Katie B Morgan’s brilliant map of Winchcombe captures its fascinating facts
Points of interest on Katie B Morgan’s map:
Belas Knap: Neolithic long barrow just outside Winchcombe.
Kenulf: In 798 Coenwulf or Kenulf, the King of Mercia, began to build a great Abbey and a palace here. Both no longer exist.
St Kenelm’s Well: Kenulf’s son, Kenelm, also King of Mercia, was murdered. His body was brought back to Winchcombe, and springs formed at every stopping place, hence St Kenelm’s Well.
Dissolution of the Monasteries: In 1539 the Abbey buildings were destroyed by Henry VIII.
St Peter’s Church: Known for grotesques, gargoyles, and the Winchcombe Imp. It is also a good example of a ‘wool church’.
Dent’s Almshouses: Named after local philanthropist Emma Dent (1823-1900). She lived in and restored Sudeley Castle.
Sudeley Castle: Home and burial place of Catharine Parr. Visited by Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I.
Lewis Carrol: It’s believed the writer was inspired by one of the gargoyles, so creating the Mad Hatter.
Champagne bottle and cork: There is a Blue Plaque celebrating Christopher Merret (1614/1615–1695), the first to document the making of sparkling wine.
Winchcombe Pottery: Famous studio pottery. Master potters Michael Cardew (1901-1983) and Ray Finch (1914-2012) both owned it.
River Isbourne: Flows north, like the Nile.
The Butler-Volmer equation: John Alfred Valentine Butler (1899-1977), a physical chemist, was born in Winchcombe.
Rugby ball: International player William Ylend (1865-1939) was born in Winchcombe.
Walkers: Winchcombe, with its many footpaths, has ‘walkers are welcome’ status.
Tobacco: In 1619, local landowners began growing tobacco.
Horse Fair Street: The former name of North Street.
Stocks: Found near to the museum.
Happenstance: Mixed Border Morris side.
Winchcombeshire: In 1007, the town was the centre of its own county, Winchcombeshire.
Suffrage: Winchcombe formed a branch of the Women’s Suffragette Society. They gave out leaflets in Queen’s Square.
The Winchcombe Psalter: Now kept at Cambridge University, it was written in Latin and Anglo-Saxon between 1025 and 1050.
Annual Mop Fair: Held in October.
Radio Winchcombe: Find it on 107.1 FM!
Miles Coverdale (1488-1569): The translator of the Bible stayed at Sudeley.
Zebra: Zaza Zebra is a big sculpture kept at Winchcombe Reclamation. It was made by Dave Danson Hill, to recognise the plight of the endangered Grevy’s zebra, in Africa.
Clement Barksdale (1609 -1687): Religious author, born in Winchcombe.
Brock the badger: Book written by Lady Ashcombe about her old family pet.
Visit Katie B Morgan’s website.
SEE ALSO: Winchcombe’s wish for 2021.
