One of the things I love about the Cotswolds is the way most of the homes (cottages if small, manors if large) boast a name. Almost every single residence is identified, not with the street name and house number like we're used to, but by a name suited to the owners or to the house itself. I'm sure for mailing purposes, they do have addresses but for identification purposes, a name is adequate. Each time we talk to a local, they want to know where we're staying. As soon as we say the Old School House they know exactly where we are.
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| note golden limestone on many of the homes |
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| Ronnie's biking friend Graham house is behind this stone fence |
Many of the homes bear plaques with the name of the residence. Often the plaques are placed next to the front door, or sometimes above
the door or even on a stone fence or gate where it can be easily seen. Occasionally they appear to
be family names, but more often it is just a name given to the
residence. The names are as charming as the stone houses. For instance,
the Hollyhock Cottage has hollyhocks growing in the front yard. The
Lavender Cottage has a big patch of lavender growing in the raised area
next to the house. The Vine Cottage is covered with grapevines.
Some of the homes are obviously named after
the role they played in former days (see Old Forge below).The older gentleman, Clive, who lives down on the corner says
that his house is called the Toll House because when the king required
travelers to pay taxes to drive on the Oddington Road, the toll was
collected at his house.
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| Vine Cottage |
I've seen Vine Cottages in 2 different villages, both covered with grapevines and clusters of grapes surrounding windows and doors.
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| love smelling the lavender each time I pass! |
What if we named our houses? What name would you give yours? I'm still thinking about that one. It would NOT be Fire Ant Cottage!!
This is great!
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