Why is the Cotswolds Called the Cotswolds? A brief history.

The Cotswolds – a name that rolls off the tongue as smoothly as its rolling hills. But have you ever stopped to wonder where that name actually comes from and the history of the Cotswolds? It’s got a delightfully old-English ring to it, and like many place names in the UK, it’s steeped in history. Let’s take a journey back in time to uncover the origins of ‘Cotswolds’ and the woolly legends that shaped this beautiful region.

Cots + Wolds = The Land of Sheep and Hills

The name ‘Cotswolds’ is a combination of two Old English words:

• ‘Cots’, meaning sheep enclosures or shelters.

• ‘Wolds’, meaning gentle hills or uplands.

Put them together and you get ‘the sheep enclosures in the hills’ – which is pretty much the perfect description of the Cotswolds. For centuries, this landscape has been dominated by sheep farming, and it’s this very trade that made the region incredibly wealthy in medieval times.

The Cotswolds: A Brief History

The Cotswolds has been a prime spot for human activity since prehistoric times. The Neolithic people built burial mounds here, the Romans set up grand villas, and in medieval times, it became the beating heart of England’s wool industry. The area’s rolling hills, covered in lush grass, were ideal for grazing sheep, and the wool they produced was in high demand across Europe.

During the Middle Ages, wool from the Cotswolds was known as some of the finest in the world. Merchants made their fortunes selling it to Flemish weavers, and the proceeds funded the stunning honey-coloured stone churches and grand market towns we see today. The saying went: “In Europe, the best wool is English, and the best English wool is Cotswold.”

But what made this wool so special? Enter the Cotswold Lion.

The Cotswold Lion – The King of Sheep

The Cotswold Lion isn’t a big cat prowling the hills – it’s a majestic breed of sheep. With their golden, shaggy fleece and noble bearing, these sheep were once the pride of England’s wool trade and fundamental to the history of the Cotswolds. .

These sheep are thought to have been around since Roman times, but it was in the medieval period that they truly flourished. Their long, lustrous wool was perfect for high-quality cloth, making it highly sought after. The wool trade boomed, and towns like Cirencester, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Chipping Campden became thriving wool centres.

However, like all good things, the golden age of Cotswold wool came to an end. By the 19th century, cheaper wool from abroad and industrialisation meant that the Cotswold Lion population dwindled. Thankfully, in recent years, conservation efforts have helped bring this historic breed back from the brink, and you can still see them grazing on the hills today – a living link to the past.

A Landscape Shaped by Sheep

The influence of sheep farming on the Cotswolds is everywhere. Many of the grand wool churches, with their intricate carvings and towering spires, were built with money from wool merchants. The region’s picturesque dry stone walls, which criss-cross the landscape, were originally built to manage grazing sheep. Even the layout of villages reflects this pastoral heritage, with wide greens and ancient sheep fairs still celebrated in places like Tetbury and Northleach.

The Cotswolds Today – A Timeless Escape

While the wool trade no longer dominates life in the Cotswolds, its legacy lives on. Today, the region is better known for its postcard-perfect villages, cosy pubs, and stunning countryside walks. But if you look closely, you’ll see the story of the Cotswolds history and sheep-filled past woven into every stone cottage, market town, and rolling green field.

So next time you visit the Cotswolds, spare a thought for the shaggy Cotswold Lion and the medieval merchants who turned this quiet corner of England into a woolly wonderland.

Discover more history of the Cotswolds in James Illustrates quirky, captivating and unique illustrated map. It's the perfect as a unique Cotswolds gift for him, for her or for a house warming, mothers or fathers day, a birthday or thinking ahead for Christmas! Click to buy a Cotswolds print or tea towel.

James Illustrates currently has six illustrated maps for sale in three sizes. Norfolk, Cornwall, The Lake District National Park, Dorset, Devon and The Cotswolds. Norfolk, Cornwall and The Lake District National Park are also available as tea towels.