Long Wittenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Wittenham |
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 St. Mary's parish church |
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 Long Wittenham
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| Area | 1.18 km2 (0.46 sq mi) |
| Population | 887 (2011 census) |
| • Density | 752/km2 (1,950/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU5493 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Abingdon |
| Postcode district | OX14 |
| Dialling code | 01865 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Longwittenham.com |
Long Wittenham is a village and a small civil parish in England. It is located about 3 miles (5 km) north of Didcot and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Abingdon. Until 1974, Long Wittenham was part of Berkshire. Then, changes in local government moved it to Oxfordshire and into the South Oxfordshire district.
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Where is Long Wittenham Located?
The village sits on the edge of a bend in the River Thames. It is on slightly higher ground than the flat areas around it, which can sometimes flood. The main river path for boats, called Clifton cut, goes around this bend.
About 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east, across the river, was an old Roman town called Dorcic. Today, this town is known as Dorchester-on-Thames. To the southeast, you'll find the nearby village of Little Wittenham. This village has fewer people but covers a much larger area. Inside its parish are the Wittenham Clumps, also known as the Sinodun Hills.
A Glimpse into Long Wittenham's Past
Long Wittenham has a very long history. It is believed the village got its name from a Saxon leader named Witta. However, there is proof that people lived here much earlier.
Ancient Settlements and Discoveries
In the 1960s, experts found signs of Bronze Age settlements. These included double-ditch enclosures and pottery from the Middle Bronze Age. Even older items, like an axe and a spearhead from the Early Bronze Age, have been found in the River Thames.
Later, there was more evidence of people living here during the Iron Age and Roman times. This was shown by old pathways, different types of buildings (like farms and villas), burial sites, and ancient pottery and coins. There was even a possible settlement from the Franks, a Germanic people. A grave from the 5th century was found with valuable Frankish objects.
These early discoveries were first made in the 1890s. This was the first time that cropmarks were used to find archaeological remains. Cropmarks are patterns in crops that show where old structures are hidden underground. In 2016, archaeologists from Oxford University found and dug up an Anglo-Saxon building on land owned by the Sylva Foundation.
Saxon Life and Importance
The main part of the village began to form during the Saxon era. Cropmarks from the 6th century show a large group of buildings. These suggest it was a very important Saxon place, perhaps even a royal palace. Many different objects found in Saxon burial sites around the village also support this idea. These large burial sites also show that many people lived here for a long time.
Historians now believe that the area of southern Oxfordshire was very important to the Gewisse, an early Anglo-Saxon group. Being close to the Iron Age hillfort of Wittenham Clumps and the Roman town of Dorchester meant this area was important for many centuries.
Medieval and Tudor Times
The Domesday Book of 1086, a famous survey of England, mentions the village. By the Tudor era, around the 1500s, village records show about 200 people lived there. They farmed crops like wheat, oats, barley, and rye. For a while, the village was called Earl's Wittenham, named after its powerful feudal lord, Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester.
In 1534, Sir Thomas White bought the manor. He then gave it to his new school, St John's College, Oxford. For a long time, St. John's College owned most of the houses and land in the village. Before the inclosure acts, there were only two large, open fields. The college would rent these fields in strips to the villagers.
In 1857, a special government grant helped build the village school for farming communities. A local story says that Oliver Cromwell spoke to the villagers on his way to his niece's wedding in Little Wittenham. The writer and wood engraver Robert Gibbings lived in Footbridge Cottage at the end of his life (1955-1958). He is buried in the churchyard. His last book, Till I end my Song (1957), is about his life in the village.
Recent Developments
In the late 1930s, the University of Oxford set up its Institute for Research in Agricultural Engineering at College Farm. This farm was owned by St John's College, Oxford. The institute later moved in 1942. After that, the property was used as a regular farm, though some buildings became run down.
In 1992, a large part of the farmland was given to the Northmoor Trust (now called Earth Trust). This land was used to create a new research forest called Paradise Wood. In 2013, 20 hectares (about 49 acres) of the remaining farmland, including the old buildings, were given to another charity, the Sylva Foundation. In 2016, the charity moved its main office there and created the Sylva Wood Centre. This center helps small businesses and craftspeople who design or make things from wood. In 2017, the Sylva Foundation also created the Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest on nearby land.
Important Buildings in Long Wittenham
Long Wittenham has several interesting old buildings.
St. Mary's Church
The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary started being built around 1120. It stands on the site of an even older Saxon church. The arch in the chancel (the area around the altar) is still from the original Norman building. The aisles and tower were added later.
The font (a basin for baptisms) is a rare one made of lead from the Norman period. It was later covered in wood, which protected it from soldiers during the 17th century. The church also has the smallest monument in England: a tiny stone statue of Gilbert de Clare. Evelyn Roxburgh, the first female Scottish electrical engineer, is buried in the churchyard.
Other Notable Buildings
A Methodist chapel was built in 1820. Over time, it was used as a butcher's shop, a general store, and a Post Office. It stopped being a Post Office in 2006 and is now a private house. The base of the village's old preaching cross dates back to the 7th century. It is believed that Saint Birinus preached here when he brought Christianity to the area.
Cruck Cottage is a very old building, estimated to be about 800 years old. The building that houses Pendon Museum was once a pub called The Three Poplars. It is now a model railway museum. It used to be a Youth Hostel because it is close to the North Wessex Downs and the Thames Path. Other pubs in the village include The Plough and The Vine (which is now an Indian restaurant called The Vine and Spice). North of the village is the Barley Mow Inn, which is closer to Clifton Hampden but still within Long Wittenham's parish. The Machine Man pub closed in 2003.
The Sylva Wood Centre helps small businesses and craftspeople who work with wood. It also offers support for new businesses, working with City of Oxford College.
What to Do in Long Wittenham
The village has a sports club called Long Wittenham Athletics Club, located at Bodkins Field. This field and other flat areas around the village are often used by hot-air balloonists for landing.
Beyond the eastern edge of the village is Neptune Wood. This forest was planted in 2005 as one of 33 British Trafalgar Woods. These woods were created to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest were created by the Sylva Foundation in 2017. They are located south of the village and have paths for public access.
Village Connections
Long Wittenham is twinned with the village of Thaon in Normandy, France. This means they have a special friendship and often exchange visits.
See also
In Spanish: Long Wittenham para niños
Images for kids
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St. Mary's parish church
