Downton Abbey village hits fundraising target to restore 17th-century school

A Bampton fundraiser reached its goal after more than £70,000 was raised over a decade to restore the 17th-century Bampton Grammar School, which featured as Downton Cottage Hospital; the restored building now hosts a tourist shop, an updated library and a community events room.

A fundraiser in the Oxfordshire village of Bampton has reached its target. The campaign aimed to restore the 17th-century former Bampton Grammar School. The building was used as Downton Cottage Hospital in the ITV series Downton Abbey. Organisers also ran the Downton Mile campaign to mark a one-mile trail around filming sites. Key facts: - More than £70,000 was raised over the past decade to support the restoration project. - The school building featured in every series of the TV drama as Downton Cottage Hospital. - The Downton Mile campaign collected enough pound coins to mark out a one-mile tourist trail around Bampton. - Robin Shuckburgh of the Bampton Community Archive said the arrival of Downton Abbey transformed the village and helped the project progress more quickly. - The restored building now includes a shop for visitors, an updated library and a room for local events. Summary: The fundraising effort helped complete the restoration of a historic school building that became well known through its role in Downton Abbey, and the village has seen increased visitor interest as a result. The Downton Mile trail is being marked to guide visitors around local filming locations, and the restored space now serves both tourists and the community.