Once a centre for cloth-weaving, the village lies in a hollow and is approached through a deep valley, shaded by tall trees. The houses and cottages, church and 15th century market cross are all of mellow, honey-coloured Cotswold Stone. The roofs are pitched steeply to allow rain and snow to drain off the porous stone tiles. The cottages on the right of the Bybrook are all 17 th century. Castle Combe was chosen in 1962 as the prettiest village in England and was used as a set in the film Dr Doolittle.