A town with charm

Although only just 12 miles from home, I do not often get chance to visit  the small town of Stockbridge which has recently been named as having one of the prettiest streets in the country.
In fact the town is known mostly for its exceptionally wide main street which just about comprises the majority of the town. The River Test which is renowned for its trout fishing runs through the town and no doubt led to the naming of the town in the annals of time.
The main street is part of the A30 road, once the main highway between the west country and London, and long ago surpassed by the alternative routes provided by the A303 trunk road, the M3 and M27 and M4 motorways. But it provides an intriguing insight into the town’s origins when once sheep were driven through the town, and the main street was also centre for a market, and was once a staging post for coach and horses.
Today it provides a fascinating mix of independent smaller shops and I can spend hours simply exploring and savouring the shops, inns and history of the town.

Small wonder it wins present day acclaim for eye catching splendour, and by that virtue one of the most sought out places to live in the southern part of the country.