Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Woodstock is a

In the Hundred Rolls of 1279 Woodstock is described as a vill, but a burgess is alluded to in the same document, and it returned two members to parliament as a borough in 1302 and 1305. The earliest known municipal charter was that from Henry VI in 1453, establishing the vill of New Woodstock a free borough, with a merchant guild, and incorporating the burgesses under the title of the "Mayor and Commonalty of the Vill of New Woodstock." The borough was exempted from sending representatives to parliament, but started to return two members in the 16th century.^[3]

Near the village was Woodstock Palace, a residence that was popular with several English kings throughout the medieval period. The building was destroyed in the English Civil War. 60 years later the palace remains were cleared for the building of Blenheim Palace. From the 16th century the town prospered by making gloves. In the 17th century the town was altered greatly, when the 1st Duke of Marlborough became a permanent resident. The town had a successful fine steelwork industry by 1720 and by 1742 its products were of high enough quality to be considered viable diplomatic gifts.^[6] By the end of the 18th century this had developed into cut steel jewellery.^[6] Today it is largely dependent on tourists, many of whom visit Blenheim Palace.

Bell-foundry

By 1626 James Keene, who had a bell-foundry in Bedford, had started one in Woodstock.^[7] Until 1640 another member of the family, Humphrey Keene, was a bell-founder with him.^[7] James died in 1654 and was succeeded by his son Richard.^[8] Richard Keene apparently closed the Woodstock foundry in the 1680s^[8] but continued casting bells at Royston, Hertfordshire, until 1703.^[7]

Numerous parish churches still have one or more bells cast by the Keenes, including at

The Palace was designed by John Vanbrugh, in a heavy Italo-Corinthian style. It was designated to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough. Most of the palace was paid for by the nation. Churchill had been given the manor in perpetuity in honour of his victories over the French and the Bavarians at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession. The original manor, mostly ruined, was demolished as part of the project.^[3]

The greater part of the art treasures and curios were sold off in 1886, as was the great library collected by Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland, the son-in-law of the first Duke of Marlborough, in 1881. The magnificent park contains Fair Rosamund's Well, near which stood her bower. On the summit of a hill stands a column commemorating the duke. Blenheim Park forms a separate parish.^[3]

Blenheim Palace will be the hosting venue for the 4th European Political Community Summit on 18 July 2024.^[9][10]

Elizabeth I

When

The River Glyme, in a steep valley, divides the town into New and Old Woodstock.^[3] The town had two main suburbs: Hensington to the south and east of the town centre, and Old Woodstock to the north. Woodstock Town Hall was built in 1766 to designs by Sir William Chambers.^[12] The almshouses were built in 1798 on behalf of Caroline, duchess of Marlborough. Chaucer's House was once home to Chancellor of England, Thomas Chaucer, thought to be the son of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer.^[13]

The Church of England parish church of St Mary Magdalene has a Norman doorway.^[14] The church has a turret clock that John Briant of Hertford made in 1792.^[15] The parish is now part of the Benefice of Blenheim, which also includes Begbroke, Bladon, Shipton-on-Cherwell and Yarnton.^[16] The Oxfordshire Museum, the county museum of Oxfordshire, occupies a large historic house, Fletcher's House, in the centre of Woodstock. The museum has a garden containing works of art and a Dinosaur Garden with a full-size replica of a Megalosaurus.^[17] Both the primary school and The Marlborough School, the secondary school, are in Shipton Road. There is nursery provision through WUFA (Woodstock Under Fives Association).^[18] Oxford School of Drama is at Sansom's Farm, in the north of Woodstock parish.^[19] The current^[when?] Mayor of the Town is Nick Manby-Brown.^[20]

Media

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC South and ITV Meridian. Television signals are received from the Oxford TV transmitter. ^[21] Local radio stations are BBC Radio Oxford on 95.2 FM, Heart South on 102.6 FM, Greatest Hits Radio South (formerly Jack FM) on 106.4 FM and Witney Radio, a community based station which broadcast to the town on 90.2 FM. ^[22] The town is served by the local newspapers, Oxfordshire Guardian and Bicester Advertiser. ^{[23] [24]}

Sport and leisure

Woodstock has a Non-League football club, Woodstock Town, who play at New Road, and were promoted to the Hellenic Football League Premier Division for the 2008–09 season. They are currently^[when?] in the Hellenic League Division 2 North.

Notable people

Mary Brook who wrote about prayer was born here in about 1726. Her writing was published in several languages and editions.^[25]

Citations

General and cited sources

• ISBN 0-460-04194-0
  .
• Ballard, Adolphus (1896). Chronicles of the Royal Borough of Woodstock. Compiled From the Borough Records and Other Original Documents. Oxford: Alden & Co.
• ISBN 0-903364-06-9
  .
• Crossley, Alan;
  ISBN 978-0-19722-774-9
  .
• Jenkins, S.C. (1987). The Woodstock Branch. Wild Swan Publications.
  ISBN 0-906867-51-7
  .
• Marshall, Edward (1873). The Early History of Woodstock Manor and Its Environs, in Bladon, Hensington, New Woodstock, Blenheim: With Later Notices. London & Oxford: James Parker & Co.
• Sherwood, Jennifer;
  ISBN 0-14-071045-0
  .
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Woodstock (England)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 804.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

• Wake Up to Woodstock – guide to events, services, accommodation and news
• Woodstock Guide – guide to events, amenities, services, businesses and accommodation
• Woodstock Website – guide to accommodation, attractions, businesses and information