A BOROUGH and market town from the early 13th century, Lechlade played a big part in the Cotswold wool trade.

Situated at the point where the River Thames becomes navigable to London, the town was chiefly a staging post for goods and passenger traffic on the river.

Once upon a time barges loaded with Cotswold stone headed for Oxford and London from here, but now the river is mostly populated with leisure craft and Lechlade is a popular place for water activities.

This is the place to hire rowing boats, go sailing or wind-surfing or try your hand at a bit of fishing. The Thames towpath walk also starts here, for those who prefer to be by the water rather than on it.

The 15th century church of St Lawrence dominates the square of this bustling town, surrounded by green meadows.

It was here that the poet Shelley composed his Stanzas in a summer evening churchyard.' The busy St John's Lock on the outskirts of the town is the first of many locks on the way to London, and here you'll find the Neptune-like statue of Old Father Thames, watching over all the activity He was originally created for the Great Exhibition in 1851.