Chipping Sodbury
Chipping Sodbury is a historical town with many traditions that are still in place today.
Chipping Sodbury is a small market town situated in South Gloucestershire, England just outside of Yate. It was established by William Crassus around the 12th century.
Over the period of years the town has become a portion of the much built-up area due to its extension with neighboring Yate.
Around the 18th century Edward Jenner launched a medical training center in Chipping Sodbury, after observing people catching cowpox, and then not catching smallpox.
Chipping Sodbury has a long market square or Chepynge, as it was called in the medieval times and hence "Chipping" (Chipping is olde-English for "market").
Broad street as it is called now is bordered with a wonderful assortment of houses from every period, but largely 17th-century Cotswold stone buildings or Georgian of mellow brick. Most of these are now occupied by bright and cheerful shops which still retain a lively country atmosphere.
Chipping Sodbury lies at the foot of the southern Cotswold escarpment below Dodington Park in southern Gloucestershire. As the Chipping in its name implies, it was once an important market centre in medieval times and stands at the crossroads on the main route between Bristol, Oxford and London.
Chipping Sodbury supposedly has the widest street of any town in England, though Stockton-on-Tees is another strong contender for that distinction. Chipping Sodbury does have the widest working high street in Europe.
Places to Stay around Chipping Sodbury and Yate
Family Eating Places
Whats on now in Chipping Sodbury
Local Events
The Farmers Market
continues a 800 year long tradition of producers from the surrounding countryside bringing their produce to Chipping Sodbury to sell. Although the produce available does vary depending on season and availability there is usually a good range of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy produce, preserves, cakes and pies along with plants and flowers.
The Market is held on the second Saturday and last Thursday of each month. It is held alongside the Clock Tower in Chipping Sodbury.
The Mop Fair
is held twice a year, usually in March and September. The original Mop Fair was developed as a hiring fair for farm labour. Gradually the fair became a holiday for farm workers and children would have the day off school to attend. The Fair is now held on a Friday and Saturday when people from around the local area bring a long their families to join in the fun.
The Mop Fair has been visiting Chipping Sodbury's medieval High Street for many years. The spring Mop usually takes place over the last Friday and Saturday in March, and the Autumn Mop over the last Friday and Saturday in September.
Throughout these week ends, which is attended by people from all over the region, the High Street is partially closed off to traffic and Broad Street is pedestrianised. The pubs and restaurants record good trade, and the local economy in general is boosted as a whole.
Chipping Sodbury Festival
In June there is a Street Fair and Carnival which takes place in Broad Street on a Saturday, Stalls, Children's Rides and Carnival Floats.
There are other events around the area that also take place in the weeks leading up to this
Classic Car Run
Also towards the end of June there is the Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club Annual Classic Car Run
Victorian Evening
There is also a Victorian Evening which is held in early December, with local shop keepers dressing up in old costumes and a visit from Father Christmas.
Notable Names
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling was born in the Chipping Sodbury Maternity hospital (in the adjacent town of Yate), which is now an ante natal clinic.
Jack Russell - the former England cricket wicket keeper and artist.
Edward Jenner - discoverer of the cure for smallpox.
Dr Alfred Grace brother of legendary England cricketer W. G. Grace, was a resident of Chipping Sodbury in the late 19th century. He captained Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club.
If you are here because you are looking for an ideal place to base yourself, be it for a holiday of or to live then look no further.
We are ideally placed for the maritime City of Bristol (12 miles Southwest), the Roman/Georgian city of Bath (17 miles South), Stonehenge (35 miles Southeast), Wales (10 miles West), We are 5 mins from the M4 motorway and 15 mins away from the M5.
Yate and Chipping Sodbury are the perfect compliment; Chipping Sodbury the old market town. It retains its village feel, despite 20th century access. The town is based around it's High Street. Up until early this century, a regular market was held here. It is a long straight street. Slightly sloping, it is still full of curiosity shops, antique shops, and SEVEN Pubs - all with their own charm and character.
It also has several restaurants - including Thai, French, Italian, and an Indian restaurant housed in a fine Georgian House which was once lived in by Edward Jenner - the inventor of the smallpox vaccine.
Yate is the archetypal modern English town. A mixture of Industry, housing, shopping and amenities, all centered around the main shopping mall which has over a hundred shops of all varieties. There are several Hotels to choose from locally - from the simple to something with character. From places formally frequented by travellers, to the place where The Queen stayed one snowy night.
We hope you come to see us. We promise to extend a warm West country welcome to one and all - wherever you are from.
