In 2017 planning permission was granted for residential development of the barn adjacent to The Retreat. The name of “The Retreat” was retained with the original house and paddocks. The converted barn and adjacent woodland is named “Woodland Court”. However, the origin is the name “Retreat” is due to the “pleasure gardens” which were developed around the spring, known as St Edward’s Well, within the woodland. Please see the following which is taken from British History Online: -
"North of the 'Farmer's Arms' and east of the Foss Way is the Retreat, pleasure gardens made c. 1800 to include the spring known as St. Edward's Well. The gardens appear to have been used in connexion with the attempt to popularize Stow as a resort; a wooded walk leads down the hill from the town, passing under the road from the Foss Way to Maugersbury village by a bridge that has given that road the name of the Arches. (fn. 92) The spring, known variously as Holy Well and St. Edward's Well in 1766, (fn. 93) was reputedly beneficial to weak eyes. Beside it was a typically Romantic grotto, and nearby was a pair of cottages, the southern one Gothic, and the other classical, stuccoed, and with a Venetian window and pedimented gable-end, where refreshments were provided. (fn. 94) The Retreat was part of the glebe, and it was restored in the early 20th century by the rector; (fn. 95) in 1961, however, the gardens were derelict and the buildings ruinous."
The above photograph is of the arched bridge which historically allowed a walkway from Stow-on-the-Wold to the Retreat to pass under the road from the Fosse Way to Maugersbury.
Comments