Those that have visited the popular Cotswold market town of Stow on the Wold will know what a beautiful town it is. Steeped in history and nestled in an area surrounded by beautiful countryside and other amazing towns such as Moreton in Marsh, Broadway and Burford to mention a few.
Our gallery is located right in the centre of Stow on the Wold in a building know as Talbot House. Formerly known as the Fosse Way Hotel, it dates from the early 1700s. It is built of coursed rubble, having three storeys and an attic, with a Cotswold stone roof and is Grade II listed by English Heritage. The building itself is indeed a piece of art!
Currently we have over 200 paintings from a range of the best living contemporary artists on display over the three floors. And as we specialise in showing a broad range of styles, you’re sure to find something you’ll love! 
So when thinking about visiting our gallery why not make a day, a weekend, or even a week of it and explore the area? Here’s a little snippet of the history of this beautiful market town;
Stow-on-the-Wold is an ancient Cotswold Wool Town situated beside The Fosse Way, the Roman road that runs from Exeter to Lincoln. It is set on a rounded hill at a height of about 800 feet above sea level. This elevated position, and the effects of the wind and rain have encouraged the creation of the enclosed town square. Keeping the winter winds out of the town centre does, to certain extent, seem to work! It is a delightful market town and along with Moreton in Marsh, perhaps the best known of the small Cotswold towns. The word ‘wold’ as in Cotswold means hills, so Stow-on-the-Wold simply means Holy Place on the Hill.
The large Market Square testifies to the town’s former importance. At one end stands the ancient cross, and at the other the town stocks, shaded by an old elm tree. Around the square the visitor is faced with an elegant array of Cotswold town houses. At the height of the Cotswold wool industry the town was famous for its huge annual fairs where as many as 20,000 sheep were sold at one time from as far away as Wales.
Originally called Stow St. Edward or Edwardstow after the town’s patron saint Edward, is said to have originated as an Iron Age fort on this defensive position on a hill. The Abbey of Evesham obtained the Manor of Stow as early as 714. Originally the small settlement was controlled by abbots from the local abbey, and when the first weekly market was set up in 1107 by Henry I, he decreed that the proceeds go to Evesham Abbey.
In 1476, Edward IV gave a charter to the town authorising two fairs, the first on the 12 May, the other on the 24 October. Over 500 years later these dates are still used to fix the two horse fairs held each year.
The Kings Arms is a good example of a coaching inn where the main entrance was through the arch leading to the stables. Charles I stayed here about the time of the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In March 1646, the last important battle of the Civil War ended in the Square. The Parliamentary army under thecommand of Colonel Morgan overwhelmed Sir Jacob Astley’s Royalist army. 1000 prisoners were held in the Parish Church while the wounded were laid in Digbeth Street. It is said the street ran with blood.
So, in and around this hill top town of Stow-on-the-Wold was fought the last battle of the English Civil War which was ultimately to lead to the execution of the king and to lay the foundation of our parliamentary democracy.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
