The Cotswolds are a range of limestone hills running over 80km (50 miles) in a north – easterly direction from Bath. The thin soils here are difficult to plough but ideal for grazing sheep, and the wealth engendered by the medieval wool trade was poured into building majestic churches and opulent town houses.

Many of the villages in the Cotswolds are built almost entirely from stone. Huge deposits of limestone in the region resulted in a wealth of stone buildings. Masons worked from distinctive local designs that were handed down from generation to generation. 

The golden brown to cream stone that is typically seen in Cotswolds villages is a Jurassic oolitic limestone. Cotswold stone is warmer-toned in the north due to being stained with iron, pearly in central areas and light grey in the south. The stone seems to glow with absorbed sunlight. It is limestone that is easily carved and can be used for many purposes, from building to bridges , headstones and gargoyles.