Talk by Simon Townley

Over fifty Members of the Burford & District Society attended a fascinating talk by Simon Townley on Burford and its buildings. Dr Townley is editor of the Victoria County History of Oxfordshire. He edited Burford: Buildings and People in a Cotswold Town, published in 2007 with much involvement of townsfolk, including local historians Raymond and Joan Moody.

His illustrated talk began with an explanation of the origins of the medieval town, with its prosperity being built on the wool industry. The nuggets of the talk were the descriptions of the medieval houses such as Calendars and Wysdom Hall in their historical context and how they had been modified over time. 

Simon Townley ended his talk by telling us that there is further historical work planned on our town. The Victoria County History team will begin its research next year, with the results being published as a main-series volume in 2030.