St Peter’s Wootton Wawen, near Stratford-upon-Avon, is one of the oldest structures in England’s Midlands. Its tower dates back to the 900s, if not earlier.

A millennium exhibition in the barn-roofed Lady Chapel explores Wootton’s mysterious past, including how it got its very odd name. Wagen (‘Wawen’) was the Saxon lord of the manor a thousand years ago.

Six extraordinary paintings, especially commissioned from Philip Shepherd RWS, trace the history of Wootton Wawen through the ages. Roads and ponds appear and disappear, a Saxon monastery is succeeded by a Norman priory, the river changes course, village life visibly transforms – and at the centre St Peter’s reflects the spiritual aspirations of every generation in turn.

William Shakespeare was here, so was a King fleeing for his life; and is the secret wife of a Prince of Wales the ‘grey lady’ whose scent still hangs in Wootton Hall?

St Peter’s Wootton Wawen is a one-stop encyclopaedia of English history, a favourite excursion for Birmingham and Coventry schools, but also a fascinating place to visit for anyone of any age who wants to journey into the past on any day of the year. Admission is free.

With its original web-style presentation, the Saxon Sanctuary Exhibition tells the colourful story of a village in the magical Forest of Arden. Links on the display refer the visitor to a souvenir handbook for further details, which are themselves updated here at What's New as research continues.