The word Woodstock, according to Oxford Concise Dictionary of English Place names, means 'place in the woods'. During its history it has been spelt in various ways: Wudstoc (1100), Wudestun (1123), Wdestock (1150). Before Norman Conquest all Oxfordshire was forest and since the time of the Anglo-Saxons Woodstock has been used as a hunting and meeting place. The first certain record of a king visiting Woodstock is that of Ethelred (978-1016) who held a council at Woodstock which led to a decree of maintenance of piece for the whole nation.

In the Domesday Book Woodstock was described as 'demense forest  of the king'. This meant that it was forest land reserved for hunting by the king. To the Anglo-Saxons hunting was considered a sport with only a few laws to specify who could hunt there. The Norman kings on the other hand had very strict laws to protect their forests and their hunting. Norman Kings established Woodstock as a royal hunting ground. The third Norman king Henry I (1100-1135) built a hunting lodge at Woodstock; he also enclosed seven miles with a stone wall and introduced wild animals such as lions and leopards. He also founded the village of Old Woodstock.

Henry II (1154-1189) spent a great deal of time in Woodstock; and he is said to have brought his mistress Rosamund Clifford to Woodstock and built her a house there. To this day there is a spring in the grounds of Blenheim Park known as Rosamund's Well.

Woodstock itself was built of forty acres of ground outside the grounds of Woodstock Park. It provided lodging for the king's men when the king came to hunt at Woodstock. As Woodstock became more popular with royalty large numbers of people came to Woodstock and more lo0dgings were built. Both Richard I (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216) came to Woodstock during their reigns. Henry III (1216-1272) built a chapel at the manor house dedicated
to St. Edward, which became known as the Queen's chapel.

A survey in 1279 revealed that there were 137 houses in Woodstock and 504 inhabitans. the number of craftsmen and tradesmen in Woodstock at that time was fairly high. Woodstock like all other villages of the time had to be self-sufficient. Woodstock although small was thought to be of a great enough
importance to be allowed to send two representatives to the Parliament. 1377 saw the population halved because of the Black Death.

The reign of Edward III (1327-1377) was the high point in the history of Woodstock. Edward spend a good time in the Woodstock Manor together withhis wife Philippa oof hainault. the eldest son Edward the Black Prince was born here in 1330 and that year the court stayed here for three months.

On 24th of May 1453 Woodstock wwas granted a charter of incorporation,
but before this charter was granted Woodstock already had independent goverment by tradition. The charter declared that tenants, residents, inhabitans and their heirs and successors should be free. they could have a merchant guid and a guildhall. Only members of the  guid could trade in the town. Rent went to the town and not to the crown. Another privillege the town was granted was that it could fix the price and quality of food and drink. the town was also granted a five-day fair at the feast of St Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of Woodstock Church.

The accession of Henry VIII (1507-1547) to the English throne brought many people to Woodstock for hunting and Henry VIII had a tennis court built. But after the early years of his first marriage his interest in the Woodstock manor waned; It falled into disrepair and later was used as a prison for Henry VIII's daughter Elizabeth when she was imprisoned by her sister Queen Mary.

Queen Elizabeth confirmed the charter that had been granted to Woodstock and gave to Woodstock four shops and thirteen cottages. Some of the buildings still stand, and two of them used now as a public houses. Woodstock also gained a weekly market on fridays and two more fairs of four days each. the structure of administration become very complicated with a mayor, aldermen and  councillors.

At about this time glove making became the major industry of the area. Elizabethian Woodstock was also known for its polished steel work, the steel being taken from old horse shoe nails. The work became very  popular and fetched a high price.

James I (1603-1625) restored part of Woodstock manor to its formal
glory so he could live there while hunting.

During the Civil War Woodstock was under siege from 8 to 26 April 1646 until it was captured by Cromwell's supporters who saw  it as a great victory. Woodstock suffered from the Civil War because town no longer benefited from the trade that the king had brought; also they had to put up Cromwell's troops. Woodstock then played little part in royal affairs, until John Churchill was given Woodstock Manor by Queen Anne after the battle of Blenheim.