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'Chipping'
means market and in medieval times Chipping Campden
was one of the most important wool towns in the country.
The town
was planned in the late 12th century and the layout of the
properties can still be traced today.
The High
Street followed the line of an important trading route and
had long narrow (burgage) plots fronting both sides of the
road.
Today
the High Street of Chipping Campden, with its well-preserved
Cotswold stone, honey-coloured limestone, buildings dating
from the 14th - 17th century, has a wide range of interesting
shops and good pubs, restaurants and hotels.
Grevel's
House and Woolstaplers Hall, both dating from the 14th century,
are the oldest buildings. Also in the High Street is the
town's famous Market Hall, built in 1627 for the sale of butter,
cheese and poultry.
The nearby
church of St James, with its 120 ft (35m) tower, is one of
the finest Cotswolds wool churches.
Each
summer Chipping Campden holds the 'Dover's Olympick Games'.
First established in 1612 by Captain Robert Dover (with permission
from King James I), the festival is held on a hill overlooking
the town. The games were revived in 1951 and since 1963 have
been staged every year.
Several
footpaths begin in the town, including the Cotswolds Way which
runs all the way to Bath.
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