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Iffley’s undoubted jewel is her famous Norman church of St Mary with its richly
carved doorways, magnificent tower and tower arches. It stands on the brow of a
hill overlooking the river, close to the mainly 16th century rectory, with parts
dating back to the 1300s.
The large chestnut tree by the church gate is a magnificent sight when in bloom.
The glebe field, in this part of the village, together with several stone
cottages and the old village school, presents an attractive and unspoiled
corner.
Iffley was mentioned as early as AD 941 in the Chronicles of Abingdon and in the
Domesday Book in 1086 and its name is derived from the Saxon word ‘Giftelege’,
which means the field of gifts.
At one time, the greater part of the population was employed in agriculture and
there were several farms in the village, but these no longer exist. After 1946
at least 53% of the village population were on mechanical work with no farm
workers, tilers or building labourers. Many sons followed their fathers into
mechanical jobs, but today there is a great variety of occupations including the
professions, with a fair number of retired people.
The river and lock are great attractions to Iffley visitors who often walk along
the tow-path from Oxford and pause to see the keeper operating the lock and to
admire his colourful garden.
The college eights start from just above this point for their Torpids and Eights
Week races.
At one time there was a toll which was paid to Lincoln College to cross the
bridge to the lock but this was discontinued in the mid 1950s. There was a
tradition that if ever a corpse was carried through the toll it would be broken
for ever and when an attempt was made to do this the toll keeper refused to let
the party through and the corpse had to be taken across the water by ferry.
The old mill, featured in many old pictures of Iffley, stood nearby but, sadly,
was burned down in 1908 and all that remains are two grindstones outside Grist
Cottage and an inscription on a piece of wall.
The fields near Iffley lock were once rich in spring with purple fritillaries.
They still bloom there, though in less profusion, and are now guarded by
public-minded citizens when in flower.
The village has its fair share of ghosts and apparitions. The figure of a
stately abbess has been known to appear in the old churchyard and the Rev
Clarendon on his last night in the rectory heard a procession of monks as they
passed through the corridors — a fitting tribute to the incumbent who had spent
the longest spell of duty in the parish. Late one night in 1947 many residents
were disturbed by the sound of a wooden-legged visitant clanking chains and
stomping its way down Tree Lane!
Court Place, where the old manor courts were held, has housed many occupants.
Admiral Nowell lived here for many years, and his widow, Mrs Sarah Nowell, made
provision for the Sarah Nowell School where charity scholars were taught between
1822/54.
The Warsaw Concerto was written at Court House by Richard Addinsell who was the
guest of John Bryson, after his London flat had been bombed. The last owner of
Court House, before it was sold to the University, was Sir Alan Gardiner, the
Egyptologist, who was a member of the team when Tutankhamen’s tomb was
discovered.
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