Rousham

Last updated

Rousham
Rousham SSLeonard&James south.JPG
St Leonard and James parish church
Oxfordshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rousham
Location within Oxfordshire
Population80 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference SP4824
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Bicester
Postcode district OX25
Dialling code 01869
Police Thames Valley
Fire Oxfordshire
Ambulance South Central
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Oxfordshire
51°54′47″N1°18′11″W / 51.913°N 1.303°W / 51.913; -1.303

Rousham is a village and civil parish beside the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. The village is about 6+12 miles (10.5 km) west of Bicester and about 6 miles (10 km) north of Kidlington. The parish is bounded by the River Cherwell in the east, the A4260 main road between Oxford and Banbury in the west, partly by the B4030 in the north, and by field boundaries with Tackley parish in the south. [1] The 2001 Census recorded the parish's population as 80. [2] Rousham was founded early in the Anglo-Saxon era. Its toponym is derived from Old English meaning Hrothwulf's ham or farm. [1]

Contents

Manor

The Domesday Book records that in 1086 there were two manors at Rousham. The larger belonged to the Norman nobleman Robert D'Oyly and the smaller to his brother in arms Roger d'Ivry. The D'Oyly manor later became part of the honour of Wallingford and in 1279 its overlord was Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall. The latest known records of Rousham remaining in the Honour of Wallingford are from the 15th century. [1] The d'Ivry family line died out in 1215 and the d'Ivry manor at Rousham became part of the Honour of St. Valery. In 1237 Henry III granted the d'Ivry manor at Rousham to Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and in 1279 it, like the D'Oyly manor, was held by Richard's son Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall.

Rousham House

North wall of the nave of SS Leonard and James', showing large 16th-century window and blocked arch to former 14th-century chantry chapel Rousham SSLeonard&James north.JPG
North wall of the nave of SS Leonard and James', showing large 16th-century window and blocked arch to former 14th-century chantry chapel
Late 12th-century chancel of SS Leonard & James', restored and altered in 1867-68 Rousham SSLeonard&James Chancel.JPG
Late 12th-century chancel of SS Leonard & James', restored and altered in 1867–68
South aisle of SS Leonard & James': east arch (left) late 12th century; middle and west arches early 13th century Rousham SSLeonard&James SouthArcade.JPG
South aisle of SS Leonard & James': east arch (left) late 12th century; middle and west arches early 13th century
SS Leonard & James': early 16th-century Perpendicular Gothic large window in the north wall of the nave Rousham SSLeonard&James LargeNorthWindow.JPG
SS Leonard & James': early 16th-century Perpendicular Gothic large window in the north wall of the nave
Monument to John Dormer (died 1581) and his wife Elizabeth, originally erected in St. Mary the Virgin, Steeple Barton but brought to Rousham and installed in the chancel here in 1851 Rousham SSLeonard&James JohnDormer Monument.JPG
Monument to John Dormer (died 1581) and his wife Elizabeth, originally erected in St. Mary the Virgin, Steeple Barton but brought to Rousham and installed in the chancel here in 1851

Parish church

The earliest known dedication of the Church of England parish church was to Saint Germanus of Auxerre, recorded in 1328. A "German's Well" recorded in the parish in 1626 refers to St Germanus. By 1846 the church had been rededicated to Saint Mary and by 1864 it had been changed again to Saint James. The present dedication of Saint Leonard and Saint James dates from 1904. [1]

The church building dates from the 12th century. The easternmost bay of the arcade for the south aisle was built in about 1180 and the bell tower was added early in the 13th century. [3] Between 1296 and 1316 a chantry chapel was added to the north side of the nave. Slightly later the south aisle was extended the full length of the nave, a south chapel was included and a south porch was added. The arch to the south chapel is 14th century and all the windows of the south aisle are Decorated Gothic. [3] In the 15th century a clerestory was added to the nave and a rood screen and rood loft were built across the nave and aisle. The chantry chapel was in disrepair by 1520 and demolished shortly after 1530. Later in the 16th century a large window was inserted in the north wall of the nave towards its western end. It and all the other windows in the north wall are Perpendicular Gothic. [3] In 1867–68 the church building was restored, the chancel and south porch were rebuilt and the height of the chancel was increased. [1]

In 1744 the wooden pulpit was built, and during the restoration of 1867–68 it was reduced in height. The pews were rebuilt in the 19th century but include some 17th and 18th century panelling. [1] The tower has a ring of six bells. [1] [4] Richard Keene of Woodstock [5] cast five of them including the treble and tenor bells in 1675; [4] Thomas II Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the fourth bell in 1825. [4] Rousham Rectory was a large house, consisting of eight bays in 1634 and 11 bays in 1685. It was remodelled in 1804 and enlarged in 1873, when the present attic floor was added. The architect of the 1873 works was William Wilkinson of Oxford, whose commissions included several clergy houses in Oxfordshire. In 1921 the house was sold to the Cottrell-Dormers. [1]

Economic and social history

The north-south Oxford–Banbury road that forms the parish's western boundary is an ancient ridgeway. It was a turnpike from 1755 until 1875. [1] In the 1920s road classification the Oxford–Adderbury stretch of the former turnpike was made part of the A423 road. When the M40 motorway was completed in the 1990s the old Oxford–Banbury ridgeway was reclassified the A4260. The Bicester–Enstone road that forms part of the parish's northern boundary has existed at least since 1255 when a bridge was built at Lower Heyford to carry it across the River Cherwell. The road was a turnpike from 1793 until 1876. [1] Since the 1920s road classification this road has been the B4030.

The Domesday Book records that by 1086 the parish had two water mills, presumably on the River Cherwell. By 1222 there was only one mill, and this still existed in 1547. Its later history is not clear but it had gone by 1721. [1] In 1636 Sir Robert Dormer, lord of the manor of Rousham, refused to pay ship money. During the English Civil War a Royalist force plundered the house and village in 1644 and a detachment of Royalist cavalry occupied the house early in 1645. [1] Most of Rousham parish was farmed under an open field system until the 18th century. There had been one small enclosure by 1601 and a second in 1645. The enclosure of the parish's remaining common lands in 1775 was by agreement between the landowners [1] without recourse to an Act of Parliament.

Clement Cottrell-Dormer established a parish school in about 1785. Between 1808 and 1818 it had between 22 and 25 pupils, but there is no record of it after 1834. In 1878 Clement Upton-Cottrell-Dormer established a new parish school in the building just south of the parish church. It opened with 35 pupils but this declined to 25 in 1889 and 16 in 1906. The school was closed in 1926 [1] but its building is still recognisable as the schoolhouse, complete with bell-turret on the western gable. Between 1845 and 1850 the Oxford and Rugby Railway was built, passing through the eastern margin of the parish beside the River Cherwell. In 1850 it opened Heyford railway station at Lower Heyford, 12 mile (800 m) north of Rousham village. [1] The station is now part of the Cherwell Valley Line and is served by Great Western Railway trains.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stowe, Buckinghamshire</span> Human settlement in England

Stowe is a civil parish and former village about two miles northwest of Buckingham in the unitary authority area of Buckinghamshire, England. The parish includes the hamlets of Boycott, Dadford and Lamport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Upper Heyford is a village and civil parish about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,295.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steeple Aston</span> Human settlement in England

Steeple Aston is a village and civil parish on the edge of the Cherwell Valley, in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire, England, about 12 miles (19 km) north of Oxford, 7 miles (11 km) west of Bicester, and 10 miles (16 km) south of Banbury. The 2011 Census recorded the parish population as 947. The village is 108 metres (354 ft) above sea level. The River Cherwell and Oxford Canal pass 1 mile (2 km) east of the village. The river forms part of the eastern boundary of the parish. The parish's southern boundary, 12 mile (800 m) south of the village, also forms part of Cherwell District's boundary with West Oxfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shutford</span> Human settlement in England

Shutford is a village and civil parish in the Cherwell district, in Oxfordshire, England, about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Banbury. The village is about 475 feet (145 m) above sea level. In 2011 the parish had a population of 476. In 1870–72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Shutford like this:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Heyford</span> Human settlement in England

Lower Heyford is a village and civil parish beside the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, about 6 miles (10 km) west of Bicester. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 492.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodicote</span> Human settlement in England

Bodicote is a village and civil parish in North Oxfordshire, approximately 2 miles (3 km) south of the centre of Banbury. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 2,126. The Church of England parish church of Saint John the Baptist is a Grade II* listed building, with the chancel arch dating back to the 13th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton Poyle</span> Human settlement in England

Hampton Poyle is a village in the civil parish of Hampton Gay and Poyle, in the Cherwell district, in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is the Cherwell in valley, about 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Kidlington and about 5 miles (8 km) north of the centre of Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Leigh</span> Human settlement in England

North Leigh is a village and civil parish about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Witney in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of East End and since 1932 has also included the hamlet of Wilcote. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerton, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Somerton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, in the Cherwell valley about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Bicester. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 305.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horley, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Horley is a village and civil parish in the north of Oxfordshire about 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Banbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Aston</span> Human settlement in England

North Aston is a village and civil parish about 7+12 miles (12 km) south of Banbury and 10 miles (16 km) north of Oxford. The 2001 Census recorded its population as 212. The 2011 Census did not publish its population separately, but gave a combined total of 316 for the parishes of North Aston and Middle Aston. The village is on a ridge about 460 feet (140 m) above sea level. The parish measures almost 2 miles (3 km) wide east – west and about 1+12 miles (2.4 km) north – south. It is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, and to the north by a stream that flows east to join the Cherwell. The A4260 road linking Oxford and Banbury forms part of its western boundary. Field boundaries form the southern boundary and the remainder of the western boundary. In 1983 the parish covered an area of 1,288 acres (521 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesterton, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Chesterton is a village and civil parish on Gagle Brook, a tributary of the Langford Brook in north Oxfordshire. The village is about 1+12 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the market town of Bicester. The village has sometimes been called Great Chesterton to distinguish it from the hamlet of Little Chesterton, about 34 mile (1.2 km) to the south in the same parish. The 2011 Census recorded the parish population as 850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Hill, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Forest Hill is a village in the civil parish of Forest Hill with Shotover, in the South Oxfordshire district, in Oxfordshire, England, about 4.5 miles (7 km) east of Oxford. The village which is about 330 feet (100 m) above sea level is on the northeastern brow of a ridge of hills. The highest point of the ridge is Red Hill, which rises to 440 feet (130 m) just south of the village. The 2011 Census recorded Forest Hill with Shotover's population as 856.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caversfield</span> Human settlement in England

Caversfield is a village and civil parish about 1+12 miles (2.4 km) north of the centre of Bicester. In 1844 Caversfield became part of Oxfordshire, but until then it was always an exclave of Buckinghamshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,788.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alkerton, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Alkerton is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Shenington with Alkerton, in the Cherwell district, in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is on the county boundary with Warwickshire, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Banbury. In 1961 the parish had a population of 82. On 1 April 1970 the parish was abolished and merged with Shenington to form "Shenington with Alkerton".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanwell, Oxfordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Hanwell is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Banbury. Its area is 1,240 acres (500 ha) and its highest point is about 500 feet (150 m) above sea level. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 263.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fritwell</span> Human settlement in England

Fritwell is a village and civil parish about 5+12 miles (9 km) northwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 736.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Souldern</span> Human settlement in England

Souldern is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Bicester and a similar distance southeast of Banbury. The parish is bounded to the west by the River Cherwell and to the east by field boundaries. Its northern boundary is Ockley Brook, a tributary of the Cherwell that forms the county boundary with Northamptonshire. The parish's southern boundaries are the main road between Bicester and Adderbury and the minor road between Souldern and Somerton. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 370.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Souldern</span> Church in Oxfordshire , United Kingdom

The Parish Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Church of England parish church of Souldern, a village in Oxfordshire about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Bicester and a similar distance southeast of Banbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steeple Barton</span> Human settlement in England

Steeple Barton is a civil parish and scattered settlement on the River Dorn in West Oxfordshire, about 8+12 miles (13.7 km) east of Chipping Norton, a similar distance west of Bicester and 9 miles (14 km) south of Banbury. Most of the parish's population lives in the village of Middle Barton, about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of the settlement of Steeple Barton. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,523. Much of the parish's eastern boundary is formed by the former turnpike between Oxford and Banbury, now classified the A4260 road. The minor road between Middle Barton and Kiddington forms part of the western boundary. Field boundaries form most of the rest of the boundaries of the parish.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Crossley 1983 , pp. 159–168
  2. "Area selected: West Oxfordshire (Non-Metropolitan District)". Neighbourhood Statistics: Full Dataset View. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 739.
  4. 1 2 3 Davies, Peter (7 December 2006). "Rousham SS Leonard & James". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers . Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  5. Dovemaster (25 June 2010). "Bell Founders". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers . Retrieved 5 January 2012.

Sources and further reading