Pictures of Broadway
About Broadway
Immediately appealing with its wide main street and gracious houses, Broadway richly deserves the prestige of being the "show village of England".
All built of honey coloured Cotswold stone, houses and cottages ramble hap-hazardly along pleasant green-verged roads. Steep gables of the larger houses rise high above the roofline of the dormer-windowed cottages and here and there black and white thatched roof cottages help to soften the bluffness of weathered stone dwellings.
The centre of the village is dominated by a famous hotel. Much loved by visitors from all over the world (and locals alike) the Lygon Arms has its origins rooted deep in the 16th century. To-day, most luxurious and hospitable of hotels, retains all the charm of the great private house it once was. Famous past visitors include Charles 1 and Oliver Cromwell both of whom stayed here at different times.
One of the villages most famous residents was Gordon Russell who began his career restoring furniture for the Lygon Arms in 1904.
Mr. Russell went on to found a business in hand made furniture and today many of his pieces, when up for sale in local auction rooms, fetch excellent prices.
Broadways High Street stretches for almost a mile before rising sharply at Fish Hill. The Fish Inn, situated to the top of the hill is reputed to be 800ft above sea level. This building was originally a summer house, built on the estate of a local landowner in the 18th century and imaginatively, it has a sun-dial set into its roof. Travel further along and the ground rises to more than 1,000ft where the areas crowning glory and one of the best known landmarks of the Midlands is built - Broadway Tower. This tower was built in 1800 as a folly for the Earl of Coventry who was delighted at the fact that he could view the folly from his family seat at Worcester, some 20 miles away. To-day, folk visit this Tower to enjoy the magnificent views of the gentle rolling countryside that surrounds it.
There are two parish churches in Broadway, St. Michaels was built during the 1830's is situated close to the village green and the other is the old church of St.Eadburgha which dates back to the 12th century.
Boadway is a pleasant place to visit at any time of year. The main street is littered with quaint craft and gift shops and well as art galleries and antique shops. There is also a very small shopping precinct in which you will find a lively deli which sells a wide range of delicious foodstuffs. In summertime a marquee is errected on the village green for the local fruit and flower show. Ice-cream is sold in the street by vendors dressed in Victorian costume, and often there are dancing displays by Morris dancers. In winter there is the colourful and attractive sight of the local Hunt leaving for a days sport from outside the Lygon Arms.
There are a wealth of old country inns and pleasant cafes in which to enjoy a tastly meal or just while away a pleasant hour and whilst all of this adds to the natural charm of this so very English of English country villages it is easy to understand just why folk return here year after year. For not only is Broadway very atmospheric it is also a very addictive place indeed.
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