> Marshalls Home
This lovely little village with its thatched cottages and many listed buildings,
is situated south of the A329 which runs between Thame and Stadhampton. It
nestles to the south of the ridge and is thus to some extent sheltered from the
north winds. Houses on the south side of the village enjoy views of the
Chilterns stretching from Chinnor to the Wittenham Clumps.
Roman coins have been dug up in the churchyard and it is thought that there was
a settlement here from very early times. A document, now in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford, shows that by AD 800 there was a church here, dedicated to St
Peter, as it still is. Part of the font is thought to be Saxon. The village is
mentioned in the Domesday Book and at that time belonged to Milo Crispin, who
held it as a reward for his services to William the Conqueror.
At the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 there were two rectors living here,
one of whom had retired in Cromwell’s time because of disagreements over the
services. In Charles II’s reign he reappeared and tried to turn out the rector
who had replaced him. At one service both rectors tried to preach at the same
time; the congregation took sides and there was a great furore, hats and other
objects being hurled about and fighting going on.
In the 1700s considerable building work took place in Haseley. Among the houses
built were Highway Cottage, Long Row (the whole row cost £173 to build), Sundial
House, Church Farm (note the windows blocked up when a window tax was imposed to
help pay for the Napoleonic wars), the Crown Inn, now a private house, the
Windmill and the middle part of Haseley Court.
During the 19th century the church fell into decay, but an appeal was launched
to put it in order. None of the 180 different coats of arms were replaced but
the Muirhead family, who lived at the Court, and who traced their ancestry back
to Roger le Bigod, had their coat of arms (with Norman ships and shells) placed
in a window of the south aisle. The Muirheads took their responsibilities as
squires of the village very seriously and were liberal benefactors to the
church.
In 1885 there was a disastrous fire in Haseley, when the village laundry at the
bottom of Church Hill was destroyed. A spark from the chimney set fire to the
thatched roof. Flames driven by a high wind set fire to the thatched roofs
across the way and six cottages were soon alight. Someone on horseback galloped
the six miles to Thame to call the volunteer fire brigade. By the time the
horse-drawn fire engine arrived and got water from a quarter of a mile away, all
the cottages had been burned to the ground.
During the 19th century a carrier service was begun. On Wednesdays and Saturdays
the carrier went to Oxford, departing at 9 am and reaching Oxford at midday,
having stopped on the way to deliver and pick up parcels. He started back at 4
pm reaching Haseley between 8 and 9 pm. Transport consisted of a covered van
with two horses, benches ran along the sides of the van and straw lay on the
floor. Rugs were provided to cover the legs of passengers in cold weather.
Candles were set in storm lanterns.
On Tuesdays there was a carrier service to Thame market town. Passengers had to
endure an open cart with seats back to back along the middle. A large umbrella
was provided for the passengers in wet weather.
Canon Ellison, the rector of Haseley, listed 19 activities going on in the
village in 1883, including a drum and fife band, a night school, for which 2d a
week was charged and a lending library.
Now, more than a hundred years later there is still an active village life, with
a cricket team, football team, a mobile lending library and an active village
hall committee which ensures that there is a varied programme of events,
particularly during the winter months.
In 1988 and 1989 the village was united against a proposed new town to be called
Stone Bassett. This would have been situated near the recreation ground.
Together with the support of surrounding villages, and many from farther afield,
fund raising events took place, and the planning application was finally
rejected after a public enquiry.
There have been few changes in Great Haseley over the years as much of it is
within a conservation area. There are many well sign-posted public footpaths and
ramblers regularly walk the old footpaths to keep them open for future
generations; the scenery and views of the Chilterns are breathtaking.
Click here
for a quote and to instruct your survey online
> Marshalls Home