp edge (more fine views) to
find the entrance to Westridge Wood. Inside the wood there are numerous
crossing tracks and side paths, but at each junction CW waymarks guide
you. On the route through you pass the site of
Brackenbury Ditches
just
to the right.
The path leaves the wood but then continues alongside it, following the
right-hand boundary of a large field. At the far corner a kissing gate takes
the path into a small promontory meadow (Wotton Hill) marked by a clump
of commemorative trees set within a circular wall. This is known as the
Jubilee Plantation
, and from it there are very fine views overlooking
Wotton-under-Edge.
BRACKENBURY DITCHES
Brackenbury Ditches is the name given to another Iron Age hill fort, rather overgrown
with trees, but not entirely hidden. The outer defensive ditch has been cleared, but
presumably because of the dense woodland cover within, the site has never been ex-
cavated. Nearby, at a junction of paths in Westridge Wood, the outlawed practice of
cock-fighting used to take place.
JUBILEE PLANTATION
The Jubilee Plantation on Wotton Hill was planted initially to celebrate the victory
against Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, but in order to mark the end of the Crimean
War the trees were felled for a bonfire. The circular wall was erected and more trees
planted in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. Yet more planting took
place in 1952.
