The History

The Bear Hotel at Woodstock is one of the original coaching inns of old England. It had already been dispensing hospitality for over 450 years when Queen Anne bestowed the Royal Manor of Woodstock in 1704 to John, the first Duke of Marlborough as a token of the country's gratitude for his victories over the French. Here Vanbrugh built the magnificent Blenheim Palace for the Duke and Duchess, and Capability Brown created the beautiful park with its great lake.

Woodstock has been a Royal Manor since time immemorable - the earliest records dating back 50 years before the Norman Conquest when Ethelred held council here. Successive monarchs used the Manor House as a lodge from which they and their retinue hunted deer and wild boar in the forests, which surrounded the palace.

In about 1100 a.d. Henry I rebuilt the Manor House and surrounded the park with seven miles of stone walling. His grandson, Henry II spent much time at Woodstock with the beautiful Rosamund of Legend. It was from the days of Henry II that the "ville" of Woodstock grew, for it was King who granted land for his retainers to build their houses. The church was built then as is evidenced by the Norman arch in the south wall. It was then soon after that The Bear opened its doors to the welcome the weary traveller.

By 1302 Woodstock had grown in importance and was returning two representatives to Parliament. In 1330 Edward, the Black Prince was born.

The local industry of glove making seems to have started and still to date Woodstock hand made gloves are still known throughout the world and can be obtained in several local shops. One user of Woodstock gloves was Queen Elizabeth I who was imprisoned in the Manor by her sister, Mary Tudor. Another industry that flourished in the town during the Middle Ages was the manufacture of Chain Mail.

The Manor fell into disrepair after the battering it received during the Civil War, when it was defended by Royalist troops, who finally had to surrender to Cromwell's men in 1646.

More recently, Woodstock claims fame as being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, who saw light of day at Blenheim Palace on 30th November 1874. The great man had a lasting affection for Woodstock throughout his long and eventful life and was a frequent visitor to his kinsmen, the Malborough's. He was laid to rest in the quiet country churchyard at nearby Bladon.

Before leaving Woodstock, take a short walk down the street and through the Triumphal Arch of Blenheim. Here you will behold a view, which will entrance you over Capability Brown's lake and to the magnificent Palace beyond. Or, if you are more energetic, you may wander at will through the most beautiful park in England.

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