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bradford on avon |
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With its buildings of mellow auburn stone, reminiscent of the
townscapes just over the county border in Bath and the Cotswolds,
BRADFORD ON AVON is the most appealing town in the northwest corner of
Wiltshire. Sheltering against a steep wooded slope, it takes its name
from its "broad ford" across the Avon, though the original fording place
was replaced in the thirteenth century by a bridge that was in turn
largely rebuilt in the seventeenth century. The domed structure at one
end is a quaint old jail converted from a chapel.
The local industry, based on textiles like that of its Yorkshire
namesake, was revolutionized with the arrival of Flemish weavers in
1659, and many of the town's handsome buildings reflect the prosperity
of this period. Yet Bradford's most significant building is the tiny St
Laurence Church on Church Street, an outstanding example of Saxon
architecture dating from about 700 AD. Wrecked by Viking invaders, and
later used as a school and a simple dwelling, it was rehabilitated by a
local vicar in 1856. Its distinctive features are the carved angels over
the chancel arch.
Bradford's train station is on St Margaret's Street close to the town
centre. The well-equipped tourist office is near the bridge at 34 Silver
St (daily: April-Dec 10am-5pm; Jan-March 10am-4pm; tel 01225/865797, ).
Bradford has a good range of accommodation , none more characterful than
Bradford Old Windmill , a B&B up the hill at 4 Mason's Lane (tel
01225/866842; £50-60, £70-90), where an imaginative vegetarian menu is
served house-party style (evening meals currently on Mon, Thurs & Sat).
The lowest rates are given for anyone arriving after 6pm (assuming
there's space); winter opening is irregular. Priory Steps , closer to
the centre on Newtown (tel 01225/862230; £70-90), is a family home with
bags of personality, well-prepared dinners and excellent views over a
roofscape of weavers' cottages. For light lunches or cakes, try the
Bridge Tea Rooms on Bridge Street, or Scribbling Horse at 34 Silver St.
For alcohol or more substantial food, head for the Bunch of Grapes pub
on Silver Street, also an evening venue for jazz, folk and blues.
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