2010:
Nine hundred years since the enclosure of the Royal Park
A
park and probably a hunting lodge for the use of royalty, existed in the area
described as Woodstock,
at the west of The Wychwood Forest, in Anglo Saxon times.
In
1110 the relationship of royalty with Woodstock was strengthened by the
building of a stone wall around the park by King Henry I, creating The Royal
Park of Woodstock, designed to retain his menagerie of wild and exotic animals.
The enclosure also led to the first settlement of Woodstock
- Old Woodstock - although the main part of the town we now know as Woodstock was only
founded under Henry II, fifty years later.
In
2009, The Mayor of Woodstock, Peter Jay, raised the idea that the town
celebrate the 900th anniversary of the creation of The Royal Park.
This idea has been taken up with enthusiasm so, in 2010, a sequence of events
will focus on Woodstock
and the Park’s long and interesting history. Local groups and organisations are
developing special Woodstock
at 900 focused activities. ‘Wake up To Woodstock’ will co-ordinate existing and
new events under the ‘Woodstock
at 900’ umbrella.
We
hope that 2010 will be a year in which even more visitors will discover the
delights of Woodstock
and we welcome all, to come and join in the festivities.
