A “Miscellany” is a group or collection of different items; a mixture. This is an apt description for this book as it does what it says in the title; it is a collection of different items about Mickleton notably in respect of its historical and topographical characteristics. It is not, however, a complete history or description of the village. Nor are the items in any particular order. Each item is a separate entity and should be read as such. Collectively, however, it is a selection of relevant and hopefully interesting facts that relate to Mickleton as a village, it’s environs, history and place in the Cotswolds. An appropriate subtitle could be ”I never knew that about Mickleton”.
Mickleton is in an interesting position, both literally and metaphorically, being at the interface between the Vale and Cotswold hills. Despite being the most northerly village in the Gloucestershire and North Cotswold District it is not quintessentially Cotswold; it has its own unique history and character which is much influenced by its geographical position. It is, however, in many respects a typical English village, which in turn has also had an influence on its development and history. This book tries to elucidate some of these influences.
The life and character of Mickleton has also changed out of all recognition over the years. It has moved from a largely agrarian society to a much more diverse and largely non-agrarian community; a change that has probably been most marked since the middle of the twentieth century. Some of these changes are hinted at in this book.
There is no doubt much more that can be told about Mickleton; the author would be interested to receive new information and comment on any aspect about Mickleton. In fact, it is hoped that this miscellany will simulate further investigation and elucidation. Some of the items included were fairly straightforward to research, whereas others required a degree of interpretation and supposition. In this respect the views expressed are purely those of the author.
The main sources for the items were a number of publications - the most relevant of which are listed in the section on further reading, the internet, the worldwide web of which there are too many sources to list, and personal communication some of which has been gleaned over many years. The author is most grateful for any help given.
Chris Knight, 2020 (Version 1.0)
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