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The Cotswolds Worksheets & Facts

In central-southwest England, there is a region known as The Cotswolds, which is home to some of England’s most scenic landscapes and quaint villages.

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In central-southwest England, there is a region known as The Cotswolds. The Jurassic limestone bedrock that defines the area is quarried to produce the golden Cotswold stone and yields a kind of grassland ecosystem uncommon in the United Kingdom. The area is home to some of England’s most scenic landscapes with quaint villages, rolling green hills, and winding country lanes.

See the fact file below for more information on The Cotswolds, or you can download our 30-page Cotswold Pack worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The most widely accepted view of where the name “the Cotswolds” derives from are the words “cot,” which means “sheep enclosure,” and “wold,” which means “hill,” creating the phrase “sheep enclosure in rolling hillsides.”
  • Another idea is that the term “Cotswolds” is derived from an Old English given name, “Cod’s-wold.” It was later discovered that “Cod” could be derived philologically from a Brittonic female cognate, “Cuda,” a hypothetical mother goddess in Celtic mythology thought to have been worshipped in the Cotswolds.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Burial chambers on Cotswold Edge provide proof of Neolithic occupancy, and there are also remnants of Bronze and Iron Age forts. Later, the Romans paved the Celtic roadway that became known as Fosse Way and constructed villas, such as Chedworth, and towns like Gloucester.
  • The Cotswolds prospered from the wool trade with the continent throughout the Middle Ages due to a breed of sheep known as the Cotswold Lion, with a large portion of the profits going toward the construction of churches.
  • The most prosperous period for the wool trade was between 1250 and 1350, when a large proportion of the wool was sold to Italian merchants. 
  • Cotswold wool is extremely strong and makes exceptionally durable outerwear. Knitters add it to sock heels and toes, as well as elbows in hand-knitted sweaters to improve strength at those wear points. Cotswold makes excellent warp yarn for weaving, felts quickly and thoroughly for felt goods, and the curly locks are frequently sold as “Santa Claus Beard” and doll wigging material. Cotswold wool dyes beautifully and retains its luster.
  • William Morris created the Arts and Crafts movement in the Cotswold town of Chipping Campden towards the close of the 19th and the start of the 20th century. William Morris occasionally resided in Broadway Tower, now located in a park.
  • The Cotswolds was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966, with an expansion to 1,990 square kilometers on December 21, 1990. (768 sq mi).

GEOGRAPHY

  • The Cotswolds runs from southwest to northeast. The northern and western edges are marked by steep escarpments that descend to the valleys of the rivers Severn and Avon and the city of Gloucester; the eastern boundary is marked by Oxford, the “city of dreaming spires” and home to the University; the western border is marked by Stroud; and the southern boundary is characterized by the middle reaches of the Thames Valley and towns like Cirencester, Lechlade, and Fairford. As far south as Bath, it is possible to view the region’s primary physical characteristics, such as the distinctive rise known as the “Cotswold Edge.”
  • The Cotswolds are located on the borders of several English counties, primarily Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire but also include Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire in some areas. Cleeve Hill, close to the north of Cheltenham, is the highest point in the area, standing at 1,083 feet (330 meters).
  • The Cotswolds are distinguished by charming small towns and villages constructed from the underlying rock, known as Cotswold stone. It is a Jurassic yellow oolitic limestone abundant in fossils, especially fossilized sea urchins. The stone is absorbent, porous, easy to carve, and accessible. The color of the stone varies from north to south: honey-colored stone in the north and northeast of the region, as seen in Cotswold villages such as Stanton and Broadway; golden-colored stone in the central and southern areas, as seen in Dursley and Cirencester; and pearly white stone in Bath.
  • Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Burford, Chalford, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Cricklade, Dursley, Malmesbury, Minchinhampton, Moreton-in-Marsh, Nailsworth, Northleach, Painswick, Stow-on-the-Wold, Stroud, Tetbury, Witney, Winchcombe, and Wotton-under-Edge are among the towns in the Cotswolds. 

ECONOMY

  • According to a 2017 report on employment in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the primary industries producing income were manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade repairs, real estate, renting, and commercial activities. These industries employed about 44% of the local population. 
  • Agriculture is also significant and utilizes about 86% of the land in the AONB. The principal livestock raised are cows, pigs, sheep, barley, beans, rapeseed oil, and wheat. Sheep farming is particularly significant.

TOURISM

  • An essential component of the economy is tourism. In the larger Cotswolds Tourism area, which includes Stroud, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, tourism generated about £1 billion in 2016, supporting 200,000 jobs. 
  • The Cotswold District area alone saw gains of over £373 million from visitor spending on lodging, £157 million on regional attractions and entertainments, and about £100 million on travel in 2016, and received almost 38 million day trips that year.
  • Several tourist guides recommend Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Bibury, and Stanton. Some of these locations can become exceptionally crowded at times. Every year, approximately 300,000 people visit Bourton, with roughly half staying for one day or less.
  • Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Bibury, and Stanton are frequently recommended in travel guides. Some of these places occasionally get very crowded. For instance, over 300,000 people travel to Bourton annually, with about half staying for one day or fewer.
  • Visitors are attracted to the region’s many public footpaths and walking routes, including the Cotswold Way (part of the National Trails System), a 150-kilometer (93-mile) track that runs from Bath to Chipping Campden.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. Cotswolds Distillery

The Cotswolds Distillery welcomes 15,000 guests annually and was recognized in 2016 as having the Best Distillery Tour in the Drinks International Distillery Experience Awards, as well as receiving a Distillery Master award for Consumer Experience from the Spirits Business organization.

2. Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

Gloucester Cathedral, originally the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, is located north of the city close to the River Severn in Gloucester, England. It began in 678 or 679 with the establishment of a monastery devoted to Saint Peter.

3. Cotswolds Wildlife Park & Gardens

Over 260 animal species can be seen at the Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens. On the A361 in Oxfordshire, England, two miles south of Burford, the park is located on 160 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens.

4. Tewkesbury Abbey 

Tewkesbury has served as a place of worship since the 7th century. The current structure began in the early 12th century. It became the parish church for the town following the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

5. Chavenage House, Tetbury

A Grade I listed property, Chavenage Mansion near Beverston, Gloucestershire, is a rural house from the late 16th century. The house is made of Cotswold stone and has a tiled Cotswold stone roof. 

6. Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton

A few miles outside of the Cotswold Hills in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England, is the local brewery known as Hook Norton Brewery. The brewery, established in 1849, is a classic Victorian “tower” brewery, mashing at the top, boiling in the center, fermentation, and racking at the bottom. 

ARTS

The Cotswolds, one of the most beautiful areas of the English countryside, has long served as a source of inspiration for artists and craftspeople. Here are a few well-known Cotswolds residents who have either made the region their home or drawn much inspiration from it:

1 John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

Singer Sargent, one of the most well-known artists of the Edwardian era, studied in Paris before relocating to London when his infamous “Portrait of Madame X” caused a controversy. Singer Sargent had previously stayed in the distant village of Broadway. “Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose” is an 1887 work by John Singer Sargent, inspired by his experience in the Cotswolds.

2.   Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942)

Charles Robert Ashbee was a significant figure in the arts and crafts movement and a British art nouveau jewelry and textile designer. Architect Ashbee also created structures in Sicily, Budapest, and London. He established the Guild and School of Handicraft in 1888, and in 1902 it relocated to Chipping Campden, and the locals in the Cotswolds welcomed the artists.

3. Francis Davis Millet (1848-1912)

One of the earliest people to “find” Broadway as the ideal community for authors and artists was Millet. He co-founded The Broadway Group with John Singer Sargent while living in Russell and Farnham Houses. The mansion at Abbot’s Grange, which he had renovated with William Morris as a studio space, is where he wrote one of his most well-known pieces, “Between Two Fires.”

 4. Frances Emilia Crofton (1822-1910)

Frances Emilia Crofton, a renowned landscape painter of the 19th century, is well recognized for having her original works published as lithograph prints. She and her husband had a home at Clarendon Villas in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on the outskirts of the Cotswolds, and lived between Ireland and England.

 5. William Morris (1834-1896)

William Morris, a well-known designer, had a lease on Kelmscott Manor in the Cotswolds. Morris made the journey to the Cotswolds to escape the pollution of London. He established the Kelmscott Press in 1891, named after his vacation home and inspired by the natural beauty of the 17th-century manor house, to publish limited-edition, illuminated print books.

The Cotswolds Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about The Cotswolds across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about The Cotswolds; the area is home to some of England’s most scenic landscapes with quaint villages, rolling green hills, and winding country lanes.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. The Cotswolds Facts
  2. Match Making
  3. Cod’s Farm on the Wold
  4. Know Your Boundaries
  5. Is It a FACT or A BLUFF?
  6. What WOOL You Do?
  7. I Who Leapt Through Time 
  8. Make a Catchy Catchphrase
  9. I Choose You!t
  10. Word Cross Out
  11. A Virtual Trip to Cotswolds

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called The Cotswolds?

Back in the 12th century, this gorgeous region was owned by an Anglo-Saxon chieftain named Cod; thus, its current name of “Cotswold” derived from his original term for it – “Cod’s world”! In addition to being called such, some even refer to the Cotswolds as ‘King Cod’s land.’

What are Cotswold hills known for?

The area’s unique characteristic is its Jurassic limestone bedrock, which provides a grassland habitat rarely seen in the United Kingdom. This geological peculiarity results in a fascinating landscape – filled with picturesque villages and towns built from the Cotswold stone of golden hue – as well as stately homes and gardens that use this local material to highlight their beauty.

What does Cotswold mean in English?

The Cotswolds are undulating hills dotted with enough sheep to be considered “Cots” in the local dialect. Alternatively, some theories suggest that the name is derived from ‘Cod’s’ and ‘Wold’, meaning a solid connection between this lush countryside area and its traditional inhabitants.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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