News

WALKS WITH THE COTSWOLD WARDENS IN October & November

Full details can be found on www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk

Thursday 2nd October – Delightful Ditchley 

Moderate, 7.5 miles, 4hours 45m Start 10:00am, The Old Shed, Banbury Hill Farm, Enstone Rd, Charlbury OX7 3JH Walk around Ditchley Park Estate with classic parkland and views of Churchill’s wartime retreat.

Thursday 23rd October – In the Footsteps of the Romans 

Moderate, 9 miles, 5 hours Start 10:00am, Stonesfield Village Hall OX29 8HA Circular route with glimpses of Roman life in the Evenlode Valley.

Saturday 25th October – Autumn in the Evenlode Valley 

Easy, 4.5 miles, 3 hours Start 10:00am, Bruern Farm Shop OX7 6QE Circular walk via two villages and woodland on good paths

Thursday 6th November – Chadlington, Spelsbury & Beyond 

Moderate, 8.5 miles, 4hours 30m Start 10:00am, Chadlington Memorial Hall OX7 3NA Through villages, fields and woodland with great views. Please bring £1 for hall parking.

Tuesday 10th November – Tysoe & the Vale of the Red Horse 

Moderate, 10 miles, 5 hours 30m Start 10:00am, Tysoe Methodist Church (closed), Main St, CV35 0SE Two lengthy climbs with sweeping views across the Vale of the Red Horse

Monday 17th November – More Blenheim for Free 

Moderate, 10.5 miles, 6 hours Start 10:00am, Stonesfield Village Hall/Library Car Park OX29 8EF A walk using Rights of Way through the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saturday 22nd November – Nice for November 

Moderate, 5.5 miles, 3 hours Start 10:00am, Salford (near Chipping Norton) A perfect late autumn walk.

Thursday 27th November - Frescos, a Palace and Water Meadows

Moderate: 10.5 miles, 5 hours

Start: 9:30am The Green, Combe OX29 8NT

A walk to take you beyond Woodstock to the attractive village of Wootton

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Lisa Wilkinson · Thu 2 Oct, 10:38 · Link

Charlbury's own classical concert venue hosts new CRAG season

The new 2025/6 CRAG concert series starts this Sunday afternoon at the Memorial Hall.  

https://www.charlburyrefugee.org.uk/events/crag-sunday-tea-concert-fretwork/

Nick Parker · Thu 2 Oct, 08:54 · Link

Charlbury Town Council - Invitation to Tender

Charlbury Town Council is inviting tenders for two contracts commencing in April 2026:

General Maintenance & Landscaping Works (as and when required) – Tender documents are now available.

Grass Cutting of Highway Verges, Recreation Areas, Mill Field and the Cemetery – Tender documents will be published next week.

Tender packs set out the specifications, conditions of contract, and forms of tender.

The deadline for submissions is 12 midday on Wednesday 31 December 2025.

Tender documents are available on request from Lisa: clerk@charlbury-tc.gov.uk

Lisa Wilkinson · Wed 1 Oct, 14:49 · Link

Charlbury Christmas market is back!

Fab news for makers & sellers! 

We’re now taking bookings for stallholders at our Christmas Market

📅 Saturday 6th December

🕤 9.30am – 12.30pm

📍 Memorial Hall

If you make or sell gifts, crafts, festive bakes, preserves, decorations, cards, or lovely local produce, we’d love to have you. Tables are limited, so don’t hang about!

To book a stall: please get in touch with your name, business, what you sell, and any access needs.

(If you have a website or socials, pop those in too.)

 Please share with friends who might be interested!

#ChristmasMarket #ShopLocal #SupportSmallBusiness #Handmade #LocalMakers

Lisa Wilkinson · Mon 29 Sep, 15:16 · Link

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.

• Talbot Farm Thames Street Charlbury
  Internal and external alterations to include erection of a single storey rear extension and alterations to ground floor layout
  WODC reference: 25/02219/LBC - Fri 12 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Talbot Farm Thames Street Charlbury
  Erection of a single storey rear extension
  WODC reference: 25/02218/HHD - Fri 12 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Sunnyside Church Street Charlbury
  Internal and external alterations to include the removal of existing rear conservatory and erection of a single storey rear extension with Internal alterations to include changes to the ground floor layout
  WODC reference: 25/02056/LBC - Tue 23 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Sunnyside Church Street Charlbury
  Removal of existing rear conservatory and erection of a single storey rear extension
  WODC reference: 25/02055/HHD - Tue 23 Sep 2025 - Under consideration

Mon 29 Sep, 06:15 · Link

Good News from The Old Bakehouse, Chadlington

Two years and four months after The Old Bakehouse at Chadlington, an affordable  supported living facility for older people, faced closure, a new local non-profit Charity has purchased the house as a going concern.

 A huge community effort, including support from many Charlbury folks saved the house from closing and we are hugely grateful for all of the support received. 

The house is now being refurbished, with rooms to be available to let from mid-October.

More information on vacancies, and ways to support us on our website theoldbakehousechadlington.co.uk or by emailing admin@theoldbakehousechadlington.co.uk

Helen Datson · Sat 27 Sep, 12:10 · Link

🚧 Victoria Fountain Works 🚧

Scaffolding in Place for One More Week

During the cleaning of the Victoria Fountain, extra maintenance needs were discovered. To allow this important work to be completed safely, the scaffolding will remain up until Friday 3rd October 2025.

We know this isn’t ideal, but the additional work will help protect and restore this much-loved landmark for years to come. Thank you for your patience and understanding while the contractors finish the job.

A particularly positive outcome of this work is that stone carvings, which had been safely kept by a local resident for several years, will now be reattached to the very top of the fountain.

The gentle steam cleaning is also revealing the carvings’ details more clearly, making them easier to appreciate once the work is complete.

⚠️ Please take care around the scaffolding.

Charlbury Town Council

Lisa Wilkinson · Fri 26 Sep, 10:01 · Link

Charlbury Beer Festival 2025 Grants Window Open

Following a successful festival, we are pleased to announce that our grants application process for 2025 is now open. The application window runs from September - October, with decisions made in November. We welcome applications from local organisations and initiatives that align with our funding goals. For more details and to apply, please visit our dedicated grants website at grants.charlburybeerfestival.org

This year our festival faced some unexpected challenges, including damage to equipment from the cricket club flooding and a fallen tree. We've invested in replacement equipment and new containers to ensure the festival remains sustainable and continues to thrive as a 100% charitable event. Please bear this in mind when applying as, despite raising a record amount in 2025, we have less to give away.

Gill Begnor · Thu 25 Sep, 15:52 · Link

Charlbury Museum :The Playing Close exhibition - last weekend

Featured in the small exhibition is a facsimile of a unique document of 1592, it marks the moment in time when the ownership of The Playing Close passed from Thomas Gifford, of Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, to the first trustees of The Gifford Trust. The original indenture in in the archives of St. John's College, Oxford, it is on display by kind permission of the President & Fellows of St. John's College (see image).

Explore the historical background of The Playing Close, the houses through time, and the events that took place during the 18th and 19th centuries. This favourite spot in central Charlbury  has a wealth of stories to tell!

During the last weekend, one of the curators of the exhibition will be welcoming visitors

Open: Saturday 27 10.30 -12.30  Sunday 28 2.30 - 4.30

Adults: £2 and  children free

Sue Rangeley · Thu 25 Sep, 15:17 · Link

Oktoberfest Tickets available on the door this Saturday Cricket Club

As in previous years, Oktoberfest tickets are available on the door at £10.00 for Charlbury residents and friends. Doors open from 5.30pm with music starting at 6.30pm with the Flashback band. Annual favourites of Jubilee Brass and and the Village Idiots to follow....

6 German beers are available. Bratwurst, burgers, chicken schnitzel and fries. Its the party of the year. You can also prepurchase online discounted tickets over the next two days using the code CCCFriend

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charlbury-oktoberfest-2025-tickets-1542397375069?aff=oddtdtcreator

Paul D Jenkins · Wed 24 Sep, 16:24 · Link