There is a Woodstock at 900 programme available from most retail outlets and
the Visitor Information Centre in Woodstock, or by post from: Woodstock Town
Council, The Town Hall, Woodstock OX20 1SL Tel: 01993 811216
Further Woodstock at 900 publications include:
Woodstock and the Royal Park - Nine hundred years of history
This book has been written to celebrate the nine hundredth
anniversary of the stone wall built by King Henry I, son of William the
Conqueror, around the Royal Park in which he hunted and kept his collection of
exotic wild animals.
The Royal Manor developed into one of England’s grandest palaces with three
magnificent courtyards. It witnessed
many scenes of national importance such as the quarrel between Henry II and
Thomas à Becket, the imprisonment of Elizabeth I and bombardment during the
Civil War.
The book also features the coming of the Churchills, the
development of Woodstock’s traditional crafts and the impact of two World Wars in
which the loss of so many young servicemen offers a resonance with the present.
All profits from this book will be distributed to local
charities and good causes.
Price £14.95 from The Woodstock Book Shop, The Oxfordshire
County Museum, Blenheim Palace Shop, Dulcies and Woodstock Post Office.
The
Woodstock Wall Hangings – The Woodstock Broderers
It was in
the early 1980’s that new arrivals to Woodstock, Jean Panter and her sister
Anne were approached by a member of the parish church who had heard of their
embroidery skills. New kneelers were required
and Jean formed a group of enthusiastic volunteers and set about imparting her
skills. The resulting kneelers are still
in use today in the church St Mary Magdalene in the town.
By the time
all the work on the kneelers had been completed, Jean had assembled a skilful
and enthusiastic group who were seeking a new challenge.
It was suggested
that they should make a ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ style record of the history of Woodstock. Whilst the project might have daunted others,
this massive undertaking is exactly what the group achieved. Seventeen panels now hang in the Assembly
Room of the Town Hall and are there to be enjoyed by prior arrangement. The panels depict various stages of Woodstock’s fascinating
history from Ethelred (the unready) who held a meeting in the town, through to
the Winston Churchill era.
There is
now an illustrated book available, chronicling the story of the broderers and
how they set about their task, compiled by Brenda Cripps.
