An English Gloucestershire market town, Stow-on-the-Wold sits on top of a 700 foot tall hill, at the convergence of a number of roads through the Cotswolds. There used to be a large market fair held biennially: reportedly 20,000 sheep changed hands at one 19th century fair.

Stow's chief claim to history is its role in the English Civil War. A number of fights took place around the area, the local church of St. Edward being damaged in one such skirmish. On 21 March 1646, the Royalists, commanded by Sir Jacob Astley, were defeated at Stow, with hundreds of prisoners being confined for some time in St. Edwards.