News

Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

• Upper Orchard Pooles Lane Charlbury
  Erection of a front porch. Conversion of attic space with the insertion of two front dormers.
  WODC reference: 21/01136/HHD - Wed 31 Mar 2021 - Under consideration
• 1 Wychwood Paddocks Charlbury
  Two storey rear extension to dwelling and single storey rear extension providing work shop to garage.
  WODC reference: 21/01120/HHD - Tue 30 Mar 2021 - Under consideration

Mon 10 May, 06:15 · Link

West Oxfordshire District Council election result

Liz Leffman has been re-elected as district councillor for the Charlbury & Finstock ward on West Oxfordshire District Council.

Full results are:

• Liz Leffman (Liberal Democrats): 884
• Caspar Morris (Conservative): 407
• Liz Reason (Green): 205
• Sue Richards (Labour): 122

WODC remains under majority Conservative control.

Richard Fairhurst · Sun 9 May, 19:08 · Link

Oxfordshire County Council election result

Charlbury’s seat on Oxfordshire County Council (the Charlbury & Wychwoods division) has been held by Liz Leffman for the Liberal Democrats. The turnout was 49.02%. Vote tallies were:

• Liz Leffman (Liberal Democrats): 1900
• Jenny Evanson (Conservative): 1490
• Sue Richards (Labour): 328
• Frances Mortimer (Green): 299

Overall, Oxfordshire County Council is now No Overall Control with the LibDems and Conservatives tied on 21 seats each, Labour on 15, and Green 3. Previously the council had been run by the Conservatives supported by a small number of independents.

Congratulations to Liz and thank you to everyone who stood.

Richard Fairhurst · Sun 9 May, 11:40 · Link

Charlbury Town Council election results

The following candidates have been elected (with number of votes cast):

• Tim Crisp 693
• Liz Reason 682
• Peter Kenrick 647
• Janet Burroughs 644
• Claire Wilding 644
• Nick Potter 616
• Tony Merry 582
• James Styring 553
• Frances Mortimer 528
• Dan Raymond-Barker 494
• Gareth Epps 475
• Gary Harrison 463

These candidates were unsuccessful:

• Emily Algar 430
• Phil Morgan 380
• Lucy Crane-Lupton 395
• Graham Terry 383
• Vince Hill 364
• Robin Puttick 95

Congratulations to all the successful candidates and thank you to all those who stood.

Richard Fairhurst · Sat 8 May, 15:37 · Link

Trains cancelled (updated)

GWR have discovered a fault with their Intercity Express trains which has caused the entire fleet to be temporarily withdrawn. 

As a result, very few trains are expected to be running from Charlbury today (Saturday) and for the next few days.

Other trains are running between Oxford and Reading, and Oxford and London Marylebone. 

Richard Fairhurst · Sat 8 May, 08:42 · Link

The History of Charlbury through ... a 17th century mercer's shop

Judy Dod for Charlbury Museum

Recent reminiscences on the forum about shops which once thrived in Charlbury brought to mind a shop which served the town and surrounding villages in the early 1600s. It was owned by Thomas Harris, mercer, who died in 1632 and was buried in the churchyard here. He died without making a will and an inventory had to be made of the goods in his house and shop. This was undertaken by two of his friends, Thomas Woodward and Brocke Witny. They were extremely conscientious in carrying out their duties, producing a detailed inventory which gives a fascinating picture of the goods he sold.

Mercers began as merchants selling silks but many had become general dealers in cloth, household articles and grocery items. Thomas stocked a wide range of different cloths – some familiar such as calico, sackcloth and canvas, others less so like fustian (heavy, cotton cloth suitable for menswear) and sleazy holland (a thin, flimsy fabric). Then there were the ribbons, trimmings and haberdashery items needed for making clothes. He stocked buckram and lace, many types of thread of different colours, Coventry thread for embroidery, garters and buttons, and ‘hooks & eyes for briches’. Also stockings and bodices.

The inventory lists household items such as brushes, candles, glasses and jugs, soap, tobacco pipes, and beer mugs (‘blacke pots’). He stocked food too but only dry goods that would not perish such as salt and sugar, currants and prunes, and a dazzling array of different spices including saffron, cinnamon, and cloves. Then there are what to us are more surprising items, goods which today would need licences - a considerable amount of gunpowder and some shot, as well as arsenic and aqua vitae or strong liquor. His whole stock was calculated to be worth £109 14s 10 ¾ d*

The range of goods indicates that he obtained goods from many sources. The final account submitted by his wife, appointed to administer the estate, shows he owed considerable sums to suppliers in London as well as locally. His biggest debt was to Mr Edmund Hiorne of Woodstock (£53). Nor could his widow collect all the money owed to him. So despite his seeming wealth, all his goods and stock in trade were already pledged to pay off his creditors. Sadly we don’t know for sure where his shop was, but nearly 400 years ago it must have drawn many customers into the town.

* They made a mistake adding it up: the total is actually £109 15s 10 ¾ d

See“A Charlbury Mercer’s Shop, 1632” by D.G.Vaisey. Oxoniensia Vol.31 1966.  Read a transcription of the full inventory at: http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1966/vaisey.pdf

Judy Dod · Fri 7 May, 21:01 · Link

Plant Swap Postponed

As the weather looks so wet tomorrow, the Garden Society Plant Swap will now take place on the Playing Close on 15th May between 10 and 12.

Alison Derham · Fri 7 May, 16:33 · Link

CMC Vaccine clinics: advance notice

The next clinic is on the 11 th May at Carterton for second Pfizer doses for Group 6 , and you will be notified if you are eligible.

Dependant on vaccine delivery, the anticipated AZ clinics at Charlbury Sports centre for those due their second dose will be as follows, but we emphasise, these dates are provisional.

May 19th  for those previously vaccinated on Feb 22 nd 

May 28th  for those previously vaccinated on 8th and 12th March

June 9th for those previously vaccinated on 18th and 24th  March

The volunteer team do appreciate your understanding about the parking in the Spendlove on clinic mornings,  and ask you to respect the requests to park elsewhere if people less able to walk or in wheelchairs need to park near the Sports Centre/ Community Centre

Please note that for the younger age groups notified that they are eligible, Chipping Norton Health Centre may have limited slots available as they are now part of the National Booking System  (NBS) . Some Oxford Pharmacies are also apparently part of the scheme. 

Nikki Rycroft · Fri 7 May, 12:06 · Link

Sound artist captures the dawn at Wigwell Nature Reserve

Sound artist Richard Bentley has recorded the magical sounds of dawn at Wigwell Nature Reserve to mark Dawn Chorus Day 2021, in collaboration with the Wychwood Project. 

Rising at 3am on 2nd May to record the dawn from Wigwell's brook, Richard's 38-minute track provides a beautifully relaxing immersion in the waking world. 

Richard wasn't the only one at Wigwell in the early hours of Sunday 2nd May. "I was accompanied by a rather large and very curious badger, who sauntered across the bridge to see what I was up to - my closest encounter to date," he recounted. 

To listen to Richard's recordings, visit: https://soundcloud.com/wychwood_project

Wigwell Nature Reserve is managed by the Wychwood Project with the help of the voluntary local Wigwell Friends group. In summer the site becomes a wildflower meadow with nationally rare species including Meadow Clary (Salvia pratensis). If you'd like to help manage this beautiful nature reserve, email Peter at wigwell.friends@gmail.com for more information.

Miranda Davies · Fri 7 May, 10:52 · Link

Local elections: don't forget to vote!

Thursday is election day!

The polling station is in the Memorial Hall on Browns Lane, open from 7am to 10pm. You do not need your poll card to be able to vote.

Elections are for:

• Charlbury’s county council seat (the Charlbury & Wychwoods division)
• one of Charlbury’s two district council seats (the Charlbury & Finstock ward)
• all 12 seats on Charlbury Town Council
• and a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley

You can read statements from all the local candidates on our dedicated page.

The count will take place on Sunday morning for the county council, Sunday afternoon for the district and town councils.

Richard Fairhurst · Wed 5 May, 20:17 · Link