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Just a short drive from the urban sprawl of Bicester lies the tranquil village
of Bucknell. A cluster of beech trees to the west of the village probably gave
its original name, which was Buckenelle (Beech Hill). Always predominantly a
farming community, Bucknell once boasted a coach house, forge, bakery and
village shop. Many of the old thatched cottages remain and the village shop is
now situated in what was the old coach house. A large pig farm which produces
most of its own feed, the herds of Friesians and Herefords and the surrounding
arable land ensure that the village farming traditions carry on.
The history of Bucknell and its church dates back to Saxon times. St Peter’s
church is unusual in that it has a Norman tower between the chancel and the
nave; this formed part of an earlier church. The tower is 12th century with the
exception of the crenellated belfry which was added in the 15th century. Behind
the church stands the manor house, dating back to the 17th century. It has a
chequered past and is supposedly haunted. It was surrounded by a moat and has a
ha ha. In 1709 Samuel Trotman took over the estate. He was very eccentric and
known locally as ‘The Mad Trotman’. At one time Bucknell had no public house
because the Trotman family would not allow a licence to be granted in case the
poor people of the village spent too much time and money ‘tippling’. In more
recent times the manor house was used by Oxford County Council as an old
people’s home but it is now once more privately owned and has been extensively
restored.
To the north-west of the village stands the now derelict water tower, built in
1903/4 by Major Hunlocke to supply water to the manor house and some of the
farms. The water from a nearby spring was pumped either by windmill or
petrol-driven engine. Work has recently begun to develop the site as a nature
reserve, providing facilities for visitors from the surrounding areas.
The villagers have always made the most of their leisure moments. The Morris
dancing tradition goes back centuries but the all-male team last danced at Queen
Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The team was revived as a ladies’ Morris
team in 1979 and they now dance regularly, raising money for charity, their most
important date being the ‘Day of Dance’ in May. A tradition of maypole dancing
also dates back at least a hundred years. In those days the maypole arrived on a
carrier’s cart and the children made garlands and paraded around the village
singing songs, led by the King and Queen of the May.
The stone houses opposite the church appear to have changed little over the
years, although many alterations have taken place internally. It is here that
the blacksmith’s shop was situated and is the spot where a Mr Ally killed
himself whilst making gunpowder.
There is evidence of two local charities. The Trotman will of 1600 left an
amount of money for a ‘small portion of meat to be distributed to the poor of
the village each December’. Dr Gauntlett’s Charity was also distributed in
December, one year to ladies, the next to men. The women were given warm woollen
cloaks with hoods. After receiving them they were instructed to put the name of
the charity on the inside of the collar. The lady of the manor would then check
that this had been done. Eight pairs of strong leather shoes were given to the
men and the name of the charity was written on the instep of the sole. This
would be seen when the men knelt down to pray in church.
The Trigger Pond public house was originally three cottages and then a butcher’s
shop. In the early 1900's it was owned by a butcher named Golder, a very large
man. When he died it was found he was too large to be removed from the shop. A
window was taken out and an improvised bier had to be made to carry away the
body. The shop later became an off licence. A dartboard was hung on the wall
outside and it soon became a meeting place for the locals. At this time it was
called the Twigger Pond, the pond being on the opposite side of the road with a
well in one corner. The pond is now a very attractive feature of the village.
Beautifully landscaped, it contains many plants and fish and is a breeding
ground for ducks and moorhens. The Trigger Pond public house has also been
extensively restored, retaining many original beams and a straight chimney
fireplace.
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