Document commissioned by Parish Council following a Meeting in October 1982 re: proposed new housing and effect on shops and facilities etc in Bampton.
Report based on questionnaire completed by residents of Bampton.
Facts and Figures of Population, Housing and Utilities of 1982/83.

The pub in the High Street named The Morris Clown (as at 2018) began life as The George. Steve the present landlord found the ancient wooden name board in the cellar but it fell to dust when he tried to lift it. A long time ago it became the New Inn as seen in the first photograph which is at least pre 1920 because the cottage at the est end of the Market Square is still standing and that was pulled down to make way for the War Memorial. Over the door can be seen a sign which says Clinch's Entire Eagle Brewery, Witney. There is another line underneath which sadly is not readable. The lower board says Commercial Inn, Lila Clack and two more lines of text which I can't read. The opposite side of the road is the department store owned by T. W. Pembrey which ran the length of present day No7 High Street, Lesta House, Strawberry Cottage and across Bushey Row, then called New Inn Street the shop on the corner. On the end wall of the New Inn on the third picture text can be seen which in part says Commercial something and Posting House. A little of this lettering can still be seen in 2018. What was Pembrey's is now Busby's department store. Note the thatched hay rick camera side of Lime Tree House. Thatching hay ricks kept the hay in good condition and shed the rain off; rick thatching was a specialist job and in Bampton Ben Tanner and his brother were particularly skilled and Reg Rouse was also.

All 13 photographs were taken during the celebration of Francis Shergold's 80th birthday. As well as Francis other people seen in the photos include Roy Shergold, Paul Goss, Rod Stradling, Bob Davenport, Bob West, Ted Poole, Martin Landray, sister Ruth Wheeler nee Shergold, wife Ann Shergold, Danny Stradling, Reg Hall, Margaret Landray.
Francis's birthday was January 31st and he was born in 1919

In 1973 the New Inn on Bampton's High Street was re-named The Morris Clown.
It was a very contentious issue because the jester in the Bampton Morris has never been called a Clown, always a Fool. That piece of history cut no mustard with the Brewery, Courage (Central) which is a pity. Now 48 years on, this perceived poorly renaming is hardly ever mentioned but there are still those who feel the name should be corrected.