Witney

About

Known across the world for blanket making, especially in North America where the Witney Point Blanket was traded in exchange for furs, the town owes its prosperity to the wool trade.

Witney is the largest of the market towns in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and much of the architecture reflects the past prosperity of the wool trade, including the 17th century Buttercross, the fine tree-bordered green and the church of St Mary the Virgin with its 150ft spire, also Mount House, where you’ll discover the remains of the Palace of the Bishop of Winchester.

A long, attractive high street runs from the Buttercross and features the 18th century town hall, the Victorian Corn Exchange and, at the other end, the recently restored Blanket Hall, which is now open to the public. The town has a bustling atmosphere with a good range of shops, supermarkets and a twice weekly market.

Just a short walk from the centre of town, across the water meadow, is Cogges Manor Farm.

Download the Witney town guide