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Little Milton lies along the A329 Thame to Stadhampton road, but a number of its
oldest and most attractive dwellings are on the Haseley Road a turn left
immediately after the Lamb Inn. Along this road are the Old Post Office and
thatched cottages with gardens a profusion of colour in the spring and summer.
In
the census of 1851 Little Milton was a very active village with five shops, four
stonemasons and three dealers of livestock.
Farming was the main occupation of the village with prize flocks of Downs
Cotswold sheep recorded in 1934. Also recorded in the 17th and 18th centuries
were wheelwrights, carpenters, cordwainers and blacksmiths, with quarries
providing employment. Many of the aforesaid occupations were still carried on
well into the 20th century.
The present church of St James was built in 1843/44 and has a full peal of six
bells. Set on high ground the church commands a fine view over fields. A
footpath beside the church will lead you down through fields and spinneys to the
river Thames at Cuddesdon.
A wealth of information is passed on today through the children and
grandchildren of those who lived in Little Milton during the mid 1880s. During
that time the village school had around 100 pupils. When attending church
services the girls had to curtsy to the vicar on entering and leaving the
church. Evening classes were run for the men of the village to learn to read and
write as many of them had little or no schooling prior to the mid 1880s.
Cattle and sheep were a common sight being driven through the village on their
way to Thame market, and the carriers cart was a useful means of transport for
shoppers as an alternative to walking the round journey of 12 miles.
From about 1920 means of transport changed. There were few cars, but bicycles
had become very popular and the young people of the village could cycle to such
places as Oxford, Thame, Wallingford and Abingdon to visit cinemas and friends.
Village life was far from dull and listening to villagers who were children and
teenagers during that period, they had a happy and full life, every season
bringing some kind of celebration in the village to look forward to.
On Christmas Eve the bell ringers rang the midnight peal and then collected
their Christmas boxes. This was followed on Christmas Day by family parties and
on Boxing Day the Mummers would perform around the village followed by an
excited band of children. Primrose Day on Good Friday was the only day on which
people were allowed to pick primroses from Haseley Cover. These decorated the
church and were given to the old people as Easter posies.
On the 1st of May the children would get up very early and with their garlands
and head-dresses would go from house to house singing. It is recalled that
provided the men of the village went to church on May Day they were then given
the day off and went home to plant their vegetable gardens.
Feast Sunday was the highlight of the year, always held on the first Sunday
after the 5th of August. It began with an open air service at the Cross
accompanied by the Chalgrove Brass Band, the Feast followed and an afternoon of
fun at the annual fair. In conversation with people who live, and have always
lived, in Little Milton it would appear that this day was the one most looked
forward to.
The village has altered little in appearance, although small developments have
appeared. At Old Field, off Thame Road, houses were built and reserved for
servicemen returning from the Second World War, and bungalows for the elderly
and retired. Other more recent homes are mainly occupied by people who have come
to the quiet of village life, and commute daily to their work or are retired.
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