Introducing England
The Cotswolds
In England these days, most people live in towns or cities. But people’s hearts are often
in the countryside. When English people dream of “home”, they are probably thinkingof rolling countryside rather than crowded cities.
There are many areas of England with beautiful countryside. One of the most famous is
the Cotswolds, an area of rolling English countryside about 100 kilometres northwest ofLondon.
Historically speaking, the area is characterized by two things: sheep and stone.
From the eleventh to the nineteenth century, the Cotswolds were an importantwool-producing region. Wool was exported to all over Europe. The wealth generated by
the wool trade helped to build the magnificent churches and manor houses that are
dotted throughout the region.
The second characteristic of the Cotswolds is stone. There are many limestone deposits.
These were used to build houses, churches and walls. There is a distinctive light-brown
colour to most buildings in the region.
In the late nineteenth century, however, the wool trade went into decline. There wasgrowing competition from countries like New Zealand and Australia. Into the twentiethcentury, the Cotswolds became more famous as idyllic tourist destination. In 1966, thearea was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means that there
are restrictions on new buildings and the appearance of the region must be conserved.
Old buildings of historical significance may not simply be knocked down to make anew building. Shopkeepers and homeowners may redecorate the inside of the building,but the external appearance must match the rest of the area’s architecture. Here in thetown of Burford, modern boutiques and shops are in buildings dating from theeighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
©Philip Seaton and Hokkaido University Open Courseware 2010.

If you want to build a new building, it must use the traditional architectural style. Lookat this modern house built with a thatched roof.
Let’s look at a few villages in the Cotswolds. This is the village of Bibury. The village
is particularly famous for a row of cottages, called Arlington Row, which was built in
1380 as a wool store. People still live in the cottages today. The River Coln flows
through the village. There is a trout farm and you can stop at the Swan Hotel for someafternoon tea. The village has a charming beauty, and on the day I visited, there wassome typically English weather: it was cloudy and rainy!
This is a town called Bourton-on-the-Water. It has an interesting nickname: the Veniceof the Cotswolds. The River Windrush flows through the centre of the village and iscrossed by many charming bridges. In summer the banks of the river are crowded withpeople. There are many tea shops and souvenir shops for visitors to enjoy.
But perhaps my favourite village in the Cotswolds is Lower Slaughter. This is a
picture-perfect village. Do not be confused by the name. Slaughter does not mean
“killing”. It probably comes from the name of a Norman knight called Philip de Sloitre,
who was given land in the area in the 11th century. There is an old mill and water wheel
in the village. Visiting a place like Lower Slaughter is like taking a trip back in time. It
is a charming, peaceful village, with an unforgettable name!
The Cotswolds deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful parts of England. ButI wonder if you have noticed something familiar as you have been watching this video.
We have seen the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, but look at this picture. This is Biei incentral Hokkaido. We have seen beautiful streams flowing through villages with willow
trees on the banks. This is a picture of Central Lawn on the campus of Hokkaido
University. And the national flower of England is the rose. Here are roses in a garden in
Hokkaido. Perhaps after seeing this video, you will understand why this Englishman
feels very much at home living in Hokkaido.

©Philip Seaton and Hokkaido University Open Courseware 2010.