Invitation

Welcome to the 11th UK Sacred Harp Convention 2007, which will be held at Henry Box School in Witney, West Oxfordshire. Henry Box School is situated on Church Green, a short walk from the town centre, and has an interesting mix of buildings with some going back to the 18th Century. It has a large self-contained car parking area which also has space for camper vans and caravans. (If you intend to bring either of these please let me, Mandy Townsend (mandypigs@aol.com) know beforehand so that I can alert the caretakers - thanks!)

Witney is on the edge of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and is a busy market town. It made its name in the manufacturing of blankets and much of the architecture reflects the past prosperity of the woollen trade. The 17th century Butter Cross, Mount House (where you'll discover the remains of the Palace of the Bishop of Winchester and the fine tree-bordered green and church of St. Mary the Virgin with its 150ft spire) are all places to visit within 5 minutes walk from our convention venue. Nearby is Cogges, a renovated, working Victorian farmhouse complete with buildings and animals.

Witney boasts a fine array of eating places all within a short walking distance - cafes and teashops, public houses and inns, and an ever-expanding number of ethnic restaurants.

Transport directions

By road:

Witney is situated off the A40 some 10 miles west of Oxford.
See detailed map for street directions within Witney.

Bus services:

Witney has a regular bus service no. 100 from Oxford, which also has a stop near the Oxford rail station. It runs every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays (see timetable* here).

Rail links:

The best rail link to Witney is via Oxford. From there the 100 bus route runs to the centre of Witney. From here it is a short 5 minute walk to Henry Box School.

Links to London:

Oxford has good links with London by both rail and coach.

A number of rail services either go to Oxford or have stops at Oxford. Most services leave from London Paddington.

Coach services are reliable and frequent. The Oxford Tube (www.oxfordtube.com) and X90 (www.oxfordbus.co.uk/espress1.shtml) provide coaches every 10 minutes throughout the day and night which stop in Gloucester Green in Oxford. From there the 100 bus to Witney can be caught - here's a direct link to its timetable*.

Links from Heathrow and Gatwick airports:

From either airport there are direct coach services to Oxford. See the Oxford Bus Company website (www.oxfordbus.co.uk/airline1.html) for details. From Oxford take the 100 bus to Witney - here's a direct link to its timetable*.

If driving from the airports: From Heathrow take the M4 westbound, then M25 northbound to the M40. From Gatwick take the M23 towards London, then M25 westbound to the M40. Take the M40 towards Birmingham and turn off at Oxford. From there follow the A40 signs towards Cheltenham and after about 15 miles turn off at the Witney signs - there are two, and you can take either exit. Then follow the sketch map.

For a detailed map of the area visit www.multimap.com and type in the Witney postcode - OX29.

Accommodation

Click here for an accommodation list - it is based upon information from the Witney tourist information centre. For more information tel: 01993 775802, or email: witney.vic@westoxon.gov.uk

Food and registration

No registration is required for the convention. Loaner copies of the Sacred Harp will be available.
Please bring cold food to share on both Saturday and Sunday. Witney has a number of food shops and supermarkets within easy reach (and a Saturday market) if you would find it easier to purchase food on arrival.
Please note that there are no facilities for re-heating or cooking food.

Timetable

Friday 7th September

7.30 onwards: a workshop for those less familiar with singing shapes, at the school (see map for location).

Saturday 8th September

9.15 onwards Registration and refreshments
10.00 Welcome and singing
11.15 Recess
12.30 Bring and share lunch
1.30 Singing
14.30 Recess
14.45 Singing
16.00 Announcements and closure of first day
19.30 Singing of shape-note music, old and new, from sources other than 'The Sacred Harp'. Anyone wishing to contribute music for this event should contact Dave (Townsend) on 01865 714778 or dtmellstock@aol.com

Sunday 9th September

9.15 onwards Registration and refreshments
10.0 Singing
11.0 Recess
11.15 Singing
11.45 Memorial lesson followed by singing
12.30 Bring and share lunch
13.20 Meeting to discuss future convention locations
13.45 Singing
14.30 Recess
14.45 Singing
15.45 Business meeting and notices
16.00 Close of convention
16.15 Tea and cakes

Map of Witney | Accommodation | Back to UK Shapenotes

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