THREE OXFORDSHIRE PARISHES A HISTORY OF KIDLINGTON YARNTON AND BEGBROKE BY MRS. BRYAN STAPLETON KID-LING-TON Oxford PRINTED FOR THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1893 [All rights reserved] D4 690 097090 V. 34 PREFACE THE History of the three parishes of Kidlington, Yarnton and Begbroke, now put before the public, is the result of several years of thought and research, undertaken in the hope of interesting others in a work which has given much genuine pleasure to the author. This part of Oxfordshire is happy in its associations, whether in regard to the general history of our country, in its connexion with the wealthiest abbeys of the kingdom, its contiguity to the several royal residences in the neighbourhood, or in its vicinity to the University of Oxford. From each of these points of view much interest may arise; and from the whole, when brought together, the aspect of our villages may derive an importance little thought of by the casual passer-by. The authorities and sources of information from which these notes have been compiled are fully acknowledged in the text; but to the living references, who have so kindly and ungrudgingly given their help, the author most gratefully offers her thanks. To the Rev. W. W. Jackson, Rector of Exeter College, who, as successor to the Rev. Dr. Lightfoot, so generously renewed his permission for her to peruse the documents in his keeping referring to Kidlington and Yarnton; and to the Rev. C. W. Boase, M.A., the Librarian of the College, who has been unfailing in his kindness; also to the Heads of Queen's, All Souls and Merton; to Falconer Madan, Esq., of Brasenose and the Bodleian Library; to the Rev. G. Downes, Rector of Begbroke, and many of the clergy of various parishes1, from whom information has been asked, and other friends in the neighbourhood, who have courteously given their aid; and to the officials of the Clarendon Press, for their kind patience with so inexperienced a writer as the author; her grateful acknowledgements are due. That some other person with a love for the county of their adoption may follow up these efforts to a more worthy conclusion is the sincere wish of the writer. The Map accompanying this book may require a few words of explanation to account for the names of certain places marked upon it. The basis for the whole is the Ordnance Map, each parish being supplemented from maps belonging to each, containing the old names of many of the fields and lanes. An old 'Terrier' of the Vicarage land in Kidlington has also been of much assistance in recalling the names of the old open Fields now almost forgotten. The numbers marked refer to the same numbers used upon each map and principally point out the Charity lands in Kidlington. Oxford, December, 1892. M. H. A. Stapleton. 1 In addition, the writer desires especially to record her obligation to the late Vicar of Yarnton, the Rev. J. A. Balleine, for his help and kindness during several years of her researches. |