Changing Places: Chipping Campden

Question 1

Where is Chipping Campden

Answer 1

Chipping Campden is in Gloucestershire, 26 miles from Cheltenham in the Cotswold area of outstanding natural beauty

Question 2

Chipping Campden is in area of…

Answer 2

Outstanding natural beauty

Question 3

Why does campden feature in the AONB

Answer 3

Due to its unique and old buildings (many from 17th century) and surrounding rolling hills.

Question 4

What areas is Chipping Campden connected to/ near to

Answer 4

Chipping Campden is served by main rounds which run to Evesham and the vale and shipston on stout and historically was also home to a railway station on the Cotswold line (now closed)

Question 5

Where is campden in relation to Dovers and fish hills

Answer 5

Campden is in a shallow valley behind Dovers and fish hills which together make up part of the Cotswold escarpment.

Question 6

How did Chipping Campden establish itself

Answer 6

It established itself as a leading wool town during the 1400s.

Evidence of this remains today with the iconic market square and large st james church (one of the largest wool churches built with money from the wool trade).

Question 7

What happened to campden following the demise of the wool trade during the 19th century

Answer 7

Chipping Campden became home to a new arts and crafts movement. 212 employed in agriculture in 1881 this number is at 42 today.

Question 8

Tell me about Robert welch is Chipping Campden

Answer 8

The old silk mill is testament to the time of arts and crafts and international table wear producer Robert welch also began work in Chipping Campden.

Robert welch designed his cutlery in a workshop at the base of sheep street and employed local crafts people to help him to manufacture the pieces. These were initially sold via a campden based store (still present today) before his reputation grew, with designs now available around the word.

Question 9

Since the mid 20th century Chipping Campden has become a….

Answer 9

Tourist hot spot. Especially popular with tourists from japan and USA campdens current tourism focus is reflected by the large number of pubs, tea rooms and gift shops along the high street.

Question 10

Tell me about the revival of Dovers hill games

Answer 10

Tourism is also a key driver for the revival of events such as the Dovers hill games. A 400 year old ‘Olympicks’ heralded by some as the start of the modern games.

Question 11

Accommodation and food services now employs how many in campden

Answer 11

124

Question 12

Tell me about the changes in employment patterns

Answer 12

Global forces and influences such as new technology has altered campdens function and employment patterns. 24 people now work in IT and 54 in admin within campden. Many of these may work from home (footloose)

Question 13

Tell me about the insider view of Malcolm Wheatcroft

Answer 13

He went through his whole education in Chipping Campden including going to the grammar school (now high school) which has only 350 students, all boys.

Many shops were small and local. These included 3 bakers, 3 butchers, 1 chemist and 2 on call doctors.

Many of the shops above were lost. Mr wheatcroft believes this is down to supermarkets.

Bus services have always been poor but re opening the train station would help he thinks.

Farming feel has gradually gone along with sense of community as more outsiders have arrived.

Question 14

Tell me about the racial diversity in campden

Answer 14

Chipping Campden has and has always had a primarily white British population. Today over 90% of residents were born in the uk

Question 15

Tell me about the age structure

Answer 15

The age structure has changed over time. Campden now has a median age of 46 years, 7 years higher than uk average of 39 years. This is down to the number of retirees who move to the area when they finish work, as well as the provisions such as 2 care homes, 12 alms houses and one block of sheltered accommodation for the elderly to us.

Question 16

Tell me about the age structure in the past

Answer 16

In the past far more young people lived in campden. Though a lack of job opportunities and very high housing costs have forced these people out today.

Question 17

Tell me how the population numbers have changed in campden

Answer 17

The overall population of campden fell by 774 between 1851 and 1921, partly due to 60 men dying in WW1 and partly due to mass migration to the cities during industrial times.

Since 1921 the population has steadily risen and new housing since 2000 is rapidly accelerating the growth today.

Question 18

Tell me about the changing built environment: banks

Answer 18

Services have been lost such as the banks. Only one bank remains - its opening hours are limited, especially for those who work.

Question 19

Tell me about the changing built environment: police station

Answer 19

Campden had an operational police station from 1920 to 2002 when it was closed. However, the community purchased the building and it is now used as a tourist information centre, office for the town council and NCCR radio studio.

Question 20

Tell me about listed buildings

Answer 20

With 270 listed buildings, it is no surprise that many of campdens structures have remained the same in terms of appearance. Notable structures are the 12 alms houses for the elderly of the town and many of the hotels on the high street.

Question 21

Tell me how the use of former homes have changed

Answer 21

Many former homes are now mixed use. With businesses downstairs and accommodation above.

Question 22

What percentage of people are British nationals living in campden

Answer 22

91.7%

Question 23

Tell me about Ms Gregory as an outsider perspective

Answer 23

Ms Gregory believes that the community in campden are stand offish and not willing to associate with outsiders. Being American she is regularly mistaken for a tourist and ignored.

Ms Gregory also agrees with mr wheatcrofts insider view that it is very difficult for young people to stay in campden due to housing costs. Though also worries the areas charm could be lost if too many new buildings were constructed.

Question 24

Tell me about the outsider perspective of Mrs chapman

Answer 24

Mrs chapman echoes the belief that the sense of community could be stronger.
Mrs chapman previously lived in Cornwall and has found campden to be more welcoming and less isolated due to better transport links.
It must be noted that opinions are forms of qualitative data from interviews.

Question 25

Chipping campden and the Cotswolds are shown to be an area of outstanding natural beauty…

Answer 25

A phrase which implies picturesque buildings and a great deal of history.

Question 26

How does the media represent chipping campden

Answer 26

The media represents it very positively. Advertisements regularly appear in national newspapers and on social media platforms painting a picture of a rural idle to attract tourists from the the uk and abroad.

Question 27

What features are most prominent in campdens media representation

Answer 27

Campdens old buildings and high street feature most prominently in its media representation with other key features (eg the school, BRI or newer homes) not featuring at all.

Question 28

How did the Court barn create a stronger sense of place

Answer 28

Structures such as court barn have enabled development of a stronger sense of place aimed at showing the story of campdens arts/crafts movement. Manned by enthusiastic volunteers this helps visitors to develop a sense of place for campden.

Question 29

Campdens residents (especially lifelong insiders) often have highly developed senses of places and do not want their ‘home’ to be…

Answer 29

Changed. This is highlighted by the conversation of historic buildings such as the market square. The

Question 30

Globally chipping campden and the Cotswolds are represented as a…

Answer 30

‘True reflection of england’. Which explains the desire of tourists to visit the area. This representation only grows when tourists leave with a positive impression and show photos they took to friends and families back home.

Question 31

Is there inequality in campden

Answer 31

Despite the average resident being very affluent there is still significant inequality in campden

Question 32

How have Gloucestershire county council minimised inequality in campden

Answer 32

They age minimised this by failing to provide much in the way of affordable or social housing in campden. Especially since many former council houses are now in private ownership.

Question 33

What are average house prices

Answer 33

House prices average over £552,000 way over the national average of £230,000. This prices poorer residents or those on low incomes out of the area (as said in lived experiences)

Some work has been done to stop this with houses designated as only for locals.

Question 34

How many residents have a higher qualification

Answer 34

37% of campden residents have a degree level or higher qualification. Way above national average.

Question 35

How has the number of homes changed since 1841

Answer 35

In 1841 the number of homes was 478. Now this number is 1072.

However, the much slower rise in total population suggests many of these are occupied by fewer people than homes in the past.

Question 36

Tell me about the housing provision

Answer 36

The housing provision has changed. Historically most of campden was terraced, but today 43% of homes are detached and there are also 78 flats. These flats are largely for the retired elderly(eg Seymour gate)

Many homes are now undergoing substantial alteration as residents look to improve them and sell for significant profit.