the wool industry moved up north to Yorkshire and ended the golden era of the Cotswolds. Bu t
t h e f e r ti l e
The scenic town of Bourton- on-the-Water with the River Windrush flowing.
One of the most popular villages in the t Cotswolds is Bourton-on-the-Water, a
land and auspicious landscape blessed with such dynamic life-force helps to retain the good fortune of the region. Today, the Cotswolds is mainly agriculture-based with cattle and sheep farming, supplemented by various staple crops. Its captivating natural beauty, complete with quaint villages and historic places, makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Britain. I never tire of the
crue showcase of feng shui at its best. It is
harming and although not exceptionally t attractive, yet every day, coach loads of
ourists descend on the town patronising the shops, restaurants and the touristy attractions in the area.
and streams - mostly tributaries of the River Tames - criss-cross the valleys and plains, as Gloucestershire is the source of the Tames. Te water flows are full of energy and are the major life-force of the people since its economic mainstay is arable and pastoral farming aside from tourism. In pre-Christian times,
the local
pagans believed that the life-giving waters were sacred and inhabited by powerful spirits who required sacrificial offerings to honour them. Te Cotswolds is defined by its
golden honey-coloured stones known as oolite limestone, which is found in abundance in the area. Gold is the colour of wealth in Feng Shui and also in other cultures. Tese stones are used to build every building in the towns and villages from humble farmhouses, cottages, churches and industrial buildings, to mansions
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and castles. It is the only region in Britain that has a uniform colour and architectural style known as the “Cotswolds Vernacular”, where the buildings blend naturally with the golden limestone landscape. Te Cotswolds grew rich on the back of the wool industry between the 12th to 15th centuries. Te wealth of the land from its past is manifested in the plethora of old mansions, castles and fine houses. Every village or town has beautiful “wool churches” so-called, because they were built by wealthy wool merchants of that era as a thanksgiving to God for giving them wealth. Te many rivers and streams provide power for the woollen mills to make fabrics which were exported to Europe. But with the invention of steam power in the early 19th century, the water- powered mills became obsolete and
charm of the Cotswolds in my many visits there. In my quest to capture its allure, I journey through many enchanting old villages and small towns with their honey-hue stone houses and delightful cottages with lovely gardens. It is like walking back in time to days of yore. Te ancient Saxon town of Winchcombe is heritage personified, with historic buildings hugging the narrow street that winds through the village. Its position in the midst of the “dragon’s den” made it a prosperous town during the golden era of the wool industry and attracted the wealthy lords of the land to built a castle in its vicinity. It was named Sudeley Castle, after the de Sudeley family who originally owned the castle. I venture to Sudeley Castle round the corner from the village in the footsteps of kings and queens from the past. Richard III, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I and Charles I had all played their part in this castle, considered the “jewel in England’s crown” by heritage lovers. It is notably associated with Queen Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII. She lived here after his death when she re-married Tomas Seymour, the brother of Jane Seymour who was the third wife of Henry VIII. Sadly, Katherine Parr died after childbirth at Sudeley Castle and was entombed
JULY / AUGUST 2013 | F ENGSHUIWORLD 55
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