Chipping Norton is a town in Oxfordshire. Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds it is the highest town in the county and a popular base for tourists.
The Cotswolds were a very rich area of England and because of this Chipping Norton was able to grow in size and importance. Medieval buildings are still standing in the town centre and many more from the 18th century can also be seen.
The town began with a few houses, a church and a castle. Only the earthworks of the castle are now to be seen but the church remains and is one of the old ‘wool churches’.
In the Middle Ages people travelled to Chipping Norton markets and fairs. A market is still held every Wednesday and a ‘Mop Fair’ held annually in September.
Early sheep farming was taken over by arable farming but agriculture was to remain important to the town.
In Victorian times the town was home to the fantastic Bliss tweed mill plus a brewery, glove factory, tannery and an iron foundry.
William Bliss was the founder of the town’s textile industry and used modern equipment in his mill. He built a new mill in 1872 after a fire destroyed the original. The mill was finally closed in 1980 and is now used for domestic accommodation.
Reverend Edward Stone a resident of the town, found that willow bark relieved pain and this was later prepared via esterfication into asprin.
Rental property is always available in Chipping Norton at average costs of £635pcm for a 2 bed flat, £800pcm for a 2 bed house and £1500pcm for a 3 bed house.
Near to Chipping Norton are the Rollright Stones, these make up a stone circle with two related stones.
Jeremy Clarkson, of Top Gear fame, is a resident of Chipping Norton as was the late Ronnie Barker, comedian, who before his death in 2005 ran the local antique shop after his retirement from show business.
|
