MILLVIEW GUEST HOUSE

AROUND NAUNTON

In the Domesday Book, Naunton, prior to 1066 and for some time afterwards, was known as Niwetone, meaning New Town, but there has been a settlement here for over 2000 years. Two hundred years ago, before the main road (now the B4068) was built, Naunton was almost a closed and self sufficient community. Men worked on the farms and in the quarries, women wove, spun or made lace and clothing and the village provided all the services expected in those days. In 1876 tradesmen in Naunton included stone masons, wheelwrights, carpenters, bakers, millers, shopkeepers, a teacher, a parson, a cordwainer, a farrier, saddler and blacksmith. If you walk through the village today, you can see many relics of that time and glimpses much further back into history. The church has two unique sundials on the tower, one dated 1743. Within the church, built into a wall, is a Saxon cross. It was found on the site during rebuilding of the present day church, on Norman foundations and lower walls, in around 1500. From 1860 to 1897, the Reverend Edward Litton lived in the magnificent rectory, built in 1694 opposite the church gate. His friend from Oxford, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a.k.a Lewis Carroll, visited and it is said that Litton's daughter was Carroll's inspiration for Alice. In the centre of the village on the banks of the Windrush is a restored 17thC. Cotswold stone Dovecote with 1176 nest holes. This dovecote is owned by the village by way of the Naunton Village Trust. To the East end of the village is the 17thC. Millhouse, now a beautiful private residence, but once a working water driven corn mill producing flour for the village bakery and owned by Patricia's great grand father. The Black Horse Inn, opened in 1870, is now a thriving village pub and a regular meeting place for villagers and visitors alike.

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