Chipping Campden: An English village with thatched houses and a history built on wool trading.

Introduction

This afternoon, I am posting information on the quintessentially English Cotswolds village of Chipping Campden. Location is 96  miles N.W of London. Population is about 2200.

 Albion Street


  Information on Chipping Campden

 Market Hall

 

Chipping Campden is well endowed with antique and other specialist shops, hotels, and restaurants.

Early wealth was derived from wool trading in the medieval period. The name is derived from a combination of ceping (Old English for ‘market’) and camp and denu ( Old English for ‘valley with enclosures’.)

A symbol of the village is the famous Market Hall (above) which dates from 1627. There is also the impressive, perpendicular 'wool church' of  St James. Visitors are attracted by the traditional thatched houses as illustrated in images in this post.

Entrance to church of St. James. 


 Church Interior

 Colourful Cottage 

War Memorial and Town Hall


Lygon Arms: Four Star Coaching Inn

 
Ernest Wilson Botanical Garden in heart of town



Almshouses near church. These were an early form of social housing, albeit provided by the private sector. Built 1612.


View from nearby Dover's Hill. Venue for the annual Cotswold Olympick Games which were first held in 1612. 


 Thatched House 
 
 

In the early 20th century a community of Arts and Crafts specialists (metalworking, jewellery, furniture making, etc.) moved from London and established workshops in the town.

A fascinating town which features in many tours of the Cotswolds region.

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