The Slaughters
 The
villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter possibly derive their
names from the sloe tree in the days when travellers used
natural objects to guide them on their journey. A prominent
sloe tree would be a significant local landmark and some still
survive in the area.
The lovely village of Upper Slaughter has a small tributary
of the Windrush running through it and is a place of grey-brown
stone and gentle contentment where Cotswold stone cottages
nestle among the trees. The Church of St Peter retains many
good Norman features, including the tower. The fine Parsonage
down by the brook dates from the 17th century.
On the hill above the village stands the old manor house,
now a hotel. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in
the Cotswolds with the oldest part dating from the 15th century
whilst the front is Elizabethan and the porch is Jacobean.
Lower Slaughter, which is close by, has many attractive cottages
and a stream which flows through the centre of the village
under many small bridges of ancient weathered stone. The stream
was used to drive the old mill which can still be seen. The
13th century church of St Mary was almost completely rebuilt
in 1867 but retains its original nave arcade of pointed arches
on slender pillars. Beside the church stands the charming
manor house, now a guest house. In its garden there is a fine
old gabled dovecot.
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