The town of Burford is one of the most beautiful, exciting, and fascinating places in the entire United Kingdom, to say nothing of the county of Oxfordshire. Few cities can claim as many varying attributes as Burford and its seemingly endless list of "pros" that make it such a desirable location. The magazine "Forbes" recently listed Burford as number six on their list of the most idyllic places to live. This list wasn't specific to Oxfordshire or England, however; it was a ranking of every city in Europe!
The reason for Burford's high ranking on the aforementioned list has a lot to do with the fact that the town is filled to the brim with gorgeous architecture that dates back many centuries in many cases. Burford Priory, for instance, is a stunning edifice made in the Elizabethan tradition and dates back to the early 1500s. What is even more remarkable, however, is the fact that much of this building was retained from its earlier incarnation as a hospital built in the 1200s. This fascinating mix of two different eras of both history and architecture makes for a truly jaw-dropping photo opportunity for tourists and residents alike but this is just one of the many fantastic buildings in this wonderland of history and beauty. Another building, known simply as "The Tolsey", sits right in the middle of High Street and has done so for several centuries. Essentially, the Tolsey was the center of the wool trade for Burford and it was here that wool was bought, sold, and maintained. It is important to remember that during the Middle Ages there was a time when wool was among the most precious materials in the world. In those days most houses were thatched huts and warmth was a commodity whose importance couldn't be stressed enough. Many people died simply from exposure to the elements and when the wool trade exploded the face of the country was changed forever. Burford was just one of the many towns in which wool saved not only the lives of the people but the economy of the town. Today, in a very fitting and admirable gesture, the original Tolsey is home to a museum that documents these fascinating times.
The most famous aspect of Burford, however, is most likely its role in the "Easter Synod". During the 600s there was a major controversy as different religious sects were having trouble deciding on a universal day in which to celebrate Easter. Both agreed that Easter should be held on the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon but the Romans thought that it should be held the day after that if the fourteenth day happened to be a Sunday. Britons, on the other hand, thought that it should be held on that day even if it was a Sunday. Many "Synods", or religious meetings, were held in different areas in order to come to a happy conclusion and the Synod in Burford was one of the most pivotal ones. At any rate, the whole problem was rendered moot with modern day revisions but it is still admirable that Burford was a significant town long before many of its neighbours. This is just the nature of Burford, though. No matter what the century the town is always in the forefront of modern day happenings. For this reason alone Burford is worthy of the highest regard but with all of its other attributes in tow it is little wonder that it placed so high on Forbes' list.
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