82 BRITAIN http://www.britain-magazine.com
RURAL BRITAIN
PHOTOS:©GREG BALFOUR EVANS/NIKREATES/ALAMYthough, the Mitfords are out-swanked in St Mary’s Church
by the extraordinary tiered ef gies of the Fettiplace family,
who owned the manor in the 17th century.
Right on the river, Minster Lovell is a romantic spot
for picnics or, if you are a guest at the 15th-century Old
Swan inn or Minster Mill hotel, you can get a permit to
go shing on the Windrush – catches range from brown
trout to grayling and pike.
The nearby ruins of 15th-century Minster Lovell Hall
are said to be haunted by Francis, Viscount Lovell, a close
ally of Richard III and later supporter of Lambert Simnel,
the pretender to the throne of Wars of the Roses victor
Henry VII. Fearing retribution, Lovell allegedly hid in a
secret locked chamber at the hall but his one trusty servant
who had access suddenly died and Lovell was left to starve.
The neighbouring town of Witney, meanwhile, became
known across the world for making blankets; its river
location ideal for processes such as dyeing and fulling.
Native Americans, in particular, traded furs for Witney
Point Blankets, prized for their insulating and water-Above: Swinbrook’s
welcoming 16th-
century Swan Inn
Left: The Model
Village is a replica
of Bourton-on-
the-Water