The Cotswold Hills - 2002

Random Recollections

• This is the area that my ancestors came from. It is also the area from which the Packer name originated. Packers were individuals who stuffed wool into sacks.
• We were fortunate to be able to see an old mill in Whitney that was being converted to nice condominiums. Nearby stood a line of row houses possibly inhabited by our ancestors as they worked by day to move goods from agrarian producers to urban consumers.
• We tried to find Donnington Castle, which was owned by Packers and their descendents for several hundred years, but were unable to locate it in the time available. We were most interested in the Cotswold Water Park for birding, but we were very near Donnington and the castle according to signs in the area.
• The Water Park consisted of a large number of shallow ponds and lakes near the head waters of the River Thames. The area was beautiful and largely undeveloped. We had a great time spotting the birds and enjoying the scenery.