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Sherston, Wiltshire

Sherston is just 3 miles south of Westonbirt Arboretum (Gloucestershire). Sherston is a good village in which to do a short circuit walk taking in attractive buildings, and the wonderfully named Rattlebone Inn! Alternatively plump for the more traditionally named Angel for refreshments. With its wide road through the centre of the village parking should easily be found in the High Street. Maybe start your walk at the most southerly end of the High Street, taking care of traffic, to take in the converted barn on the junction with Grove Road, this barn dates back to 1763, is Grade II Listed, and is now a family home. From there go into Grove Road, where there are traditional as well as quite sympathetically designed newer homes, and after a few yards you will see the small Methodist Chapel built in 1850. From there turn left into Noble Street and on the right you will see, at right angle to the road two painted rubble stone houses, Numbers 12 and 14,these are Grade II Listed and built late 17th century, behind them is the even more interesting Courtyard Cafe and Lucy Tom Interiors.

Moving on, possibly refreshed, fork right to take in the Church of the Holy Cross, this is Grade I Listed and dates back to the 12th century. Turn back towards the High Street and you will see the Rattlebone Inn, Grade II, 17th century. The inn derives its name from the local Saxon hero John Rattlebone, not to be confused with the punk/hard rock band, who fought for King Edmund Ironside against Canute at Sherston in 1016. Rattlebone was mortally wounded and although he staunched the flow of blood with a stone tile and continued fighting, he died as the Danes withdrew.

Turn right after the pub into Court Street and on the corner of Cliff Road you will find Court House, this dates back to the 16th century and is Grade II*. Then enter Cliff Road and immediately on the right are numbers 1 and 3, these are attached to and used to form part of Court House, they are also Grade II*, and are a circa 1680 extension to it. Continue on Cliff Road and on the left you will see the Congregational Chapel which was converted from a barn in 1825.  What is unusual about Sherston, as opposed to many other villages, is that it has two non conformist churches, in addition to the Anglican, that are still active. This Congregation prospered and had its own school in the 19th century, seen, just before the chapel. Continue on Cliff Road and it becomes Silver Street at the bend, at the end of Silver Street turn left into High Street.

High Street has many Listed buildings, if you haven't already partaken of refreshments, or even if you have, then the first of great interest may be The Angel, now a very nice cafe with rooms Immediately to the right of The Angel are 19 and 21 High Street, these are late 16th century and Grade II*, they used to be the Swan Inn, there's another house attached behind it that is the third section of the old pub. Continue a little further until you cross over to the other side of the High Street to what is a rather unusual Co-op store, in the former CofE school. Enjoy the rest of the High Street and this particular tour of Wiltshire is over, please enjoy others as well, you have hopefully discovered why the actor John Thaw decided to live close by.

There is a newer puropse built Sherston Primary School, a surgery, and an Indian restaurant, The Bridge.

photos to be added