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Cricklade is an ancient village. The remains of a Saxon mint were found here by archaeologists, along with Roman and later remains. The village lies on the infant river Thames and was busy and prosperous during the Middle Ages. At the north end of the high street there is an extremely rare survivor. As most of lowland Britain’s meadows were ploughed up, those pockets that remained grew ever smaller, until efforts were made to save the last few remaining. North Meadow, or Nar Mead as it is know locally, is one of these.

Just by the old stone bridge over the Thames you reach the ancient water meadow. In spring and summer it is a mass of rare and beautiful flowers, including the snake’s head fritillary, which blooms in April – the presence of these rare flowers explains why the meadow has been a designated nature reserve since 1973. North Meadow’s 45ha (112 acres) have never been sprayed with modern chemicals, or ploughed or damaged in any way. In medieval and earlier times ‘right holders’ in the village grazed their animals on the mead between 12 August and 12 February.

The word ‘meadow’ has the same meaning as old church ‘lammas’ meaning ‘harvest festival’, (from loaf mass) land.

SECRETS

While you’re there

Visit CRICKLADE itself, a remarkably quiet unspoilt town well off the beaten track. The straight road along which the town is built was set out by Alfred the Great.

Secret place to stay

STANTON HOUSE HOTEL, Stanton Fitzwarren (stantonhouse.co.uk). An elegant stone house overlooking Stanton lake and park.

North Meadow is full of snake’s head fritillaries in late spring.