Byfield House

Painswick, Gloucestershire

"The Queen of the Cotswolds"

The delightful village of Painswick, has many fine examples of glowing honey coloured stone buildings originating from it”s hey day as the centre of the Cotswold wool industry in the 15th and 16th Century. It has the oldest building in England to house a post office, two original medieval donkey doors and the beautiful 15th Century St Marys Church with an imposing tower.
The churchyard has many rare early table top tombs and 99 architecturally clipped Yew trees. Legend has it that should a hundredth tree be planted, it would be shrivelled by the devil. The famous 18th Century Rococo Gardens are situated on the edge of the village.
Tourist buses, so intrusive in other Cotswold towns, are unable to invade the narrow winding lanes, ensuring the peace and tranquillity of this charming place.
Painswick lies at 800ft above sea level and from the Painswick Beacon there are glorious views of the Severn Valley and the Welsh Mountains. The famous Cotswold Way footpath which runs from Bath to Chipping Campden, winds through the village. Walkers are spoilt for choice with an astonishing variety of views and aspects that can be enjoyed from many different vantage points in the often steep, dramatic wooded valleys. There are many wonderful places to see and things to do in the surrounding area, some of which are listed below:
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