Chimney, Oxfordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chimney |
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 Chimney Meadows on the River Thames |
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 Chimney
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| OS grid reference | SP3500 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bampton |
| Postcode district | OX18 |
| Dialling code | 01993 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Aston, Cote, Chimney and Shifford |
Chimney is a very small village, also called a hamlet, in Oxfordshire, England. It's located right by the River Thames, close to a place called Shifford Lock. Chimney is about 6 miles (10 km) south of a town called Witney.
One of the most special things about this area is Chimney Meadows. This huge area, about 620 acres (250 hectares), is a fantastic nature reserve. It's looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Contents
A Peek into Chimney's Past
Chimney has a long history, even though it's a small place. Its name, "Chimney," comes from an old English phrase. It means "Island of a man named Ceomma."
Ancient Discoveries
Archaeologists have found some really old things near Chimney. To the west of the hamlet, there are several ancient monuments. These include special circular ditches. There's also a large oval-shaped area that was once a causewayed enclosure, which is about 150 meters across.
An interesting discovery was a large Anglo-Saxon cemetery. This burial ground was used between the mid-10th century and the mid-11th century. It was found west of Chimney Farm.
Growing and Changing
Chimney has always been a small settlement. Back in the 13th century, there were only about 18 households living there. The number of people living in Chimney reached its highest point in 1821, with 46 residents.
By 1931, the population had gone down to just 24 people. This was the last time separate numbers were recorded for Chimney.
Some of the old buildings in Chimney are very important. Two cottages at Chimney Farm, built in the late 1600s, are special. The Lower Farmhouse is also a historic building. These are called Grade II listed buildings, meaning they are protected because of their history.
For a long time, until the 1800s, Chimney was part of the larger parish of Bampton. In 1866, it became its own separate civil parish. Later, in 1932, Chimney joined with nearby villages like Aston and Cote. They formed a new parish called Aston Bampton. Then, in 1954, Shifford joined them. This group of villages is now known as Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney.
Nature's Beauty: Chimney Meadows
Chimney is located on special land near the River Thames. The soil here is a mix of clay and chalky material. This type of soil is perfect for the plants that grow in the area.
A Special Place for Wildlife
Chimney Meadows is a very important place for nature. It's a national nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's a protected area because of its unique wildlife and plants. It's part of the floodplain of the River Thames. This means the river sometimes overflows here, which helps the land stay fertile.
The meadows are full of beautiful wild flowers. You can find cowslip, yellow rattle, common knapweed, oxeye daisy, and pepper-saxifrage. These flowers provide food and shelter for many insects. The area is also a great home for wildfowl (birds that live near water) and waders (birds that walk in shallow water).
Chimney Meadows is the biggest nature reserve managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. They started looking after this amazing place in 2003.
