Chipping Norton is a market town as well as civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England, about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Banbury as well as 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 6,337. The town has its own theatre. The structure started life as a Salvation Army Citadel, with the first rocks, currently noticeable in the auditorium, being laid in 1888. It proceeded for some years as a furniture storage facility, before being discovered by two Royal Shakespeare Company stars, Tamara as well as John Malcolm in 1968. In 1973, fundraising for the brand-new theatre began 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 time, starting with a light program consisting of films and lunchtime jazz concerts. The adjacent cottage was acquired and transformed to become bench and gallery. In 1990 a building in Goddards Lane was bought and also this now acts as green room, workplaces and also wedding rehearsal area. The town also is a retail and recreation centre for its location, with three grocery stores and also numerous shops consisting of branches of nationwide store. It has 4 public houses as well as two resorts with public bars. The town has 3 schools. Divine Trinity Roman Catholic Institution as well as St Mary's Church of England School are primary schools. Chipping Norton School is the town's secondary school as well as has a sixth type.