Overview

A little Chipping Campden History. Located in the north of the Cotswolds, Chipping Campden was at the heart of the wool trade, and regarded by many as one of the most lovely towns in the Cotswolds, which is home to Cotswold market towns. Here it is noted for its wide High Street, with some of its attractive houses dating back to the 1300’s. The towns name, Chipping Campden (photo 1) comes from the old English word, Ceping, which means a market or market place, and Campden comes from the old Saxon word Campaign-denu, or Campadene, which meant an enclosure of cultivated land. TO START OUR TOUR TO FOLLOW OUR EASTER PARADE IN THE COTSWOLDS TRIP ( Set your sat NAV for THE NEW INN, MAIN ST, WILLERSLEY, BROADWAY, WR12 7PJ ) This is a delightful honey coloured stone of a typical Cotswold picturesque village. Then ( Set your sat NAV for NOEL ARMS, CHIPPING CAMPDEN, BROADWAY, GL55 6AT Also (READ OUR REVIEW, CHIPPING CAMPDEN 2nd COTSWOLD TOUR (part 2) This region of the Cotswolds is that of open countryside, with gentle rolling slopes, dotted with a few typical honey coloured dwellings standing along narrow lanes, picturesque and productive (photo 2) a pleasure to drive along as we headed for the town itself (picture 3). We arrived along Park Road, although also known as Watery Lane, due to its being flooded at times from the river Cam, or water pouring down off the hills. The lane more than likely started off as a dirt track from town on its way to the mill at Westington, and known at the time of the doomsday book of 1086. Campden, (as it was called then) had 73 households listed, and two mills. There is also a mill mentioned in history of 1625 regarding Sir Baptist Hick having a mill here. The first mention of a street is in 1708, and it seems the lane was then known as Mill Lane. However, by 1777 it was known as Watery Lane. By the time of the 1841 census, and just before this it was known as Victoria Street for a short time, but listed as Watery Lane by the time of the census. Later, it became Park Road, but still in danger of flooding, and even in July of 2007, some of the cottages were under 3 or 4 feet of water. There were a number of thatched cottages along Park Road in the 1920’s, and certainly Robins cottage was thatched until a fire took it in 1954, but the only thatched house left today is Brooklyn (seen on photo 4) ST CATHERINE’s CHURCH. (Photos 5 and 6) Following the dissolution of the Catholic Churches by King Henry V111, all the churches in the area were dissolved, so little is known of Campden Roman Catholic history until the early 18th century when catholics attended at Foxcote House, above Ilmington, but in 1827 the Roman Catholic hierarchy was re-established in the country. Charles, Viscount Campden, was then received into the church, and following their conversion to Catholicism, he commissioned the building of a school and a chapel in Lower High Street. By 1881, the third Earl Charles Noel, had succeeded his father and donated land to allow a new church to be built, and by having donations and fundraising which included a weekly lottery and penny readings held in the Noel Arms on High Street. ( READ OUR REVIEW OF NOEL ARMS HOTEL ). The church was opened in September 1891, dedicated to St Catherine, and built of local stone, and made to harmonise with the ancient buildings on Park Road. ( if you are interested in more of its history, then read this on the website of CHIPPING CAMPDEN HISTORY SOCIETY. =================================================================== Opposite the church you find “Volunteer Inn” (photo 7) a 17th century Inn, named as such because local men used to “sign up here” to volunteer to join the army. It still has its historical courtyard (photo 8) of a cobbled archway, beautifully kept today. A short drive of a few yards Park Road then becomes Lower High Street before you need to take the cobbled street leading off to your left (photo 9) and passing the Cotswold houses along this narrow lane you reach the Market car park (photo 10) It is not very large, and charges are made, but it is an ideal space to park to help you enjoy the town itself. Across the road though, by the library, you will find just one disabled bay, and hopefully you can use this space, but if not, and car park full, then street parking is allowed. Taking your scooter or wheelchair, ride alongside the hall with its clock tower (photo 11) on the narrow lane behind the car park, it’s more attractive this way, and reach the old Market Hall (photo 12) MARKET HALL A Wealthy trader Sir Baptist Hicks became one of the towns benefactors, and he arranged for the market hall to be built in 1627, but although the town was a wool trading town, the market hall was not used for the wool trade, but it was rather built for the aid of local women to use as shelter when selling their butter, cheese, bread and pickled eggs, thus keeping their goods dry when it rained, and of course allowed them somewhere to have a little chat. No one knows when its use changed, but from 1850 and later it was used for storing carts. The hall is built of Cotswold Oolitic limestone, while the cobbled floor may be the original (photo 13). During the 1900’s they had to re-roof the hall (photo 14), and they also built the balustrades between the arches (photo 15). From the hall it is well worth moving ahead along that narrow lane (photo 16) to reach High Street and its attractive houses, but may we encourage you to read our (REVIEW OF CHIPPING CAMPDEN PART TWO) and see our photos that provides help on other interesting historical notes about this lovely town. ================================================================== To enjoy a full days trip around the area, READ OUR OTHER REVIEWS AS WELL Disabled Travellers Easter Parade in the Cotswolds Part 1. MARKET HALL. History of Park Road and the Market Hall Part 2. CHIPPING CAMPDEN. The story of Chipping Campden Part 3. NOEL ARMS HOTEL. A welcomed drinks break in an historical Inn Part 4. EBRINGTON. A delightful honey coloured Cotswold village Part 5. SHIPSTON ON STOUR. Shopping, and History of the wool trade. Part 6. ILMINGTON. Delightful village, with lunch at Howard Arms. Part 7. NEWBOLD ON STOUR. End the day with a pint at an old Inn.

Transport & Parking

As you drive along Park Road towards the church, then there are street parking areas you can just pull into to view, or take photos. It’s a bit harder to find parking at the Market Hall, but there is a car park, on the main road, one disabled spot by the library and a few feet from the Noel’s Arms, and street parking is allowed.

Access

The town centre is nice and flat, although pavements can be rather up and down, but easy to cope with. Some shops may have a little step, but most can be visited by didabled.

Toilets

Staff

Photos