There has been a settlement on the site of the present town of Bicester since Saxon times. Since it was established as a town in the 1400s, little changed for many centuries. The core of the town remained King's End, Market Square, Sheep Street and Crockwell. Gas supply became available in the town in 1845, piped water from 1905 and a public electricity service after 1929. The town was typical of many of the small rural centres throughout the county. However, over the last century, the town has been transformed by modernisation. On the outskirts, RAF Bicester was built in 1917, followed later by military establishments and then by increasing numbers of small industrial units. The needs of the rapidly increasing population are reflected in the new shopping precincts and the larger number of retail service outlets. The present plans for develop will influence the town for many years to come.