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County Life
A forgotten English county is in the news
Winchcombeshire, England's smallest former county, is celebrating its 1,000th birthday on 7 May. While it only lasted ten years as a county, the area has once again been in the public eye.
First, earlier this month, Liz Hurley's wedding to Arun Nayar brought the world's paparazzi to the tiny village of Winchcombe. Then today it was revealed that the Christening gown worn by the future Queen Elizabeth I was discovered in the village's Sudeley Castle.
The remarkably-preserved 500 year old gown was authenticated in the 1880s, but then left in a box and forgotten. It was discovered in a clearing out and will go on display later this year.
Founded in 1007 by Ethelred the Unready, Winchcombeshire was abolished only ten years later by King Cnut and distributed into Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.
Mrs Clare Pritchard, 59, an IT worker, and one of the 5,000 residents of what used to be the county, is organising the peal of bells from the 66 churches she has identified within the historic boundary.
Mrs Pritchard explains: "The county was created in 1007. It consisted of 139 parishes. Some have gone and the only clues to their existence are local place names, such as Hoffington, which is the name of a copse and only locals seem to know of it."
So, go to this beautiful, forgotten corner of England and hear them ring the bells.
