Burford
A small medieval town in West Oxfordshire boasting a broad main street sloping gently down to the River Windrush, of which a fine three arched medieval bridge crosses. It is lined with dignified old houses and ancient cottages and from the top enjoys spectacular views of the Windrush Valley. Burford is often referred to as the ‘gateway to the Cotswolds’ and it grew to be an important crossroads and very wealthy wool town.
Burford is some 18 miles west of Oxford, 22 miles south east of Cheltenham and around 2 miles from the Gloucestershire boundary.
Shopping
The High Street is vibrant with both locals and tourists. There are wonderful side streets to explore, old pubs, tea and antique shops a plenty.
Reavleys Chemist is England’s oldest pharmacy dating back to 1734; inside you’ll find wonderful Victorian apothecary cabinets along the wall.
There are an eclectic range of independent shops and boutiques to enjoy before, during or after your property search! One of Hannah Edge’s, Recoco buying agent in The Cotswolds, favourites is the Oxford Brush Company which sells hand crafted traditional and modern brushes. Every brush has a purpose and exudes style.
Events
You won’t be bored in Burford! There is something for everyone and New Warwick Hall in the town hosts regular concerts and events.
Every May there is commemoration of the rebellion, Levellers Day, with a colourful procession through the town and speeches, debate and music celebrating freedom of speech and human rights.
The 10 day biennial Burford Festival, held in June, has music, talks and festivities, including the popular Open Gardens.
Food and Drink
Agriculture is key in the surrounding areas so there is no shortage of Cotswold produce…. for sale in the deli (Mrs Bumbles deli and food shop is well known locally), the butcher and the cheese shop.
Bakery-on-the-Hill is an independent family run bakery, baking on site throughout the day.
There are numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants…many boasting original character and outside seating areas. The Lamb Inn is a quintessential ancient English Inn with a stunning walled garden and serves award winning food. The Angel at Burford has won Cotswold Pub of the Year on various occasions and have received an AA Rosette for their cooking.
Upton Smokery, located just outside Burford, specialises in smoked meats, smoked fish, biltong and seasonings. It also supplies local cheeses such as Weavers Organic Cotswold Brie and Oxford Cheese Company Vintage Cheddar. They smoke their own foods with their own unique processes.
Daylesford Organic Farm and Soho Farmhouse are both nearby.
Open spaces
Burford nestles in the Cotswold Hills and the surrounding countryside is striking with many opportunities to make the most of the great outdoors, whether it be on foot, bike or riding.
Within Burford itself, the Recreation Ground, just off Sheep Street, has plenty of space for kids to run around, have a picnic and there is also a bowling green.
A walk along the River Windrush will take you past the tiny church of St Oswald’s, which stands on its own in the deserted medieval village of Widford. Keep going to the village of Swinbrook where the Mitford family are buried and you’ll find the amazing Fettiplace monument in St. Mary’s Church.
Education
Schooling in the area is excellent with both a primary school and Burford School (mixed secondary, day and boarding) in the town itself, as well as Cokethorpe near Witney, Hatherop Castle School and St Hugh’s towards Faringdon. A further range of schools can be found in Cheltenham and Oxford.
Transport connections
Although Burford nestles in the Windrush Valley, the road communications are excellent, being within easy reach of both Cheltenham and Oxford, and to London via the A40/M40.
There is a regular train service from both Kingham and Charlbury offering a direct link to London Paddington.
Heritage
Burford’s name derives from the old English words ‘burh’ meaning fortified town or hill town and ‘ford’, the crossing of a river. It was the site of a fortified ford in Anglo-Saxon times and the first Cotswold town to be granted a market charter in 1088.
Its rich Tudor architecture remains as witnessed by the precarious angles some of the buildings along the main street have come to rest at.
· St. John Baptist Church – the magnificent 15th century parish church is testament to the byegone riches based on wool. Chosen as one of the top 20 by Simon Jenkins in his ‘England’s thousand best churches’, it is a real gem with many interesting memorials charting some of Burford’s great families. On the baptismal font is the scratched name of Anthony Sedley, one of the Levellers, mutinous rebels in Cromwell’s army, who besieged the church in 1649 and had to watch from the roof as their ringleaders were executed in the churchyard.
· The Tolsey – the town museum is an early Tudor building on stone pillars. In the past, wool merchants would meet in the open space underneath and conduct their trading transactions. Above are two rooms of exhibits which tell of the trades that once flourished, from bell-founding and brewing, to leather working and clarinet making.
Fun fact from Recoco Cotswold Buying Agent, Hannah Edge
Tom, Dick and Harry really did exist! They were three brothers who lived in the village of Fulbrook, a short walk from Burford, who turned to a life of crime, including highway robbery in the middle of the eighteenth century.
Insiders tip from our Cotswold property finder
Burford Garden Centre is a shoppers’ delight! So much more than a garden centre….it has the most wonderful children’s and toy shop, high end clothing and shoes, homeware and garden products, artwork and a lip smacking array of foods and drinks …...not forgetting the tasty café specialising in local produce. You could spend many a happy hour wondering around Burford Garden Centre.