Witney, Oxfordshire

Flower Delivery to Witney with Clare Florist

Witney is the largest market town in West Oxfordshire , located on River Windrush. It was first recorded in AD 969, but might have existed earlier, what with evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlements.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name of the town appears as Witenie, which means ‘Witta’s Island’. The book also confirmed the ownership of an estate in Witney, granted by Queen Emma in 1044 to the Bishops of Winchester. In 1984, the foundations of a church built next to a palace were excavated. The town became a lively market town by the end of the Middle Ages, following the establishment of a cloth or fulling mill, which paved way to the development of a blanket and glove-making industry. By 1800, five working mills were found in and around Witney. For centuries, Witney was known for its blankets. Even after the last blanket mill closed in 2002, its reputation remains closely associated with blankets.

Notable Landmarks

Cogges Manor Farm Museum

This museum not only holds evidence of the importance of the Witney blanket market in the past, but also shows how rural life in Oxfordshire is really like. Set in a beautiful farmstead, visitors will have a chance to journey back in Victorian times the moment they step inside Cogges Manor Farm. There, they will see the original Cotswold buildings, meet different breeds of livestock, and be amazed with a display of farm tools and machinery. Demonstrations of handmilking and buttermaking also add to the appeal of the museum. Or, you can just enjoy the view of the farm and its array of flowers in Witney.

Bishop’s Palace

Remember the Bishops of Winchester? The estate granted to them was actually a palace, which is built near the church on Church Green. It is one of the 12th-century luxurious residences in town with amazing grounds, dotted with Witney flowers here and there. In early 1980s, the archaeological remains of the great hall and other features were discovered.

Witney Lake and Meadows

A 37-hectare Country Park, Witney Lakes and Meadows is a picturesque area for recreation or just for some alone time. It has a beautiful lake, hay meadow and wet grassland. It’s the perfect place to commune with nature and take lots of pictures with flowers in Witney as the backdrop. The lake is divided in different sections; the southern end is set as a nature reserve, the east as grazing land, and the north as an Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Witney and District Museum

This museum is in the centre of Witney, along the High Street, and situated in a traditional Cotswold building. It opened in 1996, showcasing the history and journey of the blanket-making industry in Witney. The ground floor gallery holds artefacts that outline the history of the town and the changes that took place over the years. The west end of the building was used as a smithy, while the upper floor used to be a “laths store”.

The Buttercross

The Buttercross in the market square is where people used to shop for butter and eggs. It had its last facelift in 1962, when the Stonesfield slates were removed, leaving the timbers to be exposed.

Because of its location on the River Windrush, the brewing industry in Witney also thrived. Along with it are establishments that will make every traveller’s holiday a wonderful experience. Apart from local attractions, old inns exist.

Witney is a thriving market town with plenty of places of interest. If you are looking to send flowers to Witney, Clare Florist has a large range of flowers perfect as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or any other special occasion. Order flowers for delivery to Witney and make your special someone happy.

Share this location:

• Twitter
• Facebook