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Bradford on Avon is tucked into the western corner of Wiltshire, almost in Somerset and only 8 miles from Bath. Whilst Bath is second only to London as a magnet for tourists, Bradford on Avon wears its many-splendoured coat with a modesty which befits an old town with such an embarrassment of riches.
One of Bradford's most compelling features is its position - tumbling about the last outpost of the Cotswolds facing the 'broad ford' across the River Avon. The ancient bridge remains the natural focus of the town: two of its 13th century arches survive although the ancient chapel was converted into a prison in the 17th century.
The view from the main bridge encompasses the hill above the town where the old weavers' cottages are situated, and along the river bank lined with the 19th century former cloth mills. Wool and cloth had been Bradford's staple industry for six centuries until its demise at the beginning of the last century. The decorative clothiers' houses and the humble and functional weavers' cottages are a source of endless fascination for anyone with an eye for genuine old-world charm.
The Saxon Church of St. Laurence dates from about AD 700 (though only discovered in 1871) and is one of the most complete and extraordinary survivals from that distant time. It is an unforgettable experience to stand in the tall, stone-built nave and to gaze towards the fragmented Saxon cross and flying angels fixed to the wall above.
A delightful walk by a riverside path affords views up the hillside to ranks of houses and, closer to hand, to fields where meadows bring the country almost to the town centre. The river is spanned by the ancient Barton Packhorse Bridge. This is closed to motor traffic but provides an open invitation to explore the hillside opposite, much of which is only accessible on foot. Barton Bridge leads in the other direction to Barton Farm. The Tithe Barn is stunning; it is built of stone - 168 feet long with a massive timbered roof spanning 33 feet beneath stone tiles weighing 100 tons. This splendid building, six centuries old and in as good a state of repair today as it was when it was built in 1341, inspires the same sort of awe-struck feeling as entering one of the great cathedrals.
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