Witney on River Windrush
People wading through water on the flooded Bridge Street towards West End in Witney town, England - wallpaper size 2560 x 1920
The photo shows the flooded Bridge Street towards West End, in the town of Witney, located 12 miles (19 km) west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England on 22 July 2007.
People can be seen wading through floodwater on the street that has risen above the door thresholds of some of the Old English style buildings, while a curious dog is looking down on its own reflection on rippling water. Children, especially those plying their bicycles, seem to enjoy riding on the flooded street.
The town of Witney is on a major crossover of the River Windrush, a tributary of the River Thames. It originates from the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire and meanders for about 40 miles (64 km) through Bourton-on-the-Water, Oxfordshire, Burford, Witney, Ducklington and Standlake before meeting the Thames at Newbridge upstream of Northmoor Lock.
In 2007 River Windrush, along with many other rivers in the Thames catchment area flooded several towns and villages in the region. As a result, Witney witnessed one of the worst floods in more than 50 years.
As floodwaters rose above knee-level on streets and water filled floors of houses on the ground level, people from several businesses and homes had to be evacuated to safer areas. The Bridge Street, the main road that traverses into the town, and the only road bridge across the river were closed for traffic.
Many of the old buildings, including houses and commercial properties in Witney, for instance the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the Holy Trinity parish church, were built and are still maintained in the Early English architectural style.
Though Witney has been traditionally famous for its high quality woolen blankets since Middle Ages, the blanket industry gradually declined and finally ceased production by 2002. One of the reasons for the growth of the town was attributed to the blanket industry which flourished because the water from the Windrush was said to be helpful for the high-quality blanket weaving.
Apart from its famous blankets, for centuries Witney has also been home to several maltings and breweries. The town also has two historical museums: the Cogges Manor Farm Museum, and the Witney and District Museum that houses many artifacts related to the history of the town.
The people of the town are sports enthusiasts, as indicated by the presence of many sports clubs promoting football, rugby, hockey, cricket, basketball, etc.
In British politics, Witney is considered a safe seat of the Conservatives. The current leader of the Conservative Party, and the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, had won the election from the Witney constituency.
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