HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great Escapes: Oxford 2 Trailing Morse & Churchill The name Winston Churchill is synonymous with with Blenheim Palace, a few miles north-west of Oxford. And while in the area, Inspector Morse fans can pick up the trail of the TV detective. 1 THE TROUT INN, GODSTOW To reach the Trout Inn take the Wolvercote road off the roundabout at the junction of the A34(T) and A40(T). After driving through Wolvercote continue to Godstow Lock. The Trout is on the left as you reach a narrow bridge. There is a small car park at the inn and a second, larger one across the road. Built in the 16th century, the inn has a somewhat chequered history including having been partially destroyed by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War. It was also featured in the Morse episode ‘Wolvercote Tongue’. In the story, Inspector Morse and Sergeant Lewis pay a visit to the Trout in connection with their investigation into the theft of a jewel and the death of its owner Laura Poindexter. 2 MURDER IN WYTHAM WOODS On leaving the Trout, continue over the bridge to the village of Wytham. Situated near a bend in the River Thames, Wytham is notable for its many thatched houses and cottages. But it is the woods which are of interest to lovers of Morse. They were the scene of two murders in ‘The Way Through the Woods’, and it was there that Lewis and Morse faced the armed murderer in the final scene. 3 CHURCHILL'S GRAVE Bladon is situated on the A4095 which crosses the A44 Oxford/Woodstock road at the end of the dual carriageway section. The A4095 is also the road leading to The Caravan Club Site at Bladon Chains (members only) on the edge of the Blenheim estate. The site entrance is about 300 yards from the roundabout at the junction of the A44 and A4095. Continue through the village and fork left up a road to your left marked: Unsuitable for coaches. At the top turn, turn sharp left into Church Street where you can park and walk to the church. Churchill’s grave is on the left, and is surrounded by other members of his family. Inside the church is a small photographic exhibition dedicated to his life with individual photographs on sale at £5 each. 4 IN THE VILLAGE STOCKS As you drive into Woodstock on the A44 you pass the entrance to Blenheim Palace on your left. Don’t worry if it’s closed because there’s a second entrance at the end of Park St. However, before visiting the palace it’s worth looking around the village, so turn right at the car park sign on the A44 and stop in the free car park next to the fire station. The A44 divides the village in two, most of the modern-day houses being on the north side, while the older part is to the south, bordering the Blenheim estate. The High St — which splits in two at its northern end — is full of beautiful stone buildings and even has a set of stocks outside the County Museum. There’s the usual array of pubs and cafés, plus the church of St Mary Magdalene. Continue past the church and you’ll come to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s House in Park St at the end of which is the entrance to Blenheim Palace. 5 CHURCHILL'S BIRTHPLACE Blenheim Palace is open daily from 10.3Oam-5.3Opm from mid-March to the end of October and the grounds are open daily from 9am throughout the year. In summer they close at 6pm and in winter, it’s at 4pm. The Palace was a gift from the nation to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, following his victory over the French at the battle of Blenheim in 1704. But it’s better known as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874. The exhibition commemorating his life is a must-see. 6 SECRET RETREAT AT CHARLBURY Turn left off the A44 about two miles north-west of Woodstock at the Duke of Marlborough pub, follow the B4437 for about five miles, and you come to the little town of Charlbury. Situated in the Evenlode Valley, Charibury, like so many Cotswold towns, comprises an ‘olde woride’ centre surrounded by modern housing estates. At the town’s edge is Cornbury Park which was where The Caravan Club held its National Rally in 2000 — for many of those who attended, possibly the wettest National ever, but still great fun. Sadly, the park is not open to the public. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Historic Oxford  Morse & Churchill  Drive in the country  BACK TO ARCHIVE FACTFILE: PLANNING Distance 30 miles Time Nine hours Start/Finish Cotswold View Caravan Site Suitable for All the family Refreshments The Duke of Marlborough, Woodleys, Woodstock, Oxon. Tel 01993811460 Attractions Blenheim Palace, Woodstock 0X20 iPX Tel 01993 811325 Website Click Here Parish Church of St Martin, Church STreet, Bladon HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Caravan Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.