Northleach is one of about a dozen `small' Cotswold towns, most laid out originally in the twelfth or thirteenth century. The attractive market place at Northleach lies east of the impressive church, and in the fork of a Y shaped settlement built originally on land owned by Gloucester Abbey. Its location to the north of the River Leach which rises nearby gives the town its name.
Between the mid fourteenth and mid sixteenth centuries, the wool merchants of Northleach bought fleeces from local farmers for export. Such men used their wealth to make Northleach Church into one of the finest examples of the Cotswold Perpendicular Style. Their memorial brasses are to be found within the church, and may be `rubbed' with prior permission. There are several impressive buildings in Northleach dating back to Tudor days. Many are half timbered like Tudor House or The Red Lion. Some have encroached into the market place itself (like the Post Office). There are also a number of Almshouses in the town which add to the general attractiveness of the traditional street scene.
For a really unique experience, one should visit Keith Hardings World of Mechanical Music.In the Oak House, a lovely building just off the main square, there is a special place in the heart of England noted for traditional standards of British craftsmanship and hospitality. Here, in a period setting in the beautiful Cotswolds, is a unique collection of self-playing musical instruments presented as a live entertainment. Here are also what has been described as “the best gift shop in the Cotswolds”, and the world famous restoration workshops, which serve discerning collectors from all over the world. The musical boxes, antique and new, are internationally renowned for the exceptionally high quality of their appearance and their musical performance.
This is probably the best selection of musical boxes and musical collector’s items you will find anywhere, and an astonishing assortment of items both nostalgic and scientific. There is also a large range of books on clocks and mechanical music, and recordings. The museum houses an amazing variety of self playing instruments and automata that might have been found in the home before regular broadcasting started in 1924, all in superb condition, and presented as a live entertainment by the well-informed guides. Many of the items are for sale, as this is a constantly changing collection. The World of Mechanical Music is open all the year round, seven days a week, except for Christmas and Boxing Day.
There are two sorts of country pub - one set amidst fields and by rivers and the other in the heart of a real market town. For one of the best examples of this second type you can do no better than go to The Red Lion in the Market Place. The welcome is always warm and friendly and the pub is much used by the local townspeople - always a sign that the food and drink are good. And if you do decide to stay in the area for a few days, Northleach makes an excellent base for touring and The Red Lion's accommodation is comfortable and well appointed.