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The charming
town of Wotton-under-Edge lies well above the River
Severn in a coombe cutting into the western edge of the Cotswolds.
Set just below the edge of the escarpment the town is sheltered
from the north wind.
The ancient
town once produced wool and silk and at one time 13 textile
mills operated in the area. In the reign of King John the
town was burnt to the ground when the King's mercenaires devastated
the lands of the Berkeleys.
The beautiful
church of St Mary, conscrated in 1283, post-dates the fire.
Largly built in the 13th and 14th century, the church has
a splendid Perpendicular tower. Its fine organ was built
by Kit Schreider for King George I. Originally given to St
Martin in the Fields in London, where it was played by Handel,
the organ was purchased by a former vicar of Wotton and transported
here in the 19th century.
Wotton-under-Edge
has many buildings of historical and architectural interest
including three groups of almshouses, Tolsey House and Jubilee
Clock.
Just
to the east of the town stands the National Trust's 700 acre
property Newark Park and at nearby Charfield is the delightful
Urn Cottage Garden.
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Wotton-under-Edge
Newark
Park Ozleworth,
Wotton-under-Edge , GL12 7PZ , 1.5 miles east of Wotton-under-Edge,
1.75 miles south of junction of A4135 and B4058, follow signs
to Ozleworth, an atmospheric property in 700 acres of countryside.
In around 1550 Sir Nicholas Poyntz built a hunting lodge high
on a ridge, Newark is derived from 'new work'. The lodge had
four floors; a basement housing the kitchens and the ground
floor the reception rooms, whilst the first floor had a banqueting
room and the second floor bedchambers. Purchased by the Clutterbuck
family in 1790, they employed the architect James Wyatt to improve
the lodge to create a four square house. In 1949 the property
was given to the National Trust. The property is open for several
weekends in spring for the display of snowdrops. Open: 2006
1 Jun–29 Oct: Wed, Thur, Sat and Sun. Also Bank Holiday Mondays
11:00-17:00 Tel:. 01453 842644. 
