There are few places in England I enjoyed visiting more than the Cotswolds. The region is beautiful, with lush green rolling hills and charming towns and villages. Local Cotswold stone is used in much of the construction in the area, which I find adds to its appeal.
One of the towns we visited and spent several hours exploring on foot was Morton-in-Marsh. In case you're wondering, the name roughly means 'farmstead on moorland or marshy ground', as the town is low-lying. The area for centuries was largely agricultural, sheep raising being the main occupation. Textiles became important to the local economy a few centuries ago, and now tourism clearly dominates.
Moreton-in-Marsh has long been one of the main market towns in the north Cotswolds. Evidence of settlement in the area dates to the Bronze Age. The town has existed since Roman times because of its location on a busy highway. It was developed as a market town in the thirteenth century. There is still a busy Tuesday market, which we were not around to enjoy.
The high street has many elegant eighteenth-century inns, townhomes and houses. There are several pubs, inns, hotels, shops, and restaurants.
(Inns and restaurants in Moreton-in-Marsh)
Moreton-in-Marsh was a staging post on the London to Worcester coach road, accounting for the historic inns in the town. Later it became a train stop.
There was a small indoor craft market open on the cold rainy day we visited, which we explored and bought several small items to take with us as gifts.
I can't recommend a visit to this town over any of the others in the Cotswolds as I find them ALL worth seeing.
A few more scenes from Moreton-in-Marsh:
I was a little surprised to see this "Woodie" wagon cruise by on the road in Moreton-in-Marsh, but it seems a nice way to end this post.
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