History of Oxfordshire facts for kids
Oxfordshire is a county in England. It was formed around the early 900s. The county is located between the River Thames to the south, the Cotswolds hills to the west, the Chilterns hills to the east, and The Midlands to the north. Important towns like Henley-on-Thames and Banbury are also part of Oxfordshire.
This area has always been important. It has good farmland and is home to the famous University of Oxford. The city of Oxford got its name from an old Anglo-Saxon word, Oxenaford, meaning "ford for oxen". The Romans did not focus much on this area. But a settlement at Oxford grew in importance from the 700s. Alfred the Great was born nearby in Wantage. The University of Oxford started in 1096.
From the 1200s, Oxfordshire was part of the Cotswolds wool trade. This brought a lot of wealth, especially to the western parts of the county. Later, in 1912, Morris Motors started in Oxford. This brought heavy industry to the county. Today, very few people work in agriculture due to modern machines.
Historically, Oxfordshire was divided into fourteen areas called hundreds. These included places like Bampton, Banbury, and Wootton. The county's borders have changed very little over time.
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Anglo-Saxon History
The exact start of Oxfordshire is not fully clear. Like other parts of the Mercian kingdom, its older borders were changed. The area was then named after its main town, Oxford. The borders are mostly man-made, except for the River Thames in the south.
In the 500s, the West Saxons took over this area. They captured Benson and Eynsham. In the 600s, the Mercians controlled the northern part of the Thames. This area changed hands twice in the 700s. It went to Wessex after the Battle of Burford. Then it went back to Mercia after a battle at Bensington.
Oxfordshire was part of the Mercian kingdom. It was also part of the diocese of Lincoln. A bishopric (area led by a bishop) was set up at Dorchester in 634. This was for Birinus, who spread Christianity in Wessex.
The Danes took over the county in the 900s. Thorkell's army burned Oxford in 1010. The armies of Sweyn and Olaf also attacked the area. In 1018, Danes and English leaders met in Oxford. They chose to follow Eadgar's law. In 1036, after Canute died, his son Harold Harefoot was chosen king in Oxford.
Another important meeting happened in Oxford in 1065. Harold Godwinson allowed his brother Tostig to be outlawed. This event helped lead to Harold's own downfall and the Norman Conquest.
Norman Conquest Impact
When William the Conqueror took over England, many houses in Oxford were destroyed. This might have been due to fighting before William's arrival. William and his relative, Odo, Bishop of Winchester, gained a lot of land in Oxfordshire.
After the Norman Conquest, Oxfordshire was part of the diocese of Sherborne. But in 1092, the main church for the diocese moved to Lincoln. The Bishop of Lincoln owned much land in Oxfordshire. Many religious houses, like Abingdon and Osney, also held large areas. Robert D'Oili, a powerful Norman lord, held many manors and houses in Oxford. He was also the governor of the town.
By the time of the conquest, Oxford was already important. The county court met there, and the castle was the county prison. Most major historical events after this time were more about the city of Oxford than the whole county.
Life from the 1200s to 1500s
Oxfordshire sent two members to parliament in 1289. The plague of 1349 caused a decline in the county's wealth. Also, farmland was turned into pastures for sheep. In the early 1300s, Oxfordshire was one of the richest counties. This was because of its good pastures for sheep and its water power. The county's wool was famous across England.
Small industries also grew here. These included plush-making in Banbury and leather works in Bampton. Gloves were made in Woodstock, and malt in Henley. Glass was made in Benson and Stokenchurch during the time of Henry VI. The wool trade continued, and Witney became famous for making blankets.
The closing of monasteries in the 1500s greatly affected the county. But it did not cause major unrest. However, enclosing common land in the early 1500s led to problems for farmers.
In 1542, a new bishopric was created in Oxford. The current Diocese of Oxford was set up in 1546. The church boundaries in Oxfordshire have stayed mostly the same since then.
Oxfordshire in the 1600s
The English Civil War
When King Charles I won the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642, Oxford became a key stronghold for the Royalists. Many manor houses in the area became defense points. Towns like Banbury and Reading formed an outer line of defense.
In 1643, Oxfordshire's role was to hold back the main Parliament army. This allowed Royalist forces from the north and west to join up. Oxfordshire successfully did this. No major breaks were made in the defense line. Prince Rupert's cavalry often attacked successfully, like at the Battle of Chalgrove Field in June 1643.
Later, Parliament's troops passed through north Oxfordshire to help Gloucester. Many small fights happened between them and Rupert's men. When the Royalists were defeated, the county's forts offered them a safe place.
In 1644, King Charles changed his plan. He decided to use Oxfordshire as a base to strike in all directions. The city of Oxford was hard to attack directly. But Charles needed supplies, so he could not stay in one place. After the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in June 1644, the King won and went south.
In 1644, Oxfordshire again served as a safe place and a base. Then Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army arrived. In April 1645, Cromwell led a daring cavalry raid. He surprised the Royalists at Islip and forced the governor of Bletchington to surrender. He rode around Oxford, fought at Bampton, and then rejoined his commander.
A few days later, Charles marched north. Fairfax, the Parliamentarian general, was ordered to besiege Oxford. Charles had to turn back to help the city. This delay led to the Battle of Naseby in June 1645, where the Royalists suffered a big defeat.
Even after Naseby, Oxfordshire's position was strong. Abingdon had a Parliament garrison, but much of the county remained important. In early 1646, the enemy closed in on the last Royalist strongholds. The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold was the final battle of the war. Banbury surrendered in May. Oxford itself was surrounded and gave up in June 1646. Wallingford was the last place to surrender. The war left Oxfordshire very poor.
Later Centuries
In 1830, the enclosure of Otmoor led to serious riots. People at St Giles' fair in Oxford joined in these protests.
In the 1970s, some parts of Berkshire were added to Oxfordshire. These included the Vale of the White Horse. Also, parts of Oxfordshire, like Caversham, became part of Berkshire.
In 2007, Oxfordshire celebrated its 1000th birthday. Two large canoes from Sylhet, Bangladesh, were brought to Oxfordshire. They were used for the United Kingdom's first Nowka Bais (boat race) competition. This sport became an annual cultural event in Oxfordshire.
Old Buildings and Sites
Castles
Not many old castles remain in Oxfordshire. Most were likely built for defense during the time of King Stephen (1100–1135). They were not kept up after peace returned. However, large parts of the Norman Oxford Castle still stand. There are also smaller remains of the castle at Bampton.
Mansions
Many old mansions can still be seen. These include the 1300s Greys Court near Henley-on-Thames. Minster Lovell near Witney has beautiful ruins by the river. It was once the home of Francis, Lord Lovel. He disappeared mysteriously after a battle. Rycote, between Thame and Oxford, has lovely Elizabethan brickwork. Its chapel has amazing Jacobean woodwork. Princess [Elizabeth] stayed here before she became Queen.
Some old mansions are still lived in today. Broughton Castle near Banbury dates from 1301. Shirburn Castle was started in 1377. Stanton Harcourt dates from 1450. It has a huge kitchen and Pope's Tower, named after the poet Alexander Pope. Mapledurham, on the Thames, is a fine Tudor mansion. Water Eaton, near Oxford, is a perfect Jacobean stone house.
Other mansions include Blenheim Palace near Woodstock. The former Holton House was where Henry Ireton and Bridget Cromwell, daughter of Oliver Cromwell, were married in 1646.
Churches and Religious Sites
The university greatly influenced Oxfordshire's church history. Many monasteries were built here. These included Augustinian canons at Bicester and Osney. Cistercians were at Bruern and Thame. Benedictines were at Cogges and Eynsham.
Today, not many remains of these monasteries are left, except for the abbey church at Dorchester. Some buildings remain at Studley. The walls of Godstow Nunnery still stand by the Thames. This was the burial place of Rosamund Clifford, known as "Fair Rosamund," who was loved by Henry II.
Oxfordshire has many beautiful churches. But most churches have parts from different time periods. Only a few, like Iffley, Adderbury, and Minster Lovell, show one main style. Iffley, just south of Oxford, is a great example of pure Norman style. It has a fancy west front. Adderbury, south of Banbury, has a huge central tower and spire. The church of Minster Lovell is in the pure Perpendicular style.
Many churches in the county have spires. The short spire of Oxford cathedral was one of the earliest in England. It inspired the tall spires of churches in Witney, Bampton, and Shipton-under-Wychwood. In the north, Bloxham, Adderbury, and King's Sutton have famous spires. Bloxham church is one of the largest in the county. In the west, Burford church is notable. The Norman church of Langford has a rare crucifix with a cloaked figure.
At South Leigh, there are wall paintings from the 1400s. North of Oxford are Kidlington with its tall spire, and Islip. Islip was the birthplace of Edward the Confessor. Dorchester Abbey in the south-east has a unique Jesse window.
At Cuddcsdon, there is another large cross-shaped church. Ewelme church is known for the beautiful tombs of Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, and Sir Thomas Chaucer. William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, founded a hospital and school here in 1436.
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