An ancient wool town and centre of the Arts and Crafts movement, Chipping Campden is one of the best preserved, most beautiful and historically important towns in The Cotswolds. Dating back to the 7th-century, the town became one of Europe’s most important medieval wool-trading towns, characterized by charming honey-coloured stone houses built by wool merchants between the 1300s and 1600s. Grevel House, established in 1380, is the town’s oldest building built for the supremely prosperous wool merchant William Grevel, accented with gargoyles and mullioned windows. Set amid rolling hills, in an area given over to agriculture and sheep farming, this is the Cotswold countryside at its very best.
When the Romans invaded England, they brought many sheep which then mated with the local sheep creating a breed known as the Cotswolds Lion which produced some of the finest wool in all of Europe. During the Middle Ages, the wool trade was at an all-time high, and Cotswolds wool was the most sought-after, consequently the wool merchants became enormously rich and built great manors and imposing churches which is why they are called wool churches. This wealth, together with the natural beauty of the rolling Cotswolds hills, has made this 'Area of Outstanding Nature Beauty' the epitome of quintessential England, with honey-coloured cottages, thatched roofs and 'Little Orchard', where we were staying during our glorious time in Chipping Campden.
14th-century St James’ is one of the finest wool churches in England
due to the medieval merchants who paid for its construction and reflects the historic importance
of the wool trade in Chipping Camden
Heraldic sign with two shields depicting the coats of arms of two important
Chipping Campden families each surmounted by an earl's coronet
Grevel House, established in 1380, is the town’s oldest building built for the supremely prosperous wool merchant William Grevel, accented with gargoyles and mullioned windows
The long and winding Chipping Campden High Street is one of the most beautiful in the Cotswolds
Chipping Campden Town Hall is an outstanding Grade II listed building that has stood in the middle
of the Town's High Street since the 13th Century
Mid 18th-century Town Hall Clock and Belltower
Chipping Campden's Market Hall which was built in 1627
Mark Hall is the most recognizable building in Chipping Campden, if not the entire Cotswolds
17th-century Market Hall open-sided pillared building where dairy farmers used to sell their produce
The Cotswold Way is a long distance walking trail that runs between the market town of Chipping Campden in the north and the city of Bath in the south
The Lygon Arms is a charming 16th century traditional coaching inn
on Chipping Campden High Street
The oldest inn in Chipping Campden is The Eight Bells, on Church Street
which dates from the 16th century
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