The staircase to the top floor of the Grammar School was removed in the 1960s when people stood a greater chance of getting to the ground floor by falling through the rotten floor than coming back down the stairs. The Bampton Community Archive members have worked incredibly hard to raise funds on the back of the tourism boost from visitors flocking to Bampton to see the this building which was used as the Cottage Hospital in ITV's Downton Abbey. The grant from WODC means the work to bring the whole building into good heart can begin.

A house and field called Long Paddock in Weald Street for sale, offers in excess of £750,000 wanted

Bampton Meadows, a new housing development is to be built by Taylor Wimpey at the bottom of Mount Owen Road on the Aston side. Taylor Wimpey have agreed to pay £1.4 million on local amenities.

Councillors across the political spectrum at West Oxfordshire District Council have agreed that changes to the planning system are not suitable for West Oxfordshire.

Witney Gazette Aug 26th 2015.
A Government inspector, Simon Emerson has been appointed to look at WODC plans for house building in next 20 years.
More detail in the article.

Campaigners have condemned the xo-called 'no win no fee' policy of a developer behind plans for more than 700 homes on sites across Oxfordshire. 446 are planned for sites in West Oxfordshire. Sites are in Witney and Bampton.

These are just five of the adverts in the July 2012 issue of The Bampton Beam and are for

Little Westbrook self catering in Bridge Street
A personal trainer
Prestige Buildings
Bampton Garage
S J Cooper, builder

This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy.
The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.

In 1983 the Lowlands Area Planning Sub committee gave permission for 70 more homes to be built between New Road and Coalpit Lane. The said no more than 20 per year on the 8 acre site but in the event, there were more than this annually.

These little cottages have been extended over the years but seen here, Nos 1 and 2 Mill Green are in their original petite state. A snowy time after Christmas 1981