Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
Chipping Norton is a town in Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. It is the highest town in the county. Popular with tourists who use it as a gateway to the nearby Cotswolds, Chipping Norton is a lively town that services a wide number of surrounding villages, continuing the tradition that gave it its name.
The Chipping in Chipping Norton means market, revealing the town's past importance as a commercial centre for the Evenlode valley. In medieval times, the Cotswolds were one of the wealthiest parts of England due to the production of wool. At that time, Chipping Norton grew in importance. Many of the medieval buildings built as a result remain in the town centre, adding to its character. There are also many buildings dating from the 18th century.
James Hird was born in 1616 in the town. He was a notorious highwayman in the area. He was executed for high treason in 1652, making him a long-surviving highway man.
The town owes much to William Bliss, who established the foundation of the textile industry using 'modern' technology of the industrial revolution. After a blaze at the old works he built the impressive new mill in 1872, which remains a landmark on the edge of the town. The mill closed in 1980 and has since been converted into luxury accommodation.
The nearby comprise a stone circle and two sets of related standing stones, and are preceded only by Avebury and Stonehenge in terms of importance.
The Town has an excellent website at
