An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

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The Cotswolds are designated ‘An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ - but with a bloody history of Civil War.


The English Civil Wars 1642-1645 and 1648-1649.


King Charles I - and the Royalists Wars lead to the trial and execution of Charles I, and replaced the English Monarchy with the Commonwealth of England, and later the Protectorate under the personal rule of Oliver Cromwell (Wolf Hall and Mirror and the Light - PBS).


The Cotswolds were of great strategic importance in the Civil War.  The King had his headquarters at Oxford and the Parliamentarians had their garrison at Gloucester and Bristol with Sympathizers at Malmesburg and Cirenrester.


The first battle of the Civil War was at the northern edge of the Cotswolds.


King Charles I took refuge at a 17th century coaching inn in Moreton-in-Marsh (where I will get off the train from London and get a bus up to Chipping Campden).


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