Moreton in Marsh

The Fosse Way was a Roman road spanning the 300 kilometres between Lincoln and Exeter. Its existence kick-started the development of many settlements along the way. One of these was Moreton-in-Marsh, in the Cotswolds. The Fosse Way still lies beneath the modern surface of the town's main road.

Later, this was also a major stopping point on the stagecoach route between London and Worcester. All in all, Moreton has been making its fortune from travellers and merchants for nearly 2000 years.

Thanks to the constant traffic, the local shopkeepers did very well. Even today, the town still hosts the largest open air market in the entire Cotswolds. Every Tuesday, around 200 stallholders gather to tout their wares.

During the rest of the week, the shopping scene is a little more subdued. Most stores are small independent places, selling souvenirs or antiques. In fact, many of the buildings are antiques themselves. Most were built during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the wool and cloth industries were booming. The town is also home to plenty of coaching inns, with long histories of their own. The White Hart Royal is probably the most famous, as it hosted King Charles I during the Civil War.

Back then, the bells of the curfew tower rang out a nightly signal, to warn people of the risk of fire. This ended in 1860, but the tower still offers a visual reminder.

Another local landmark is the Wellington Aviation Museum, which is dedicated to everyone who served in Moreton's branch of the RAF. It's quite small, but every corner's stuffed full of memorabilia, including plenty of photographs and some real aeroplane parts. If you're having trouble finding the place, just look for the building with a propeller on the front!

If you're prepared to walk half an hour or so out of town, you can visit the Batsford Arboretum. Most of its greenery was planted in the 1880s by a man called Lord Redesdale, shortly after his return from Tokyo. This explains the garden's strong Japanese influence. It's thought to be the largest private collection of rare trees in England, with around 3000 specimens.

Moreton-in-Marsh is a good place to come if you're a fan of flowers and plants. As well as the arboretum, they have an annual agricultural show on the first Saturday of every September. It's one of Britain's largest, attracting around 18,000 people. As well as displays of gardening, there are also competitions for livestock, crafts and even scarecrows. 250 stalls sell everything from farming equipment to designer clothes.

Moreton-in-Marsh's name supposedly refers to the marshland that used to exist here. This makes sense, but there is another possibility. The title could have derived from the word "march", meaning border or boundary. Once upon a time, Moreton was the meeting point of four different counties. Nowadays that spot is a short walk away. It's marked by the Four Shires Stone, which touches the edges of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire.

Wellington Aviation Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm (closed for lunch). Entry costs around £2 for adults and children. British School House, Broadway Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0BG. Tel: 01608 650 323

Batsford Arboretum is open daily from 9am to 6pm (4pm in December and January). Entry costs around £6.50 for adults, £2.50 for children (less in off-peak). Batsford park, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL56 9AB. Tel: 01386 701 441

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