Witney

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Map sources for Witney at grid reference SP3509
Map sources for Witney at grid reference SP3509
High Street in Witney.
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High Street in Witney.

"Witney" is also the name of a UK Parliament constituency.

Witney is a town (population: 22,765 — 2001 census) in Oxfordshire, England, 12 miles west of Oxford and just north of the A40 trunk road.

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[edit] Architecture

In recent years, the town has expanded rapidly (with the building of the Madley Park housing estate), but has still retained its charms as a market town on the edge of the Cotswolds. The market dates back to the Middle Ages, and the market square, at the top of the High Street, features one of the town's most distinctive landmarks: the Buttercross, so called because people from neighbouring towns would gather there to buy butter and eggs. The building is medieval but features a clock that was added in 1683. Thursday is the traditional market day but Saturday also sees a market taking place. The other main landmark is the Parish Church of St Mary's which was built in the 13th century and is a fine example of one of several large churches in the area associated with the Medieval wool trade. The town also has a fine Methodist chapel which stands in the middle of the High Street.

The town hall dates from the 17th century and, according to local legend, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, although there is little evidence to support this claim. West End, on the road to Hailey, is one of Britain's best preserved streets, and was the inspiration for the song Just an Old Fashioned House in an Old Fashioned Street. Although it's called West End, it's actually on the northern side of the Town and gets its name from the days, many years ago, when it was not actually in Witney Parish but at the west end of the adjoining Hailey village church parish.

[edit] Blankets

The small town has been famous for its blankets since the Middle Ages. The water for the production of these blankets is drawn from the River Windrush, which was believed to be the secret of Witney's high quality blankets. At one time, there were five blanket factories in the town but, with the closure of the largest blanket maker Early's, a few years ago, the town's blanket industry has completely ceased to exist.

[edit] Brewing

For many years, Witney had a brewery — Clinch and Co., which was later taken over by Courage, who closed down the brewing operation. However, in recent years, on the site of the old brewery, brewing was revived by the establishment of a micro brewery now known as the Wychwood Brewery, whose most well-known beer, Hobgoblin, stands alongside their other speciality ales which can be found across Europe.

[edit] Museums

Witney has two museums — Cogges Manor Farm Museum, housed in the old manor house of Cogges, which is dedicated to farming and countryside history and the Witney and District Museum, which has many artifacts and documents covering the history of the town.

[edit] Politics

Witney is known as a Conservative safe seat, and as such has been the constituency for both Douglas Hurd and the current leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron. This clear party preference led to controversy when Shaun Woodward was appointed to replace the retiring Hurd as Conservative candidate. He was duly elected, but switched allegiance to the Labour Party on them winning the election. This resulted in Witney being a Labour seat until the next election, when Woodward stood as a Labour candidate elsewhere.

[edit] Environs

Nearby settlements include Abingdon, Bampton, Bicester, Burford, Carterton, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Cirencester, Faringdon, Oxford, Swindon, and Wantage.

[edit] Schools

Witney has three secondary schools — The Henry Box School, Wood Green School and the Kings School (as part of the OCC) . Henry Box has stood second in the exam tables within Oxfordshire. the Kings School is a Christian school made from pastors and Christian parents wanting more for the Christian youth in Oxfordshire.

[edit] Famous people

Famous people associated with Witney include:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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