Back in August, the Appomattox County Historical Society mailed gifts across the ocean to Stow-on-the-Wold, England. The gifts — four paintings by three local artists — were sent in celebration of Stow-on-the-Wold’s upcoming 375th anniversary of the end of the First English Civil War.

Just as Appomattox is the historic geographical location of the end of the American Civil War, Stow-on-the-Wold is the historic geographical location of the end of the First English Civil War.

Tom Adams, the society’s president, referred to Stow-on-the-Wold as Appomattox’s “sister city.”

He said the relationship between the Appomattox County Historical Society and the Stow Civic Society dates back to 2013. It all started when Derek Taylor of the Stow Civic Society sent a letter to the editor to the Times Virginian.

“Dear Editor: I am writing to offer the hand of friendship across the Atlantic to the people of Appomattox. I live in the small town of Stow-on-the-Wold in the beautiful Cotswolds area of central England. Our town has a great deal in common with Appomattox. Just as your home was the scene of the final battle of the Civil War in 1865, so ours was where, 219 years earlier, the final battle of the first English Civil War was fought,” wrote Taylor.

Within the letter, Taylor said he would like to “forge a link with Appomattox in order to exchange news and opinions about the role of small historic towns in the developed world in twenty-first century.”

Adams did not delay in reaching out to Taylor. The rest is history as the friendship between the two societies, oceans apart, were forged and cultivated.

Later, the Stow Civic Society mailed a handmade quilt to celebrate the 150th anniversary (2015) of the American Civil War.

Fast forward to today with the upcoming Stow’s anniversary on the horizon, the Appomattox County Historical Society desired to return the kindness and honor in the form of a unique gift. That’s when Adams came up with the idea of enlisting the help of local painters.

Adams connected with Gloria Richardson, Frank Thomas and Sherry Pope — all artists and locals who were more than willing to help the society in providing unique gifts to the sister city in England.

Along with the paintings that were mailed, Adams included a letter to the Stow Civic Society,

“In 2015, your organization, and the community of Stowe-on-the-Wold, got together and lovingly produced a beautiful quilt, as a gracious gift to mark our 150th anniversary of the end of the US Civil War in Appomattox in April 1865, which now proudly hangs in our Old Jail Museum & Library.

“The end of this brutal four-year war, came about soon after the Battle of Appomattox Court House, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses Grant in our small community of Appomattox, Virginia, instantly putting us forever into our national history books.

“As you prepare to mark the 375th anniversary (2021), of the end of the First English Civil War, which put your community in your own history books after the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold in 1646, your “sister city” would like to offer you our own gifts to help mark this special occasion.

“Local Appomattox artists, Gloria Richardson, Sherry Moore Pope, and Frank L. Thomas, all produced and donated their works of art, depicting Appomattox battle scenes, as well as one of our own Old Jail Museum & Library. We hope that these would one day decorate the walls of the St Edward’s Hall, which I believe serves as your museum, for all to enjoy.

“We cherish our friendship with Stow-on-the-Wold, as we share so many similarities between our communities in so many ways. We hope that similar interests, future conversations, and possibly visits, between our citizens will foster an even greater bond between ‘sisters.’”

Adams said he hopes that Stow Civic Society will find a nice spot to hang the paintings up for others to enjoy.

“I’d like to thank the artists again for the time and donation of their artwork,” said Adams. “They’re really good pieces of art that they could have sold but they didn’t. They donated it to us to send over there. Now they have the satisfaction of telling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren that they have artwork hanging up in museum over in Stow-on-the-Wold, England. I think that’s pretty neat.”

Adams said the painters are all considered honorary members of the historical society.

To learn more about Stow-on-the-Wold and the Battle of Stow, visit the Stow Civic Society’s web site at www.stowcivicsociety.co.uk. For more information regarding the Appomattox County Historical Society and their upcoming events, visit www.appomattoxhistorical.org.

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