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The village of Box is uniquely situated at a Gateway to the Cotswolds National Landscape, on the historic Great Western Railway line and Great West Way, stretching along the beautiful By Brook valley only 5 miles east of the World Heritage City of Bath. Located in the rural county of Wiltshire, Box offers a place to stay, visit, enjoy, and relax in stunning surroundings, allowing opportunity to step back in time through its cultural heritage.
The area has been settled since Neolithic times. Box Roman villa is a Scheduled Monument, and a Roman Road forms the southern boundary of the Parish. The Parish contains many buildings of national importance. Grade I and II*, of outstanding importance, such as Box and Middle Hill Tunnel Portals, Drewetts Mill, Hazelbury Manor, Rudloe Manor, and the Churches of St Thomas a Becket in Box and St Christopher’s Church in Ditteridge. Grade II, buildings include such properties as Box School and the Poynder Fountain. The Parish has four Conservation Areas, areas of special architectural and historic importance, at Box, Ditteridge, Middle Hill, and Ashley.
Historic Box Mill was bought by Peter Gabriel in the 1980s and converted into his international renowned Real World recording studios. Notable artists who have recorded at the studios include Robert Plant, Deep Purple, Harry Styles, Coldplay, and Tom Jones, and it is the headquarters of WOMAD.
Box is probably best known for its Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s railway tunnel and quarried stone. Views of Box Tunnel combine with his Road Bridge and magnificent Middle Hill Tunnel to celebrate a wonder of the Victorian age and one of the finest views of a historic railway line in the country.
Box also lays claims to being the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine as the popular children’s entertainment character was conceived by Rev. W.V Awdry when he lived in Box.
Hillside and underground quarries provided stone not only for the honey-coloured historic buildings in the area but fine country houses such as Longleat and Lacock Abbey, properties in Bath, London and exported around the world. A quarryman’s village grew up on Box Hill, the ‘Hill of Stone ‘, with stone yards, shops, cottages for workers, pubs, and Methodist Chapel. Box was famous for Box Ground Stone, a durable stone. http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/ has a wealth of information on the village.
Box Recreation Ground offers a children’s playground, football ground, bowling green and tennis courts. It has thriving men’s and women’s cricket teams who play on the cricket pitch which WC Grace graced. A Rock Circus, a magnificent circle of rocks fossils and minerals, forms the centre piece of the village. Lovar Garden, adjacent, with its pond and bog garden is a haven for wildlife and a habitat for flora and fauna.
Kingsdown Golf Club, founded in 1880, is the second oldest Golf Club in the West of England (behind Westward Ho!) and a popular destination for golfers of all abilities.
The Parish has over 100 Public Rights of Way making it a hugely popular destination for people looking to explore the glorious English countryside. Long distance footpaths The MacMillan Way and Cross Cotswolds Path cross the Parish. The Box Heritage Trail a circular walk of 4.5 miles offers magnificent views of the By Brook Valley and details of quarrying, milling and Brunel’s Great Western Railway. Footpaths and bridleways pass through Commons, woods, and meadows, areas of significant habitat value for our native species of wildlife, which in some areas have been improved with tree and hedge planting. Box Common at the top of Box Hill is an example of one of the splendid viewpoints around the Parish.
A range of walking maps give details of the paths, suggested routes, and points of historical interest including https://corshamwalkingfestival.org.uk/heritage-trails/
A variety of pubs, restaurants, cafes, and shops can be found in the area, with plenty of places to stay locally from cosy B&Bs to 5 Star hotels. The village has even got its own airfield!
Box Revels which takes place every end of May Bank holiday commenced life as a medieval celebration of the patronal day of St Thomas à Becket. Box Revels has had a lot of in-carnations since then and each year brings different themes and ideas, but the two purposes remain the same; to bring together the whole demographic of the village in fun and entertainment, and to raise funds for community groups and projects.
Queen Victoria was new to the throne when Arnos Vale opened in 1839. Arnos Vale was to be a garden…
Conveniently located just off the A303, The Brush & Broom offers a warm welcome to all. Whether you…
Shires Yard (formerly Milsom Place) is located at the heart of fashionable Milsom Street, set…
Discover award winning, and sustainable real ales and spirits. Crafted from the land around us, we…
See gold from the time of Stonehenge! Wiltshire Museum is home to the best Bronze Age archaeology…
Curated Visits Steeped in British Elegance Windsor Carriages creates privately hosted visits…
Number of results: 184
, currently showing 22 to 42.
Gloucester
Uncover the story of Gloucestershire’s waterways at the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester. Discover the heart of the Gloucester Docks
Bristol
Enjoy harbour tours and river trips with Bristol Packet Boat Trips with public timetabled trips and private hire available.
Marlborough
At Avebury you will find the largest stone circle in the world, a museum and a manor house in the heart of the Avebury World Heritage Site.
Nr Amesbury
Stonehenge stands impressively as a prehistoric monument of unique importance, a World Heritage Site, surrounded by remains of ceremonial and domestic structures - some older than the monument itself.
Salisbury
Homely and welcoming eighteenth-century townhouse with magnificent plasterwork, fine oak staircase, period furniture and important collection of drinking glasses. Tranquil walled garden.
Bath
Tales and Trails of the Regency City of Bath, recounting fascinating stories of famous and infamous Visitors and Residents.
Salisbury
New Forest Cycling Tours runs a variety of guided cycle rides in Wiltshire and beyond.
Cycle back in time and explore some of Wiltshire’s fascinating heritage on two wheels with British Cycling accredited guide, Steve Edmed with tours that include…
Windsor
Windsor Great Park is an ancient Royal landscape of forests, grasslands, lakes and gardens, with over 1,000 years of history.
Oxford
Explore the rich history of the Bodleian, University of Oxford and city of dreaming spires with our incredible guided tours.
Swindon
McArthurGlen's Swindon Designer Outlet lies within the beautifully renovated Grade II listed buildings of the Great Western Railway Works and is one of the largest covered designer outlets in Europe. 90 High St and Designer brands.
Bath
On this self-guided podcast tour discover the stories and influence of Jane Austen in Bath.
Bath
Journey through the history of America
Marlborough
The finest brewery, distillery and smokehouse – in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. The Ramsbury Estate, near Marlborough. Real ales, premium vodka, smoked foods – brewery shop and guided tours.
Nr Cricklade
Owned by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the Lower Moor Farm complex is a landscape of fascinating contrasts, a mosaic of wetlands linked together by boardwalks, woodland and meadows. The meadows here have some of the finest displays of flowers in the UK.
Nr Lechlade
Visit Kelmscott Manor, the inspirational Cotswold retreat of William Morris, Father of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Abbey Church Yard, Bath
Epicentre (and raison d'etre!) of the Heritage City.
Woking
Wisley is one of the world’s great gardens, packed with horticultural inspiration. Visit and find out more about this glorious garden in Surrey
Windsor
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, the family home of 39 British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years.
Marlborough
A community hub for the Arts and History hosting events, exhibitions and activities for its members, local residents and tourists.
Salisbury
Discover the story of the original Salisbury with a day out to Old Sarum, 2 miles north of where the city stands now. The mighty Iron Age hill fort was where the first cathedral once stood and Romans, Normans and Saxons left their mark.
Salisbury
Set in the heart of southwest Wiltshire in the historic village of Fonthill Bishop, and named after the medieval 'witch marks' carved into Fonthill's old stone buildings, the beautiful 9000 acre Fonthill Estate provides us with the ideal…
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