Pictures of Castle Eaton

About Castle Eaton

Surrounded by early morning mist rising from the narrow and shallow waters of a youthful River Thames, the impressive Norman church of St.Mary in the village of Castle Eaton takes on an almost magical appearance. Of Norman origin, the church has a perpendicular west tower and of special interest in the cool interior is a wall painting of the Virgin and Child on the north wall. Other features include a 13th-century turret for the Sanctus bell and a Norman font.

Just as fish abound in the water along this stretch of the Thames, so too, do pretty Cotswold stone cottages and delightful country houses. The village has a calm and genteel atmosphere which is possibly due to the fact that it was privately owned until early in the 20th-century. Old farmsteads show a core of converted farm buildings, now luxurious country dwellings. Central to village life is the historic Red Lion Inn, noted for the fact that it is the first pub on the banks of the Thames. Built early in the 18th-century, the inn has the lovely flowing lines and subtle red/orange bricks of the Georgian era. The interior, with its lofty high ceilings, retains many original features and has a distinct period feel which is further heightened by local folk-lore which tells of the ghosts of a young girl who roams the rooms with a dog! The inn offers excellent ales and good food.

When your feet have grown weary of wandering the pleasant village streets, a drive away lies all the pleasures of the lovely Cotswold Water Park. The market town of Cricklade and the larger town of Swindon are both within easy driving distance.