Chipping Norton to the Rollright Stones
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Chipping Norton, or Chippy as it's known locally, has always been a prosperous town. Even back as far as the 15th century, it was a major thriving wool town.
The name, like Chipping Campden and Chipping Sodbury, comes from the Old English ceapen meaning market. In Middle English, the word chepynge was introduced which meant long Market Square and that is equally applicable.
Today, Chipping Norton a vibrant town, with lots of shops, pubs and restaurants. Ronnie Barker used to own an antiques business on the High Street. It's not too 'touristy' although the 'Chipping Norton Set', celebrities like David Cameron, Jeremy Clarkson, David Beckham and others who live in the area, ensure that the town maintains a high profile.
One of the best things about the town, in my opinion, is the all day free car park on New Street. It really encourages you to spend time there.
St Mary the Virgin, Chipping Norton
At the end of Church Street, you can find the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary the Virgin, sitting near the bottom of the hill on which the town centre now stands.
The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book, listed as Nortone, and a Norman castle was built. The church was built on a neighbouring plot in the 12th century but in the early 13th century it was left behind as the settlement and a new market place were established nearer the top of the hill.
The Cornish Almshouses
As you walk up Church Street towards the town, you pass these pretty almshouses and they're well worth a look. They were built by a local worthy, Henry Cornish, who died in 1650.
Although Henry and his wife had twelve children, ten of them died in childhood and the other two in their 30s. As he had no heirs, he left the bulk of his money to provide for the poor. The almshouses, for example, were built for 'eight aged widows of honest and godly life and conversation'.
He left money for forty other widows, money to clothe poor people and at least twelve other properties in the town to be rented at a fair rent to people who needed them.
Chipping Norton Theatre
The theatre building began as a Salvation Army citadel in 1888 but was given a whole new lease of life in 1968 when Tamara and John Malcolm, two Shakespearean actors, bought it and created the theatre, which opened its doors in 1975.
These days Chipping Norton Theatre (know as Chippy Theatre locally) is a great tourist attraction and community hub, providing live theatre, cinema, live music and workshops. It's particularly famous for its annual panto - at time of writing, the panto is back on this year until the 9th January, 2022.
Chipping Norton Lido
If outdoor entertainment is more up your street, then Chipping Norton Lido is the place to visit. With outdoor heated pools, a toddler pool, cafe and large lawned area Chippy Lido is a perfect place to relax.
Chipping Norton Town Hall and Museum
The Town Hall was rebuilt in 1842 in a striking classical Georgian style to replace an earlier building. The grandeur was to represent the wealth of the wool town at the time.
Across the street from the steps of the Town Hall is Chipping Norton Museum, run by volunteers from the Chipping Norton Local History Society. As well as several hands-on exhibits, there is a reference section for family history research.
The Rollright Stones
We decided to take a walk over from Chipping Norton to the Rollright Stones. The walk starts on a public footpath down the side of St Mary's Church, climbing the hill behind and giving a lovely panoramic view of the town. The footpath is easy to follow, crossing fields until it eventually comes to a tarmac lane where you turn right. Following this lane to a crossroads, you go straight ahead onto Main Street and turn left fairly soon onto Choicehill Road, signposted 'Little Rollright/Rollright Stones'.
Walking along pavements, past houses, the road soon becomes a very quiet country lane and you take this for about 3/4 of a mile. Turn left at the next major junction and follow this road for just over a mile and a half. Again it's a quiet road with very little traffic and pretty views. At the next crossroads, turn right, signposted 'Rollright Stones half a mile'.
What is known collectively as the Rollright Stones is actually a complex of three sites of standing stones, the oldest of which is about 5000 years old.
The King's Men
The King's Men is a ceremonial stone circle built around 2,500BC.
It would originally have had a portalled entrance, a levelled interior and over one hundred standing stones in a rough circle.
The number of stones has dwindled over the years as stones were taken away for building or bridge making.
The Whispering Knights
This structure is by far the oldest of the three sites, predating the King's Men by over one thousand years.
It's an early Neolithic burial chamber and would originally have had two or three upright stones, supporting a capstone.
The King Stone
The King Stone stands across the road from the other two structures.
Although there are legends that speak of the stone as a petrified King, it is more likely that the stone was erected as a marker for a cemetery as human remains from several periods have been found nearby.
Before the Stones were protected in 1882, drovers and travellers used to chip off parts of the stone as protection or to use as a talisman, hence its strange shape.
Despite their great age, the Stones are very much part of everyday life. Episodes of Doctor Who have been filmed there and songs have been written about them. Modern groups of pagans and Wiccans hold a lot of their ceremonies there, especially those celebrating the summer and winter solstices.
All in all, this is a perfect day out - a dip into ancient history, a long, scenic walk and a potter round a lovely Cotswold town. Enjoy!
Sue McGreal
Photos © Sue McGreal
Last updated: 23 August 2023 - Please note: This blog was first written over a year old and things may have changed since the blog was written.
