> Marshalls Home
The village of Appleton,
with which the smaller village of Eaton has long been associated,
stands on rising ground 100 ft above the river Thames, which is its
western boundary.
Woodlands, known as Besselsleigh Common and Appleton Common, still partially
cover its eastern and southern boundaries. The Saxon name for the village was
Earmundslea or ‘Edmund’s clearing’.
One can still receive an impression of its old character and charm as a
considerable number of stone houses remain standing in the centre of the
village, from the Tavern Inn to Charity House Farm. Modern housing exists along
the roads in and out of the village, and in recent years a considerable amount
of in filling has taken place. The population of the village is now
approximately 1,000.
Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants work away from the village, but there is
a village shop and post office, a butcher’s shop, a greengrocer’s/market garden,
and a wood yard making garden furniture and fencing. Village people own all
these businesses. There is a saddler’s shop also, which serves the surrounding
area.
The White family have a workshop in the village and for four generations have
practised the rare craft of bell hanging. Their fame has spread countrywide and
they service church bells throughout an extensive area. The family forms the
core of the bell ringers of the ten bells in the 15th century church tower. The
4th of March is celebrated as the bells’ birthday to commemorate the
installation of the original peal of six bells in 1818. Peals are rung during
the day by visiting ringers and a grand dinner in the village hall ends the
celebrations.
Church Lane, in the centre of the village, leads down to the 12th century church
of St Laurence. A modern primary school has been built in the old manor orchard
in the lane, and on the right is the manor pond and tithe barn. The church has a
Norman arcade and nave, and has grown during the centuries by additions and
restorations, but it is still a homely little church with a feeling of peace and
cosiness.
The manor house, which also dates from about 1190, has a moat. This house too
has been enlarged and improved by succeeding generations of owners. It is still
lived in as a family home. Amble de Appleton was the first known owner in 1212,
followed by the Fitzwarins. A branch of the Fettiplace family, who were
important landowners in the Thames valley area, lived in the manor in Tudor
times, and after them came the Southby family in 1684. They remained at the
manor until 1880. Monuments to both these families are in the church, and they
left charitable bequests to the village — one of which was the distribution of
sixpences to poor people attending church on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The lane leading down to the river from Badswell Lane has an ancient well, known
as Badger’s Well. The water of this well, according to village legend, was a
sovereign cure for eye ailments. Before good roads were made this lane was the
way by which goods were conveyed for transportation by river.
Another interesting house in the village is The Close, which was originally a
plague house. The Thames valley was severely hit by the Black Death in 1348, and
many houses were burned down to clear the infection. Those in authority gave the
owners the framework for a new home, i.e. beams, fireplaces etc, and the owners
completed the work with lath and plaster or stone.
Click here
for a quote and to instruct your survey online
> Marshalls Home