Burford Things to Do

At the gates to the church at Church Green, a surprisingly open space is a row of almshouses, erected in 1457 by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick ("The Kingmaker"). They were renovated in the early 19th century but even so the structure is an impressive addition to the buildings of Burford.

4 more images

I'm reluctant to call the Tanfield Tomb the highlight of the church – but love it or hate it, it's certainly one of the most memorable aspects. Garish, ostentatious, creepy come to mind - and it's certainly too large for the church. But you can't question the craftsmanship that went into its creation.

Sir Lawrence Tanfield died in 1625 – Lord of the Manor in Burford and Chief Baron of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. He was known to be corrupt in office and certainly not popular in the town. It was his wife Lady Tanfield who would have been the only person to have commissioned the memorial – and what a commission!

4 more images

This magnificent parish church, sitting on the banks of the River Windrush at the 'bottom' of the hill of High St, dates from around 1175, although much of what we see today is late medieval. Whilst its tall, slim spire is seen for miles around, it is the interior, the stunning 15th century porch along with its graveyard that is the attraction.

And the church is also responsible, indirectly, to the founding of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings in the 19th century by William Morris. Visiting the church in 1876, Morris was aghast to discover the vicar busily scraping away medieval wall-paintings. On being challenged, the vicar is reported to have replied "This church, sir, is mine, and if I choose to, I shall stand on my head in it."

The Museum is found in the old Tolsay – the medieval meeting place for the wealthy wool merchants and where they paid their taxes – approximately half way down the High St at #121.

It's a tiny place (2 rooms) crammed to the rafters with local artefacts of the social and industrial past, including maces, charters, seals, stone-quarrying – as well as a whole jumble of things you wish you had never thrown away from your own home.

Open April - October; Monday-Friday & Sunday, 2-5pm: Saturday 11am-5pm.
Free entry.

4 more images

Looking down High Street, each side is lined with history. Many of the buildings date back to the 15th and 16th century (although many were also given face-lifts and new facades in the Georgian period in the late 18th century).

The wealth of the town, reflected in these buildings, comes from wool, with many of the buildings built by rich merchants. In addition, as a busy coaching town, a number of coaching inns were dotted along the High Street and today house the traditional English pubs.

In addition to the pubs and restaurants, Burford High St is a magnet for antique shops and antique collectors, as well as any number of tea shops, delis and gift shops. Try and ignore the traffic (it gets very busy, particularly at weekends) and remember to look above the shop fronts!

And beyond is the open countryside and the undulating fields – the Gateway to the Cotswolds.

Burford Church is easily visible from almost all places in the villages due to its high spire. Built in the late 12th century, the church was often changed over the years, not always to its benefit. William Morris was outraged that it had been so badly treated by Victorian refurbishers so that he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings which still exists today and still takes care of ancient buildings in Great Britain.
While the church itself is not without charm, I preferred the quiet churchyard with its old tombstones scattered on the grass. A bench invites to rest in the shade and forget the hustle and bustle of the High Street for some time.

Burford's High Street is the main arterial road through the village. While the traffic is horrible and never seems to end, the High Street also has some nice little shops and a few pubs and restaurants where you can have a break. I didn't buy any clothes but was tempted to visit a deli: Mrs Bumbles of Burford. This turned out to be a great idea. Not only does the shop sell delicatessen of all kinds (from octopus meat to Chinese spices, from shortbread to home-made ice cream), it also has a wide range of local delicacies on offer. I bought a jar of Cotswolds honey which is very tasty (the honey, not the jar!). Unfortunately I didn't dare take a picture with CCTV running so you can't see just how lovely this little shop looks like. But trust me that it is one of the nicest shops I've ever been in.

This tiny 2 room museum occupies the building where the wealthy wool merchants used to hold their meetings. The building is still used for meetings of the town council.

The museum is packed with a wide range exhibits about the local history of Burford, from a series of royal charters to a 1940s fireman's helmet. There is also a dolls' house furnished in Regency style.

Admission is free.