Painswick
Queen of the Cotswolds
This historic wool town is known as the queen of the Cotswolds and rightly so, it is one of the finest and best-preserved Cotswolds towns. Painswick flourished on the wool trade peaking in the 17th and 18th centuries this was due to the clean clear water that drove waterwheels and also was used to wash the wool.
The town is well known for its beautiful church and unique graveyard with its table top tombs and 99 yew trees. Legend has it that the devil always kills the 100th tree and through the years this has seemed to hold true but how they can be counted is a mystery as several are now intertwined together. The tombs were carved by a local mason Joseph Bryan and his sons.
New street until recently had the oldest building to house a post office sadly this has now closed. Bisley Street is the oldest part of the town the towns quaint character is due to the wealthy wool merchants who built grand houses. The Fleece Inn a 14th century building although modified is now the little fleece and a National Trust bookshop.
The narrow little streets around the churchyard and those leading away down the hill are lined with beautiful Cotswold stone cottages and buildings some draped with lilac coloured wisteria, here and there are small local shops can be explored as well as some nice pubs.
These days Painswick is also known for its arts festivals, crafts and antique shops, a free leaflet with a small tour of the town can be obtained from the information office in the churchyard.
Activities in Painswick
Gardens
Painswick Rococo Garden - Painswick Rococo Garden
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