> Marshalls Home
Stadhampton was not mentioned in the Domesday Book, but a village existed at
that time and the first mention of it by name came in 1146. Years ago, the
majority of houses were round the green where the cattle and sheep were allowed
to graze for a nominal sum. At the east end of the village, the 17th century
manor house lies, approached by an avenue of lime trees. In 1845 the district
was hunted by the Old Berkshire Hunt, and new kennels were built in 1884 to
house the South Oxfordshire Hunt. Nowadays, their premises are private
properties. The Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, run by a charity, is housed here.
Mill Lane leads down to the mill house and Cuxham brook. The mill was still
working in 1939 and continued in a small way until 1948. Several years ago, a
Brook Race was held each year, and this custom was renewed recently. For many
years, Stadham Feast was held on the village green, with the fair people
setting up their roundabouts and stalls en route from St Giles Fair in Oxford
to Thame Fair.
The oldest house in Stadhampton is Doyleys Farm House and there are still a
number of Georgian houses and thatched properties round the green and other
parts of the village.
The church of St John the Baptist lies at the other end of the village green and
the font is the only part that survives from the original building that existed
in 1146. In 1744, the curate presented the church with an oak carving of the
coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth I, painted in proper colours, and which now
hangs above the door leading to the belfry.
In 1957, a row of houses called Malthouse Row was pulled down to make way for
the entrance to Cratlands Close, at the end of which a new primary school was
built. The old school, built in 1878 of the same type of brick as was used for a
great deal of 19th century building in Stadhampton, was sold in the 1970s.
There are two public houses in the village; the Crown, first licensed in 1825,
and the Bear and Ragged Staff. A third, the Black Horse, with a bakehouse
adjoining dated 1685 and used as a bakehouse until 1914, is now a private
residence. There is still a village shop and post office, a daily delivery of
post, doorstep deliveries of milk and a very efficient newsagent who delivers
daily and evening papers in all weathers.
Approaching Chiselhampton, one drives along a road which was used during the
Civil War by troops, and it is reported that Prince Rupert rode through on his
way to Tetsworth in 1643, and returned by the same route after the battle of
Chalgrove.
Chiselhampton House was built between 1766 and 1768 from bricks made locally. St
Katherines church remains one of the few complete Georgian churches in the
country, with high box pews and Georgian staircase leading to the Jacobean
pulpit. This church now comes under the jurisdiction of the Redundant Churches
Commission. Chiselhampton Bridge also featured in the Civil War and was made of
freestone from Headington Quarry. One of the oldest historical buildings still
existing in this district is Camoys House.
Click here
for a quote and to instruct your survey online
> Marshalls Home