Broadway Cotswolds England UK in the English county of Worcestershire is often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds' and the 'Show Village of England' because of it's sheer beauty and magnificence. The 'broad way' leads from the foot of the western cotwolds escarpement with a wide grass-fringed street lined with ancient honey coloured limestone buildings dating back to the 16th century.
The village has one of the longest High Streets in England.
'furnished apartments are useful
to the artist, but a furnished country is even more so... This is the great recommendation
of Broadway: everything in it is convertible . . There is portraiture in the air and
composition in the very accidents. Everthing is a subject or an effect....It is delicious
to be at Broadway and not have to draw.' - Henry
James, one of the Broadway Group of Artists
The village is nestled at the foot of
Fish Hill (where apparently monks used to store fish and the 18th
century ‘Fish Inn’ once stood). Broadway Tower (sometimes
also referred to as Beacon or Fish Inn Tower) is 65ft high and
stands atop the hill overlooking the village. A much loved retreat
for the Arts and Crafts Movement founder William Morris, this marvellous
folly was built by the sixth Earl of Coventry’s family in
the late 18th century, and on a clear day you can see no fewer
than 14 counties from the top of it. As part of an extensive country
estate (which also houses an animal park), it lies close to an
Anglo-Saxon cemetery, where eight graves complete with knives,
spears, beads and brooches were excavated in 1954.
The full extent of Broadway's majesty is it's
wide street lined with a delightful mix of Tudor, Stuart and Georgian
buildings.
Broadway village became a busy staging post on the route from Worcester to London as coaches had to harness extra horses for the long pull up Fish Hill. As many as 33 inns existed within the village to service the many travellers passing through - three exist today.
It was the inspiration to a number of writers and artists
(see Broadway
Group) including Henry James, J.M.Barrie,Vaughan
Williams, Elgar, John
Singer Sargent, and William
Morris of the Arts and Crafts movement.
By the 1880's a small band of American artists headed by Francis
Davis Millet discovered Broadway as a 'quaint reflection of a long ago country
village'.
Henry
James (1843-1916, an expatriate American writer who settled in England and eventually became a British citizen) said: "Broadway
and much of the land about it are in short the perfection of the old English rural tradition."
The village's "broad way" (actually called High Street) lined with red chestnut trees, reflects the varied architectural history from grand Georgian buildings to ones of humbler though quaint beginnings that even reaches back, in places, to the Romans.
There was Abbots Grange (pretty
much abandoned and deteriorating when Millet arrived) dating to the 14th century, the oldest
domestic building in the village and one of the oldest in the country. There are Tudor
Houses dating from 1660's and along with parts of the Lygon Arms Hotel and St. Eadburgha's
Church which has been a place of worship for almost 1000 years. The old church is one mile
out on Snowshill Road.
Broadway has several of the country's best art galleries, which can be all too tempting at times! (We should add though that the prices are usually well out of our league!). Haynes Fine Art is at Picton House ( see picture). We understand that Haynes spent around £250,000 on renovating Picton House a few years ago.
Another gallery of interest is the John Noot Galleries which are actually located in three places in Broadway, the smallest of which is probably the one at the famous Lygon Arms hotel on the High Street.
Russell House would be the center of attention and animation
of the Broadway Group of Artists. This was actually the second home of the colony.
They moved here in 1886 after having lived for a year at Farnham House. Russell House was
quite a bit larger than Farnham House and both Abbey and John Singer Sargent partnered with the Millets
for a seven year lease.
Francis Millet died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic on 15th April 1912 and in tribute
friends paid for a Lychgate at the entrance to the upper graveyard at St. Eadburgha's
Church on Snowshill Road. The inscription is in latin and translated reads:-
'In tribute to Francis Davis Millet a man of excellence in the arts and
literature. He met his death with fortitude as the ship Titanic sank whilst still giving
hope to those who feared for their lives. His dear friends sought the dedication of this
memorial in fond memory of his treasured fellowship'
At 1024 feet above sea level this is the second highest point in the Cotswolds. From the
top of the tower is one of Englands finest viewpoints with 13 English counties to be seen
on a clear day. The park affords picnics, restaurant, childrens play area and adventure
playground.
Gordon Russell Museum
Sir Gordon Russell was a well known furniture designer of the Arts and Crafts movement and until about 2000 still had a working furniture production factory in Broadway near to The Lygon Arms hotel.
There is now a Museum, located in the original grade II listed workshop, celebrating the work of the renowned 20th century designer and manufacturer.
Visit the Fleece Inn
15th Century Inn at the nearby village of Bretforton and the only pub to be owned by the National
Trust. A unique experience of Old England. 6 miles from Broadway. The
Fleece Inn.
Visiting Famous Gardens
There are several famous gardens within 15 minutes car journey of Broadway including Hidcote Manor, Snowshill Manor, Bourton House, Sezincote, Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court and Batdford Arboretum. See - Cotswold Gardens and North Cotswold Gardens Map and Driving Directions.
Cycling - Broadway is situated on the edge of the vale of Evesham which is ideal easy cycling country. Explore the country lanes and visit villages such as Buckland, Laverton, Stanton, Stanway, Willersey, and Weston Subedge.
Relaxing and enjoying the slower pace of life and indulging in the English passion for tea and cream cakes in the several tea shops whilst soaking up the ambience of the 16th and 17th centuries.
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