People have lived in this beautiful corner of the Cotswolds for thousands of years; Winchcombe's oldest surviving landmark is the nearby Neolithic long barrow at Belas Knap. The town itself came to prominence in the ninth century, when Winchcombe became an important administrative centre for the king of Mercia and an influential abbey was built.This book does not claim to be a comprehensive history of the area; it seeks to tell the story of Winchcombe through buildings, or less substantial clues, that can be seen around the town or nearby. Sometimes, all that is left is a road name or a piece of carved stone; at other times, there is much of interest to be appreciated.