Painswick is the 'Queen of the Cotswolds'. The charming narrow streets are left silent as the main road cuts across the top edge of the town centre. The houses are built in Painswick stone, which contributed to the building of Gloucester Cathedral. The arched doorways show where the wool bearing packhorses went in. The National Trust's Little Fleece Bookshop was part of the 14th century Fleece Inn; now it's a retreat for database programmers! For the literary minded, this is 'Cider with Rosie' country - you're 2 miles from Laurie Lee's village, Slad. In St Mary`s churchyard there are 99 yew trees, and of all the artistically shaped yews of the Cotswold churchyards, these must be the most striking. At the annual September Clipping Ceremony the congregation and the choir encircle the church, and the children receive a free bun. The 17th century tower was struck by lightning in 1883, the top falling through the nave roof and damaging the tombs of some of the wool merchants' tombs inside the church. It was a working town in woollen industry days, and there are a number of mills, such as Painswick Mill in Knap Lane, where cloth was made. Just outside Painswick is the Rococo Garden.