IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Corn Street, WITNEY, OX28 6DB

Time seems to have stopped for this shop although the flowers in the window seem to be real and alive. The council tax records appear to indicate that it is still occupied. The building is listed Grade II http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=397052

A Grade II listed building, originally a private house. Like many of the buildings in Corn Street it dates from the late 17th century, but a refronting in the late 19th century rather disguises this fact from the outside. There are many later alterations. The pub is a Hook Norton house. One of the last independent family owned breweries with its brewery at Hook Norton in Oxfordshire. It is claimed to be the finest example of a Victorian tower brewery in the country. Image Image

A Hook Norton house. The Eagle is a fairly common name and was probably one of those used to easily identify the pub in the days when most people couldn't read or write. Alternatively it may have a heraldic link. Image Image

A Hook Norton house near the town centre. Not to be confused with the Eagle Vaults in the Market Square. Image Image

A greengrocer is the first stall to be fully set up. On the right are buildings along the west side of the square.

A town centre hotel and pub with function room and an Aunt Sally pitch in the courtyard. Aunt Sally is a throwing game which in the past was found in many pubs and fairgrounds. Oxfordshire is one of the few areas where it is still fairly common. Image Image Update:- now called the Rocket. Image

The Red Lion Hotel is now a Greene King (Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk) house. They probably acquired it when they purchased Morlands of Abingdon in 2000. It used to be known as the Red Lion Inn. The Red Lion remains the most common name given to public houses, inns and hotels. The name derives from King James VI of Scotland, who inherited the English throne in 1603, on the death of Queen Elizabeth I. He became King James I of England, and to reinforce his authority to rule, he decreed that all public buildings (including taverns) must display a heraldic red lion in a prominent position. This resulted in many pubs acquiring the Red Lion name. This particular Red Lion pub wasn't built until much later in the 17th century, but the tradition of using this name seems to have carried on for a long time. According to The Inn Sign Society's website, there are thought to be about 600 Red Lion pubs still in business, and over the years many more of the same name have closed. Image Image Update:- now called the Rocket. Image

The building is Grade II listed and dates from the late 17th century, but it was refronted in about 1840. There are later alterations. It was originally a private house. Image Image Update: now called the Rocket. Image

This used to be the Red Lion, then it was called Koi Witney and recently it became The Rocket. Throughout the changes it has remained owned by Greene King but the target "audience" seems to have changed. The website no longer mentions the traditional game of Aunt Sally which is almost certainly no longer on offer here. Instead you can have a pizza or sandwiches and in the evenings a dance floor is available. On Sundays they show films. Image How it used to be:- Image

Formerly the Red Lion, then Koi Witney and now the Rocket. Image