The Small Town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire

The small town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire sits inRoyal Charter in 1179, and the town underwent
the general southeast region of England. It has agreat change in the 17th century, after John
current population of around 3,000 people, and isChurchill, the First Duke of Marlborough, took up
the home of Blenheim Palace, which is apermanent residence there.
designated World Heritage Site. It is convenientlyToday, Woodstock's main industry is tourism, with
located about 8 miles from Oxford and only 70 ormany people coming from far and wide to see
so miles from London.Blenheim Palace. It is interesting to note that the
Of historical note, it is at Blenheim that Sirconstruction of the palace itself was paid for
Winston Churchill was born in 1874. He is buried inmainly by the nation, in gratitude over the military
a nearby village, also. It is also in Woodstock thatvictories of John Churchill, who fought and
Edward, the oldest son of King Edward III anddefeated the French and the Bavarians at
more lately called the Black Prince, was born inBlenheim, in 1704.
the year 1330, in Woodstock Manor. The townThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of
was at one time in the 16th century a center ofOxfordshire, in which the town of Woodstock
the manufacture of gloves, which made the arearesides, currently enjoys a population of around
quite prosperous.635,000 people. It sits in the southeastern part of
The town's name comes from the Anglo-Saxon,England, and is largely dependent upon tourism
meaning a 'clearing in the woods.' It wasand motorsport corporate activities. It is also the
mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book,home of the University of Oxford, the oldest
the property survey held by William I (Theuniversity in the English-speaking world.
Conqueror). King Henry II granted Woodstock a