St Lawrence's Church, Stretton Grandison

Stretton Grandison Church has an idyllic, almost “chocolate box” setting, overlooking the valley of the River Frome.

The Grandison family who gave their name to the existing settlement of Stretton are first recorded in the 13th century. Their castle was at Ashperton, with their lands presumably extending to Stretton, where there had been a Roman market town. The village itself is on the Roman Road between Leominster and Gloucester (now the A417)

John, Bishop of Exeter, and responsible for much of the building of the Cathedral, belonged to the Grandison family, as did Katherine, who lost her garter and returned it to Edward III with a remark which has gone down in history: “Honi soit qui mal y pense” - motto of the Order of the Garter.

(Information provided by Rosemary Lockie)