Castle Combe: Was it closed the day we visited!

On Thursday last we visited the picturesque Wiltshire village of Castle Combe, often referred to as the prettiest village in England. Many people will know that it was here that the film 'Dr Doolittle' was filmed some years ago, the village being transformed by the film crew.
The last time I was there was probably about 45 years ago, and little has changed in all those years as far as the village 

itself is concerned.
Sad to say, I would not particularly want to return to Castle Combe in the future because we found that it was fairly devoid of life. It was almost as though all the inhabitants had been spirited out of the area, and that there was just us and no more than a dozen other visitors to be found. It was just as though the village was little more than a tourist attraction that was closed for the season.
We called at the Rectory Tea Shop only to find that to gain entry you had to ring a bell for the owner to appear. When she did we were advised that it was a cream tea or nothing! I don't think that I have ever visited a tea shop before where there was no choice, only what the owner decided for you!!!
I also called at the pub as we were leaving the village for an ice-cream, the money for which was taken with little friendliness and certainly no grace.
What a pity that these two people did nothing to persuade me that I should ever return to the village in the future. As ambassadors for the place where they made their living they failed miserably!