The Campden Society

Protection of the beauty and character of Chipping Campden and its immediate surroundings was undertaken in 1924 when the first Campden Society was formed.  In 1929, the Campden Trust was set up by F.L. Griggs committed to the preservation of the characteristic buildings of the town, its open spaces and surrounding landscape, including Dover's Hill.  The Society lapsed but the Trust, drawing on charities and wealthy benefactors, was able to buy and restore buildings using traditional methods and materials and to prevent unsuitable development.  Its activities were curtailed in the late sixties, however, with the introduction of legislation affecting conservation and planning, and by increasing property prices.  Thereafter, the Campden Trust found itself confined mainly to making grants to restoration projects of civic importance.

The Campden Society, reformed in July 1970, has been active as a conservation society, exercising the right for its views to be considered by the planning authorities.  In 2000, the Campden Trust concluded that combining its financial resources with the Society's conservation activity would create a much stronger and more effective conservation force in Chipping Campden.  Accordingly, it was proposed that the Campden Trust transfer its assets to a new charity, subsidiary to the Society, with appropriate safeguards.  The Society welcomed that initiative and its new Constitution was approved in 2002.