while you're ahead…

I’m still here.  A little snowbound, a little frozen, burst pipes and beef stews, living a slow life with a friend visiting from sunny California… (I think she’s the happiest person in England with all this snow and cold she normally never sees or experiences!).

Yesterday though we wrapped up warm and drove the short distance to the nearby historic town of Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire).  I had forgotten how fun it is to play tourists in your own country… and how surrounded we are with gorgeous places living in this area.

The town is the sight of the famous Battle of Tewkesbury, 4th May 1471 on of the decisive battles in the War of the Roses… (The red roses of York won, the country had a period of stability under King Edward the IV and a whole lot from the house of Lancaster, white rose,  died on the battle field or were executed in the Abbey… bloody times).  If you’re a history buff there’s a battle trail you can walk.  We didn’t.  It was cold and snowy.

Tewkesbury has also a stunning Abbey that was consecrated in 1121 – 900 years ago almost!  crazy eh? –  but there are signs of religious settlement here from the 7th century.  Humbling, I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast yesterday.

Isn’t it amazing in the winter snow? Like time stood still…

Also, and I quote the website here, it’s one of the finest example of Norman towers in the country.  I don’t really know much about Norman towers (or a lot of other things for that matter) but I can confirm it was impressive to look at.  It dominates the view from afar, that’s for sure… in the old days if must have really felt like the eye of god was on you at all times…  no messing about folks.

The interior manages to be majestic and intimate at the same time…

After the Abbey visit we walked around the town visiting vintage shops and admiring all the old houses.  And we had coffee and cake too, because when it’s cold one’s caloric intake has to be increased, right?

what is going here… I really want to know how are they split inside!  Two houses? One house? Interesting.

and this pottery… in every window in this house they were showing off these amazing pieces… sigh…

I want one.

I mean look at these old terraced houses, so cute… the John Moore museum is in one section of this building but it only opens in Spring and Summer… worth going back for…

Lots of crazy ‘vintage’ stores peppers the streets of Tewkesbury and I might have bought a bakelite yarn holder shaped like a beehive.  And an old big crochet tablecloth I’d like to dye with indigo.. and maybe, perhaps even a John Denver greatest hits album… but that’s a secret… shhhh.

No we didn’t buy the sitting up, embalmed victorian crocodile.  Tempting though.

Fun fact: the number of Tewkesbury’s buildings listed as being of special architectural or historical interest totals more than 350.  Amazing.

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