IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Market Square, WITNEY, OX28 6RD

The bank was until a few years ago known as Lloyds TSB Bank, but then the TSB was spun off into a separate bank so the name changed back to Lloyds Bank.

Ordnance Survey flush bracket benchmark described on the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm10749

This 18th century listed building was for a very long period of time home to Witney's main post office. Now it is being used for a branch of Bill's, a restaurant chain. It offers breakfast, lunch and evening meals. The large postbox nearby gives a clue to the building's former use. The building was called Hill Rise House but that name seems to be no longer in use. Image

The main Witney Post Office was here for many years but closed on the 12th March 2014. It was relocated to within the W.H. Smith's branch at the Woolgate Centre, off Market Square. The building itself is Grade II listed and was originally a house. It dates from around 1750 with later alterations. To the right is a branch of the former Lloyds TSB Bank now Lloyds Bank. Image Update July 2016:- The building is now in use as a restaurant. See:- Image

Another view of this Grade II listed building:- Image Updated July 2016:- The building is now used as a restaurant. Image

The busy Market Square and High Street, which contain many old buildings. One leads imperceptibly into the other.

One of Witney's oldest pubs, this Grade II listed building is believed to date from the 17th century but with later alterations. It was the original home of the famous Brakspear's beers. Robert Brakspear brewed here from 1769 until he moved to his uncle's brewery in Henley-on-Thames in 1779. Today it is branded a John Barras pub, which is owned by Spirit, part of Greene King. It seems to have a bit of a split personality as sometimes it is called the Cross Keys but other times it goes by the rather twee name of Ye Olde Cross Keys (see the sandwich board on the left). Previously it was an inn known as the Cross Keys Inn. Image Image By March 2016 the pub had adopted new signage:- Image

In the past, probably more than today, the Cross Keys would be widely recognised as a religious symbol, which represented St. Peter as the keeper of the gates of Heaven. Hence it was a popular sign for pubs and inns when most people were illiterate and pubs needed easily distinguishable signs. Going further back in history, in medieval times many inns were religious establishments and the signs normally had religious associations, such as the Angel, the Lamb and of course the Cross Keys. Pubs and inns of this name can be found in other countries too. The only English style pub in Cusco, a large city in Peru, is called the Cross Keys but it only dates from 1986! Image Image By March 2016 a new sign had replaced this one. Image