top of page

Milestones

1969

  • Decision to form BDS

1970

  • BDS officially formed as a charity with constitution for benefit of:

    • Burford, Fulbrook, Taynton, Shilton, Westwell, Holwell, Swinbrook, Astall (later Widford)

  • Purpose

    • Stimulate public interest in the area

    • Promote high standards of planning architecture in the area

    • Secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the area

  • Executive Committee of 18, including representatives from each parish with four subcommittees:

    • Planning, Tours, Traffic, Activities and other short term committees

  • Conservation Area set up in 1970

1971

  • 57% of traders and 72% of residents support by-pass. Suggested a by-pass route

  • Tours started and were major fundraiser

  • BBC made film of by-pass issue: “The Battle of Burford”

  • Suggested Chamber of Commerce had a voluntary code regarding signs, awnings, advertisements, posters

1972

  • Route for by-pass selected

1976

  • BDS supplied £300 for litter bins

  • Pushed for western High Street pavement improvements

  • Tours: Bespoke 55 and 27 on Sundays: Total 82

  • Created information on Burford to be given to new residents

1977

  • Eastern pavement improvement pushed for but delayed till 1980 due to new sewer

1979

  • 200 members

  • Gave grant to remove old TV aerials from Burford

  • Triangle of land in Witney Street given to BDS

  • First Mayor in Burford

  • Voluntary scheme to divert HGVs from Burford High Street implemented

1980

  • Donated £1000 to western pavement improvement

  • Burford Trail published

1981

  • 2700 copies of Burford Trail sold

  • Concern over speeding on Witney Street – some prosecutions

1982

  • OCC against Burford High Street weight limit

1983

  • Walks near Burford leaflet published

  • BDS helped fund signs on Sheep and Witney Streets – ‘Please Drive Slowly’

1984

  • Organised exhibition on Burford Past, Burford Present

  • By-pass a big issue. BTC in favour too

1986

  • Supported BTC at Olympia World Travel Market

1987

  • Car Park issue to fore

  • OCC put off by-pass for a year

  • Organised a Wool Fair. 2500 people came

1989

  • Put on Cotswold Stone Exhibition, 3118 people attended

  • Purchased rights to book,  “Quarries and Craftmen of Windrush Valley”

  • OCC put off by-pass until 1999

1990

  • Opened 15 gardens

1992

  • Donated £1000 to western pavement improvement

  • M40 opened, expected change of traffic through Burford

1993

  • Organised Burford at War exhibition.1500 people attended

  • More policemen in Burford

  • Fee went up from £2 to £3.50

1994

  • Book and leaflets selling well

1996

  • Started making photographic archive of Burford Houses. Now available in the Burford Archive

  • Objected to shabby signs and advertisements on High Street

1997

  • Inspector rejected Sheep Street car park and suggested Priory Woods

  • OCC exhibition of  options for HGV removal from Burford High Street. Residents could not agree, BDS supported western by-pass. WODC and BTC did not support by-pass. OCC rejected eastern by pass and asked WODC to investigate financing of western by-pass. No money available

1998

  • Agreement with BTC to maintain triangle of land by Meeting House on Witney Street which BDS own

1999

  • Decision at AGM that BDS founded in 1969

2000

  • Millennium project was Burford Coat of Arms on Falkland Hall to which BDS asked Prince Charles to unveil

2001

  • Pushed for High Street Road improvements

  • Tours stopped?

2002

  • Published quarterly newsletter

  • 100 people attended lectures by well known speakers who spoke about Burford in context of the outside world

2003

  • Honorary members elected heads of local churches and Priory

  • New Burford Festival strongly supported

2004

  • Opposed development of care home on old hospital site

bottom of page