Chipping Norton

The church of St Mary has 13th and 14th century work and the nave is one of the finest 15th-century interiors in the county outside Oxford.

Chipping' means a market and in the Middle Ages people came to buy and sell at the markets and fairs that gave Chipping Norton its name. There is still a weekly market every Wednesday and the Mop Fair' (once a hiring fair for servants) in September.

The town grew rich on the profits of the Cotswold wool trade - and later, in Victorian times, William Bliss built his spectacular tweed mill, which has now been transformed into stylish apartments.

The mill was built to resemble a great house in a park and was far removed from the simplicity of early Victorian industrial architecture. It has a balustraded parapet and square corner cowers' with urns.

The architect was George Woodhouse from Lancashire, who specialised in the design of mills and factories.

There was also a brewery, a glove making factory, a tannery and an iron foundry.

The Theatre in Spring Street was originally a Salvation Army Citadel. Spring Street takes its name from the springs which once provided the town's main water supply.

Information hospitals and gps The Bourne, Hook Norton.

Telephone: 01608 737302 West Street Surgery, Chipping Norton.

Telephone: 01608 642529 White House Surgery, Horsefair, Chipping Norton.

Telephone: 01608 642742 War Memorial Hospital, Over Norton Road, Chipping Norton. Telephone: 01608 648450 SERVICES Chipping Norton Town Council, Guildhall:.

Telephone: 01608 642341 www.chippingnortontowncouncil.net Police Station: Banbury Road.

Telephone: 01608 642021/641649 Post Offices: n 20 High Street, Chipping Norton.

Telephone: 01608 641649 n 1 Heath Court, Queen Street, Hook Norton.

Telephone: 01608 737382 n 8 Market Street, Charlbury.

Telephone: 01608 810243 Citizens Advice Bureau: 31 High Street, Chipping Norton. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10am to 3.30pm.

Telephone: 01608 641367 Website: www.westoxoncab.org.uk LEISURE Visitor Information Centre: The Guildhall, Chipping Norton.

Open Monday to Saturday, March to October, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Closes at 5pm on Fridays.

Telephone: 01608 644379 The Theatre: Spring Street, Chipping Norton.

Telephone: 01608 642350 www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk Chipping Norton Lido: Fox Close, off Albion Street. Open April through to September. Sessions include early morning swims, adults only, public and children's lessons. Over 60s swim for free on Wednesdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm, and there's free entry for 11 to 18-year-olds on Tuesdays, 7.30pm to 9pm, in June, July and August.

Telephone: 01608 643188.

Website: www.chippylido.co.uk Chipping Norton FC: Walterbush Road, Chipping Norton OX7 5DP.

Website: www.chippingnorton.net/SPORT Hook Norton Brewery Visitor Centre, Brewery Lane, Hook Norton: The centre is housed in the original maltings that were bought by John Harris in 1849 and where he started brewing. Tours last two hours and include a trip around the brewery to see the traditional methods used, the museum, followed by beer sampling. On leaving you will receive a branded glass as a memento of your visit. Also, see the shire horses used for deliveries. Not suitable for children under 12 and people with walking difficulties. Tour costs £8.50 and take place Monday (including bank holidays) to Friday, 9am to 5pm, Saturdays in December. Evening visits can be arranged between April and September.

Telephone: 01608 730384 Website: www.hooknortonbrewey.co.uk t Charlbury Museum, Market Street, Charlbury: Displays of traditional tools and industry of the area, with photographs and maps. Open weekends in April through to September, and other times by appointment.

Telephone: 01608 810060 Website: www.cotswoldswebsite.com/charlbury-museum Chipping Norton Museum of Local History, High Street, Chipping Norton: Run buy the local history society, the museum exhibits items associated with or manufactured in Chipping Norton, including pre-historic and Roman artefacts, farming equipment, Chippy at War and Granny's Kitchen. Open Easter to end of October, Tuesdays to Saturdays and bank holiday Mondays, 2pm to 4pm. Entrance opposite the Town Hall steps.

Telephone: 01608 643779 Sezincote House, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire: House open May to July and September, 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Entrance £6 (includes house and garden tour). No children without special permission. Garden open all year, except December. Adults £4, Children £1.50.

No dogs except guide dogs.

Telephone: 01386 700444. Website: www.sezincote.co.uk Schools and nurseries ACE Centre Nursery School, ACE Centre, Burford Road, Chipping Norton, 01608 644440.

Chadlington CofE Primary School and Playgroup, Church Road, Chadlington, 01608 676366.

Charlbury Pre-school, Old Grammar School, Park Street, Charlbury, 01608 811200.

Charlbury Primary School, Crawborough, Charlbury, 01608 810354.

Chipping Norton Secondary School, Burford Road, Chipping Norton, 01608 642007.

Enstone Playgroup and Toddlers, Oxford Road, Enstone, 01608 677268.

Enstone Primary School, Oxford Road, Enstone, 01608 677268.

Finstock CofE Primary, Finstock, 01993 868314.

Great Rollright CofE Primary School, Church End, Great Rollright, 01608 737202.

Great Tew County Primary School, The Green, Great Tew, 01608 683642.

Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School, 24 London Road, Chipping Norton, 01608 643487.

Hook Norton CofE Primary School, Sibford Road, Hook Norton, 01608 737379.

Hook Norton Playgroup. Osney Close, Hook Norton, 01608 730560.

Middle Barton Primary School, 27 Church Lane, Middle Barton, 01869 340522.

Scallywags, Primsdown Industrial Estate, Worcester Road, Chipping Norton, 01608 645444.

St Mary's CofE Primary, The Green, Chipping Norton, 01608 642673.

Town Nursery School, 24 London Road, Chipping Norton, 01608 645646.