Shotover facts for kids
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Shotover is a special place in Oxfordshire, England. It's a hill and a forest, located about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the city of Oxford. The highest part of Shotover Hill is 557 feet (170 meters) above sea level.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Shotover" comes from old words. It might come from the Old English words scēot ofer, which mean "steep slope". This makes sense because Shotover Hill is quite steep!
Shotover's Ancient Past
For many years, Shotover was part of a "royal forest" called Wychwood. A royal forest wasn't just trees; it was a special area of land where the king or queen had hunting rights. This was from around the time the Domesday Book was written (a very old record of England from 1086) until 1660. People also called it the Forest of Shotover.
The Giant on the Hill
Imagine a giant carved into the ground! A long time ago, people say there was a huge shape of a giant cut into Shotover Hill. It was like the famous White Horse hill figures you can still see in other parts of England. A historian named John Aubrey wrote about it, saying it was there not long before the English Civil Wars (in the 1600s).
The Old London Road
Did you know that the main road between London and Oxford used to go right over the top of Shotover Hill? In 1719, this road became a "turnpike". A turnpike was a special road where you had to pay a fee (a "toll") to use it. The money collected helped to keep the road in good condition.
Shotover Park: A Historic Estate
Shotover Park is a large private estate with a beautiful house and gardens.
Building the Park
The work on Shotover Park and its gardens started around 1714 for a man named James Tyrrell. He passed away in 1718, and his son, General James Tyrrell, finished building the house. We don't know who the original architect (the person who designed the building) was. Later, in 1855, another architect named Joshua Sims added two new parts to the house, making sure they matched the original style.
The Amazing Gardens
The gardens at Shotover Park are very old and special. They were started in 1718 and finished in 1730. They are a rare example of formal gardens from that time, laid out in a long, straight line about 1,200 yards (1,100 meters) long.
- East Garden: In the garden east of the house, there's a long, straight canal. At the end of the canal, you'll find a "folly." A folly is a building that looks like an old ruin or castle, but it's built just for decoration. This one is in the "Gothic Revival" style, which means it looks like old medieval castles. It might be one of the very first buildings in this style!
- West Garden: The garden west of the house also has a long, straight view. At the end of this view, there's an eight-sided temple. It was designed in the 1730s by a famous designer named William Kent.
Shotover Park During Wartime
During the Second World War, there was a prisoner-of-war camp on the grounds of Shotover Park. This was a place where soldiers captured in the war were kept.
Later, two important people lived at Shotover Park: Major Alexander Alfred Miller and his younger brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Miller. Sir John Miller was a "Crown Equerry," which is a very important job helping the British Royal Family with their horses and carriages.
Today, Shotover Park and the land around it are privately owned by a group called the Shotover Trust. It's important not to mix it up with Shotover Country Park, which is a public park.
Shotover Country Park: For Everyone!
Shotover Country Park is a public park and a nature reserve. It's located on the southwest side of Shotover Hill. This park is managed by the Oxford City Council, which means it's open for everyone to enjoy! It's a great place to explore nature, go for walks, and see local wildlife.
