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The school is reputed to be the oldest building in the county to be used as a
primary school, with about 40 children attending now. The roof in the upper
class room is of the same style as the roof in Westminster Hall in London. The
church draws many visitors. John Mortimer’s book Paradise Postponed was filmed
mostly in Ewelme, featuring the church, school and old rectory and many
villagers.
The church, dating from 1436 bears many resemblances to those in East Anglia,
built in flint, stone and brick. It was built by William and Alice de la Pole,
Countess of Suffolk and said to be modelled on Wingfield Church in Suffolk.
There are still families in the village by the name of ‘Winfield’.
The Almshouses built in 1437, were modernised a few years ago, and in order to
do so the 13 had to be reduced to 8. Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, ordained that
that there should be 13 Almshouses and a Master’s house so, now the odd 5 have
been built in the main street. The Master is the Regius Professor of Medicine at
Oxford and he and his family can use the ‘lodgings’ whenever they wish and many
of them make full use of them. The snag to the almshouses for the elderly is
that whichever way they are approached there is a slight hill or steps to get
up. Not very thoughtful of Alice?
There is a manor and a common, known as the Cow Common. This was taken over
during the Second World War by the Government and cultivated to help produce
food, and after the war it was handed over to the Parish Council and an auction
is held every year for the rights to graze for a year, and the rent is used to
fence it in and general upkeep. Previously it was common land for anyone. It was
also used as a 9 hole golf course, with the 9th hole at the far end on the other
side of the road.
Sadly the famous watercress beds are in limbo, which is sad after being a
well-known feature throughout the years. Ewelme watercress was highly sought
after in London and Birmingham.
You are not considered a true Ewelmeite unless you have fallen in the brook
which runs all down the street and through the watercress beds on its way to
Benson and the river Thames. Otters have been seen at the Benson end, and
kingfishers are often seen near the bridge at Ewelme, plus many other water
birds.
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