Situated in the Cotswolds, Minchinhampton rests on top of the hill, located between two of the five valleys. The town relishes in the past with the 17th century Market House standing tall in the centre of the town posted up by stone columns. The town itself has nothing more than a few corner shops, a church, a post office and the local pub. With a small population you find yourself becoming ‘local’, everybody knows everyone.
Moving out of the town, there is the roaming fields of the common, which depending on the season are occupied by the cows. It is there land. As you move across the common land one can see down the valley spotting specs of houses in the distance, but no sign of built up areas. Continuing on, the nearest towns are Nailsworth and Stroud. Towns which thrive on the counties local produce. These are Market towns, occupied by independent traders. The distance between each town is roughly five miles suggesting a bit of distance, a short car journey, or a long walk.
Words to describe Minchinampton: Remote. Isolated. Rural. Cut Off. Backwater. Deserted. Picturesque. Quaint. Quiet. Perhaps words which a young boy don’t want to hear.
