Chipping Norton is a market town and also civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire area of Oxfordshire, England, concerning 12 miles (19 kilometres) southwest of Banbury and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the church's population as 6,337. The community has its own theatre. The structure started life as a Salvation Army Citadel, with the initial stones, currently noticeable in the amphitheater, being laid in 1888. It continued for some years as a furnishings warehouse, before being found by 2 Royal Shakespeare Company actors, Tamara and also John Malcolm in 1968. In 1973, fundraising for the new theatre started in earnest, as well as a pantomime, Beauty and the Beast was staged in the town hall. The Theatre was opened in 1975 by Tom Baker, the Doctor Who of the moment, starting with a light programme including movies and also lunchtime jazz concerts. The adjacent cottage was purchased as well as converted to end up being bench as well as gallery. In 1990 a structure in Goddards Lane was acquired as well as this now functions as green room, offices and practice session space. The town additionally is a retail as well as leisure centre for its area, with three supermarkets and various shops consisting of branches of national chain stores. It has 4 public houses and 2 hotels with public bars. The town has 3 schools. Divine Trinity Roman Catholic College as well as St Mary's Church of England School are primary schools. Chipping Norton School is the community's secondary school as well as has a sixth type.