The Tolsey House and Clock.

ost of the roads to Wotton make abrupt entrances from the countryside into the town. At the entry to Haw Street or Bradley Road look back to enjoy unbroken views of the Severn valley from the former and the majestic wooded curve of the Cotswold hills from the latter.

A walk through the town may conveniently begin at the Chipping, now a large car park and approached from Haw Street through Symn Lane. Only the upper part still retains a green, the rest having been surfaced after the Americans left at the end of World War II. The area is bordered on the south by a number of small, carefully maintained 18^th century houses, as well as the larger Well House, Chipping Manor and No.4 (formerly the Headmaster's House) to the west. On the opposite side is the National School Hall of 1837, used by the Blue Coat Church of England Primary School from 1974 to 2000. The Police station is in the N.E. corner and on the corner with Market Street in the old fire station is the Heritage Centre, which houses the Historical Society's collection and library and provides Tourist Information. It is a great resource for those interested in the history of the town and has about 6,000 visitors a year from near and far.

Market Street, looking towards the High Street and Tolsey Clock.

The Tabernacle, now antiques auction rooms.

Some of the shops in High Street and Long Street were once houses, many dating back to the late middle ages. Note the interesting skyline of gables, stone or slate roofs and other evidences of antiquity. In High Street, the most notable building is the 18^th century house now occupied by the National Westminster Bank, a good example of a stately town house. Long Street has many excellent shops, and some of its buildings are equally interesting. The most important, perhaps, is Berkeley House, a fine example of 17^th century traditional West Country stone building. It once contained a room decorated with Chinese wallpaper of 1740-60 which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The building now occupied by Lloyd's Bank is also a dignified stone structure, dating from the 18^th century; it was once the New Inn and the starting point for coaches to Cirencester. On the opposite side of the road, towards the bottom of Long Street, Church House, which existed in 1476, shows its age only in a large corner stone at first floor level, while Carlton House, facing Church Street, possesses a fine Jacobean staircase.

The Coffee House.   Photo: Gloucestershire County Council Environment Department

A Tudor House in Market Street.   Photo: George Way

From the War Memorial also, the Culverhay is a short, narrow road leading past the Parish Church to Coombe and out over the hills to Stroud and Tetbury. Close to the church lies the Court, a large dignified house with a classical porch, built early in the 18^th century. Now an old people's home, it once served as the Vicarage, but this now lies off the churchyard and is an 18^th century three storeyed house with some good original details.

The Rowland Hill Almshouses, Tabernacle Pitch.

Instead of returning to the War Memorial the same way, walk through the churchyard and out through the gate into the Cloud, passing Church Lodge on the right and the row of Victoria Cottages to the left. The Cloud comes out into Potter's Pond (the pond does not survive) which has several interesting buildings, including the Ram Inn, the oldest house in Wotton (it existed in 1350). It was church property (it is suggested that the builders of the parish church were housed there during construction work) and for a time a Priest's house before becoming a public house until 1968. Recently there have been claims of ghostly appearances which have attracted much attention. Further on is Moore Hall, a substantial 18^th century house. A footpath leads north along the east bank of the stream, the first part being the Marchesi Walk, maintained by the Town Council; the path continues to Tyley Bottom.

The War Memorial, looking towards the church.   Photo: George Way

A diversion from Long Street, through Clarence Road to Brown's Piece leads to a point where there is a fine view of old Wotton and the Parish Church, which emphasises the aptness of the town's name. Turn up Symn Lane and then right into Orchard Street, which contains Sir Isaac Pitman's house and leads back to Long Street. The Rope Walk, a narrow alley just beyond the DIY shop leads past the old Baptist Chapel back to the starting point at the Chipping.