Welcome to Lower Slaughter
The village of Lower Slaughter lies in the County of Gloucestershire half a mile to the west of the A429 (the old Roman Fosse Way) some 17 miles north of Cirencester. It is a Conservation village in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is some
difference of opinion about the origins of the name Slaughter but it is generally accepted as being derived from the Anglo Saxon word 'sclostre' (slough) meaning a hollow, muddy place. Considered to be one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds and probably one of the most photographed, it attracts visitors from all parts of the world. The village has been used frequently as the setting for both commercial and fictional film and television productions. Artists are to be seen regularly either painting scenes of the village or displaying their wares during the summer months at the frequent artist's exhibitions held in the recently restored village hall. The village has on several occasions won the competition for the best-kept small village in Gloucestershire
By comparison with some of its neighbouring villages it is relatively small with some 90 houses and approximately 200 residents. The main features of the village are the honey coloured Cotswold stone houses nestling alongside the river Eye, some listed and dating from the 18th and 19th century, and the 13th century Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, rebuilt in 1866 but with a very recently restored spire and peal of six bells. An early 19th century corn mill, two imposing hotels, one converted from the 15th century former Lower Slaughter Manor House, the other from 17th century cottages all contribute to the charm of this idyllic village. The shallow river is lined with well-kept grass banks and trees and is crossed by several attractive footbridges as well as a road bridge. In a corner of the grounds of the Manor Hotel stands a 16th century gabled pigeon loft, reputed to be the largest in Gloucestershire. The village stands at the cross roads of several long distance footpaths and is a frequent starting point for walkers, although car parking in the village is very limited.
Administratively the village is run at the local level by the Lower Slaughter Parish Council consisting of 5 elected representatives from the village and, at district level, by Cotswold District Council based in Cirencester. The village is within the administrative county of Gloucestershire with its headquarters in the City of Gloucester.
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