Once part of the estate of Gloucester Abbey and guarded by a wonderful heavy, centrally hinged gate under a sturdy Stone roofed Gatehouse, the church of Saint Peter disguises its Saxon Origins rather too well. Most of what you see is late Norman 13th and 14th century with a comprehensive restoration done by Waller and sons in 1871.

The lower stage of the sturdy West Tower is Norman with a typical thin and deep window in the South Wall but the upper stage with its wider window in the West Wall is later perhaps late 13th century perpendicular in style. Topped with a Saddleback Stone roof and stone Bell openings the porch is definitely Waller’s work but probably a pretty good facsimile of the original, and the door is obviously very old with heavy nail attachments it makes a satisfying grown as you open it and a suitably grave boom as you close it.

Many of the houses are 17th century in origin or earlier, they’re grouped around the church forming a sort of protective necklace and their age gives them a true sense of Gravitas as if they’d sprung up out of the ground. At the time of year of our filming in spring, the Wisteria was in full bloom and shows brilliantly on the facades of several of the Cottages.

The whole place has a comfortable, cozy, well-groomed feel. We’re in the Valley of the River Dunt which flows right through the village, and it crosses what was once the Lower Road, forming a long deep ford which used to be used for cleaning the wheels of the carts and coaches