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| Broadway, Worcestershire Information, Links, Articles |
A short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, Broadway is one of the prettiest of the Cotswold
Villages, with the backdrop of Fish Hill and the Tower to set it off. A pleasant place to visit
and spend some time (and money !!)
Villages, with the backdrop of Fish Hill and the Tower to set it off. A pleasant place to visit
and spend some time (and money !!)
Broadway Tower was designed by James Wyatt for Lady Coventry and built in 1797. Lady
Coventry wanted to know if a beacon on the hill could be seen from her house in Worcester
(22 miles away), and ordered the construction of this folly to find out. The beacon could be
seen clearly. It must have been nice to be able to squander money for such purposes - I
wonder what her husband thought !
Over the years, the tower has been home to the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillipps,
and served as a country retreat for artists including William Morris.
Broadway Tower is 1,024 feet above sea level (at the base), and is 55 feet high. On a clear
day it is claimed that thirteen counties of England can be seen from the top of the tower, as
well as the Severn Valley and the Welsh mountains.
Coventry wanted to know if a beacon on the hill could be seen from her house in Worcester
(22 miles away), and ordered the construction of this folly to find out. The beacon could be
seen clearly. It must have been nice to be able to squander money for such purposes - I
wonder what her husband thought !
Over the years, the tower has been home to the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillipps,
and served as a country retreat for artists including William Morris.
Broadway Tower is 1,024 feet above sea level (at the base), and is 55 feet high. On a clear
day it is claimed that thirteen counties of England can be seen from the top of the tower, as
well as the Severn Valley and the Welsh mountains.
The village itself is a pretty place with a wide, straight main street with many lovely old
cottages and bigger houses, many of which have been converted to commercial use to attract
the hordes of tourists who descend upon the place during the summer months. Have a look at
our postcard collection to see some of them (the houses, not the tourists !!). There are
several pubs and a top class hotel - the Lygon Arms, "rich in history and charm" - as well as
plenty of places to eat.
One interesting building appears in our postcard collection with three different names, viz
Court Farm, Mary Anderson's House and Madame de Navarre's House. The house belonged
to an American actress, Mary Anderson, who married Antonio de Navarro and lived in
Broadway from around the time of her marriage until her death in 1940.
For lots more information about Broadway visit "Old Broadway" or search the internet.
cottages and bigger houses, many of which have been converted to commercial use to attract
the hordes of tourists who descend upon the place during the summer months. Have a look at
our postcard collection to see some of them (the houses, not the tourists !!). There are
several pubs and a top class hotel - the Lygon Arms, "rich in history and charm" - as well as
plenty of places to eat.
One interesting building appears in our postcard collection with three different names, viz
Court Farm, Mary Anderson's House and Madame de Navarre's House. The house belonged
to an American actress, Mary Anderson, who married Antonio de Navarro and lived in
Broadway from around the time of her marriage until her death in 1940.
For lots more information about Broadway visit "Old Broadway" or search the internet.
| We want you ! We want your articles, comments, old postcards - in fact anything interesting about Broadway and the Cotswolds. Send them to us at gregoryolney@aol.com and we'll publish them here - with an appropriate acknowledgement of course. So now's your chance to get into print ! |