Thame Out The complimentary magazine for the Thame area
Quality streets
You don’t need to go far to find those Christmas presents. Thame’s streets are designed for a fantastic Christmas shopping experience.
Thame has a long history. People have lived here since prehistoric times. But it was from the 12th Century that the town was designed for shopping.
It was then that the Bishop of Lincoln, as lord of the manor, decided to create a new town at Thame. Many new towns were being planned out and created at the time. The population was growing and trade expanding The bishop took land that was being farmed directly for his benefit and laid out a new planned town over it. The result is Thame’s famous wide High Street. The original open space, with its angled sides, was deliberately constructed to accommodate the market in the twelfth century.
Over time, market stalls in the open space started turning into permanent structures. Some of the buildings around the Birdcage in Thame, and the Birdcage itself, are examples of buildings built within the open marketplace. Thame is noted for the way the medieval plan of the town has survived. We can still get a feeling of entering a structured space when we enter Thame High Street.
It is at this time of year, this dark mid-winter that the town really dazzles. Christmas lights adorn the ancient buildings and twinkle on the huge Christmas Tree outside the Town Hall.
Welcoming light and warmth emanating from shops, pubs and restaurants welcome us in.
Christmas is an important time for our local business’s, especially for the independent shops that rely on local trade.
Men’s and women’s fashions, cosmetics, food and drink, books, art, gifts, toys, whatever you are looking for, it can be found on Thame’s High street, North Street, East Street or in the Buttermarket.
Why not do yourself and your local independent business’s a favour and carry out your Christmas Shopping locally.
LET THERE BE LIGHTS
Thame’s Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place on Friday 6 December
The event is open from 4pm-7:30pm.
The Switch-On is at 6:30pm
Welcome back to Santa’s Grotto and Reindeer as well as all the family favourites including the lantern parade, entertainment, children’s characters, refreshments, gift stalls, and more. Look out for the Steam Train offering rides throughout the evening as well.
You can read more articles like this one in the latest edition of Thame Out.
