| Stow-on-the-Wold | |
|---|---|
 Market Square | |
  Stow-on-the-Wold Location withinGloucestershire | |
| Population | 2,042 (2011 Census)[1] |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHELTENHAM |
| Postcode district | GL54 |
| Dialling code | 01451 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
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Stow-on-the-Wold is amarket town andcivil parish inGloucestershire, England, on top of an 800-foot (244 m) hill at the junction of main roads through theCotswolds, including theFosse Way (A429), which is of Roman origin. The town was founded byNorman lords to absorb trade from the roads converging there.Fairs have been held by royal charter since 1330; a horse fair is still held on the edge of town nearest to Oddington in May and October each year.
Stow-on-the-Wold, originally called Stow St Edward or Edwardstow after the town's patron saint Edward, probablyEdward the Martyr,[2] is said to have originated as anIron Agefort on this defensive position on a hill. There are other sites of similar forts in the area, andStone Age andBronze Ageburial mounds are common throughout the area. It is likely thatMaugersbury was the primary settlement of the parish before Stow was built as a marketplace on the hilltop nearer to the crossroads, to take advantage of passing trade. Originally the small settlement was controlled byabbots from the localabbey, and when the first weekly market was set up in 1107 byHenry I, he decreed that the proceeds go toEvesham Abbey.[2]
In 1330, a royal charter byEdward III set up an annual 7-day market to be held in August. The royal charter granted a fair where sheep and horses were allowed to be sold.[2][3] In 1476,Edward IV replaced that with two 5-day fairs, two days before and two days after the feast ofSt Philip andSt James in May, and similarly in October on the feast ofEdward the Confessor (the saint associated with the town). The aim of the annualcharter fairs was to establish Stow as a place to trade and alleviate the unpredictability of the passing trade. These fairs were located in thesquare, which is still the town centre.[2]
Stow played a role in theEnglish Civil War. A number of engagements took place in the area, the local church of St Edward being damaged in one skirmish. On 21 March 1646, theRoyalists, commanded by SirJacob Astley, were defeated at theBattle of Stow-on-the-Wold, with hundreds of prisoners being confined for some time in St Edwards.[4] This battle took place one mile north of Stow-on-the-Wold. After initial royalist success, the superiority of the parliamentary forces overwhelmed and routed the royalist forces. Fleeing the field, the royalists fought a running fight back into the streets of Stow, where the final action took place, culminating in surrender in the market square.[5]
As the fairs grew in fame and importance, so did the town. Traders dealing inlivestock added many handmade goods, and thewool trade was always prominent.[6]Daniel Defoe reported in the 18th century that 20,000 sheep were sold in one day.[3] Many alleys known as 'tures' that run between buildings into the market square were used in herding sheep to be sold.[7] From the mid-19th century, theTalbot Hotel was the venue for corn merchants carrying out their trade.[8]
Most of the buildings around the market square dated from the 18th to 19th century including St Edward's Hall (the present-day library).[3]
As the wool trade declined, people began to trade in horses. The practice continues, although the fair has been moved from the square to a large field near the village ofMaugersbury every May and October. It remains popular, with roads around Stow blocked by the extra traffic for many hours.[9]
However, there has been controversy surrounding Stow Fair. The many visitors and traders have attracted more vendors not dealing in horses. Local businesses used to profit from the increased custom, but in recent years most pubs and shops close for 2–3 miles around due to the risks of theft or vandalism.[10]
The town belongs to the Stowelectoral ward, which covers the parishes of Stow-on-the-Wold,Maugersbury andSwell. In 2010 these parishes had a total population of 2,594. Stow ward is represented onCotswold District Council by theLiberal Democrat Councillor Dilys Neill, who was first elected in the 2016 local elections.[11] The Stow Division is represented onGloucestershire County Council by theConservative Councillor Mark Mackenzie-Charrington.[12]
Stow-on-the-Wold also has a Parish Council with 10 members.[13]
Scotts of Stow, a mail order company, also has two shops in the town.[14]
Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC South andITV Meridian. Television signals are received from theOxford and local relay transmitters.[15][16]
Local radio stations areBBC Radio Gloucestershire,Heart West,Greatest Hits Radio South West and Cotswolds Radio, community based radio station[17]
The town is served by the local newspaper, Cotswold Journal.[18]
Stow-on-the-Wold, Where the wind blows cold.
Where horses young and old are sold,
Where farmers come to spend their gold,
Where men are fools and women are bold,
And many a wicked tale is told.High on the freezing Cotswold.
The following roads pass through the town:
From 1881 until 1962, the town was served byStow-on-the-Wold railway station on theGreat Western Railway'sBanbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway. The nearest station is now atMoreton-in-Marsh, which is 4 miles (6.4 km) away, on theCotswold Line betweenHereford andLondon Paddington; services are provided byGreat Western Railway. An alternative is atKingham, 5 miles (8.0 km) away from Stow on the same line.[21]
Local bus services are operated predominantly by Pulhams Coaches; key routes that serve the town lead toMoreton-in-Marsh,Hook Norton andBourton-on-the-Water.[22]
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