Notgrove Long Barrow has a domed inner burial chamber; Notgrove Manor is surrounded by formal gardens and parkland, and St Bartholomew preserves medieval fabric. These three themes offer different perspectives on Notgrove: a prehistoric tomb, a landscaped manor estate and an Anglican parish church. This contrast is especially useful when planning your trip if you want to focus on culture and landscape rather than just one type of attraction.
Notgrove Manor: House, Gardens and Park
A Cotswold manor house dating from the 15th to the 18th century is set amid formal gardens from the early 20th century and a park dating from before the 18th century. The dates reveal different layers: the gardens are more recent than the park, while the manor house itself spans a long period of construction from the 15th to the 18th century. Notgrove Manor therefore does not represent a single period of origin, but rather a landscape with different historical contexts.
The registered landscape area includes around 5 ha of formal gardens and woodland to the south, west and northwest of the manor house. Around 20 ha of parkland lie to the south, southwest and southeast of the house. In terms of area, the parkland is therefore roughly four times the size of the combined garden and woodland area. This comparison makes the different scales of the two areas clear.
St Bartholomew and the Cross in the Churchyard
The Church of St Bartholomew is a Grade I listed Anglican parish church with fabric from the 12th and 14th centuries, including work in the Decorated style. A reused 12th-century voussoir with chevron ornament is set in its west wall. This single decorative detail offers a distinct perspective alongside the church’s architectural history and listed status.
Visitors and worshippers are welcome. St Bartholomew is one of the Benefice’s eight churches that are open seven days a week for services and visitors; when planning, bear in mind that they may close seasonally at dusk.
About 2 m southwest of the church, a cross consisting of a base stone and shaft stands in the churchyard. It is thought to be in its original location; the two components have been dated to the late 13th century. The distinction is important: the location of the cross is uncertain, while the dating applies to the base stone and shaft.
Notgrove Long Barrow
Notgrove Long Barrow is an unusual Cotswold-Severn-type long barrow. Its domed inner burial chamber adds a specific architectural feature to the type designation: it describes the shape of the interior, while Cotswold-Severn identifies the long barrow’s classification. The monument stands on the crest of a ridge with panoramic views in the Cotswold Hills area. Its archaeological classification and elevated position are two distinct aspects. If you are interested in prehistoric building forms, the long barrow offers a clearly defined point of interest for your trip.
Walking through the Village
The Gloucestershire Way footpath runs directly through Notgrove, adding a specific walking connection to the village’s cultural and historical themes.
Discover more destinations: Turkdean, Mickleton, Minchinhampton, Redmarley D'abitot, Blockley, Stonehouse, Somerford Keynes, Lechlade
For the wider travel overview: Gloucestershire.
