The River Coln In Fairford, in a Fairford field, Bibury appreciates WM in return.
In a letter to Kate Faulkner written in August 1890, William Morris described a trip up the valley of the River Coln from Fairford to the Roman Villa at Chedworth. Today I followed his path through Quenington, Coln St. Aldwyns, Bibury, Ablington, Winson, Colne Roger, Colne St. Dennis and Fosse Bridge. I had remembered the enticing descriptions in his letter:
"Bibury is surely the most beautiful village in England".
"The whole valley is a mass of lime-stone, and looks indeed as if it had been made for people 4 ft. high; but small as the scale is, it is most lovely".
His day ended with "Dinner of cold scran at Fosse Bridge", as Lord Eldon would not let them in to see the mosaics pavements at Chedworth.
My trip also ended at Fosse Bridge as I ran out of time after visiting churches along the route. Three very different windows, fantastic in the autumn sunshine at St. Mary's Bibury.
Inside St. Mary's, Bibury: window by Karl Parsons 1927, C13th grisaille glass, windows added to church in C15th.