 THE
PARISH CHURCH
Dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, Witney’s parish church stands
on Church Green and is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings
in the town. Work started on the church some time between 1070 and
1100; the north aisle was added in the 12th century and in the 13th
century the chancel was rebuilt and the tower and west aisle were
added. Two beautiful chantry chapels were added a century later
and in the 15th century the clerestory virtually completed the church
as we see it today. A restoration was carried out in 1865 - 69 by
G.E. Street.
The church is marked by a graceful 150 foot spire whilst in its
tower is a fine ring of eight bells. Other features of interest
include 15th century brasses to the distinguished local Wenman family
of that period whilst in the north transept is a quite enormous
early 14th century window that is said to be the finest of the Decorated
period in Oxfordshire.
COGGES CHURCH
Also of historic and architectural interest is the
church, also dedicated to St Mary, at Cogges. Commenced in the 11th
century it was added to over the next three centuries with the rather
unusual square and octagonal tower dating from the 14th century.
Of note within the building is a 14th century tomb that is said
to be of Joan de Grey who was once the ‘Lady of the Manor’
of Cogges.
THE BUTTERCROSS
Sta nding
in the very heart of Witney, the Buttercross is said to be the base
of an ancient preaching cross - of uncertain age.
In 1606 the sum of £50 was given by Richard Ashcombe to build
a cover over the cross and in 1683 a bequest by William Blake of
Cogges enabled a clock to be placed on top of the building. The
Buttercross was refurbished in the 19th century and the clock mechanism
was replaced in 1962.
THE TOWN HALL
In the Market Square is the Town Hall which was built in the 17th
century by a man said to have been apprenticed to Sir Christopher
Wren. Corn was bought and sold under the building’ s arches
until the Corn Exchange was opened in the 19th century. On the Town
Hall’s upper floor is the Council Chamber which at one time
was let out as a carpenter’s workshop. The room is now, however,
once again used as the meeting place for the Town Council.
THE CORN EXCHANGE
Another of the Market Square’ s buildings, the Corn Exchange
dates from 1863, a demonstration of the agricultural prosperity
of the town. In a classical style of architecture, the building
was restored in 1978 and is used nowadays both as a cinema and a
public hall for meetings and social events.
THE BLANKET HALL
Built in 1721 as the Guild Hall for the blanket weavers, the Blanket
Hall still stands in the High Street. Every blanket made in and
around Witney had to be taken to the Blanket Hall to be measured
and weighed to ensure the high quality for which Witney was famous.
In 1844 the Hall was sold and became a brewery. It is now a private
house. On the front of the building, which is in the local Baroque
style, is an unusual one-handed  clock.
ALMSHOUSES Witney has three groups of almshouses. Holloways, beside
the parish church, were given by John Holloway in the 18th century
and were refurbished in 1868.
Townsend Almshouses, on the old Oxford Road near Newland, date from
1821. William Townsend was a successful London businessman who had
been born in Witney. He gave money to build the almshouses for “aged
unmarried women”
The third set of almshouses is on Church Green near the Henry Box
School. They were first mentioned in 1652 but by the end of the
18th century they were in such a poor state of repair that they
had to be rebuilt. They were further modernised in 1814 after which
they ceased to be almshouses and were let for rent. The money from
the rents was used to buy food, mainly bread and beef, for the poor
and so the cottages, which still stand today on the edge of the
green, are known as the Bread and Beef Houses.
MUSEUMS The town has three museums all of which present interesting
facets of Witney, its history and industries.
The Witney and District Museum, located at Gloucester Court Mews
in the High Street, houses a permanent exhibition that highlights
the town’s history and heritage. It also features temporary
exhibitions. It is open to the public from April to October. Information
from 775915.
Incorporating parts of the oldest domestic building in the Witney
area, the Cogges Manor Farm Museum is well worth a visit as it portrays
a thousand years of history. It incorporates parts of the Manor
House and an Edwardian farm’s kitchen, dining room and dairy.
Livestock demonstrations are held here and there is a farm trail,
bookshop and cafe. The museum is open from 10.30 to 5.30 Tuesday
to Friday and 12 noon to 5.30 on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays
from April to September and on the same days from 10.30 to 4.00
in October. Details from 772602.
The town’s third museum is the Mount House at Church Green
- the former medieval Bishop’s Palace. The site and interpretation
centre are open from 2pm to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays or by
appointment from Easter through to mid September. The site only
is open all year from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
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Introducing Witney
