The most picturesque village in north Wiltshire, Bishopstone nestles at the bottom of Cowtail Coomb underneath Charlbury Hill. Its village pond is fed by streams running off the Downs and it was once renowned locally for its watercress beds. Alfred Williams refers to them in his lovely little book Villages of the White Horse (first published in 1913). He also informs us that many of the ancient thatched cottages are built of chalk.We spotted a, now quite rare, water-vole busying itself in one of the streams, completely unaware of our presence.
Just a short journey from bustling Swindon and the motorway, it is immensely peaceful and timeless.....
A wooden (weathered) carving of stags in rut tucked away in the shrubbery
The old water mill
The parish church of Bishopstone, St Mary the VirginThe parish church is Norman in origin though only a doorway in the north chancel remains. There are also the remains of a medieval stained glass window plus a beautiful modern stained glass window depicting the Wiltshire landscape see
http://wrens-and-hedgesparrows.blogspot.com/ link (entry on July 3rd)
