Oxfordshire
has much to offer the visitor, apart from the tourist traps of Blenheim Palace
and Oxford itself. Here are a few suggestions of less well-known attractions, all
of which are cared for by English Heritage.
(Follow this link for some other suggestions, all of which date from prehistoric times)
(Follow this link for some other suggestions, all of which date from prehistoric times)
North Leigh Roman
Villa (see photo above)
This is
between Woodstock and Witney, to the north-west
of Oxford . The
villa must have been very impressive when occupied (it dates from the 4th
century AD) as the outlines of more than sixty rooms can be seen, including
evidence of underfloor heating. No stonework other than footings can be seen
today, but there is a fine mosaic floor to admire, although it is covered by a
building to protect it from the elements.
Deddington
Castle
There is not
much of a castle to be seen here, as most of the original stonework had
disappeared by the beginning of the 15th century – no doubt re-used
by local people for their own buildings. The castle was built by Bishop Odo,
half-brother of William the Conqueror, but his structure would have been
wooden, with stonework only being added in the 12th century.
The
original builders made use of a pre-existing mound that could have dated back
to Iron Age times, but they then developed the typical Norman pattern of an
inner and outer bailey, protected by ditches and walls. It is the mound
(“motte”) and ditches that can be seen today. The outer bailey is particularly
large, and today it forms a pleasant place in which to walk and admire the
magnificent trees that have been planted over the years to form a virtual
arboretum.
Deddington is
about six miles south of Banbury on the road to Oxford .
Minster Lovell
Hall
Not far from
Witney, Minster Lovell Hall was built by Lord William Lovell in the mid-15th
century. William’s grandson, Francis Lovell, was one of the chief supporters of
Richard III; he survived the Battle of Bosworth and continued to rebel against
Henry VII. There is a legend that his ghost haunts the ruins of Minster Lovell
Hall.
Be that as it
may, the ruins of this extensive manor house beside the River Windrush are well
worth a visit. You can also see a virtually intact medieval dovecote, although
only from the outside.
North Hinksey
Conduit House
Just to the
west of Oxford
is a reminder of past efforts to provide clean water at a time when water-borne
diseases could kill thousands. Built in the early 17th century, this
small building, which resembles a stone chapel, was where Otto Nicholson
channelled water from the Hinksey hills into a lead pipe that led to Oxford . This system was
used until the late 18th century. Only the outside of the building
can be visited.
Abingdon County
Hall
Abingdon,
although only about five miles from Oxford , was
once the county town of Berkshire , to which it
belonged until 1974. The County Hall was completed in 1684 from a design by
Christopher Kempster, who was a student of Christopher Wren. It is therefore an
excellent example of baroque architecture, comprising a large chamber built on
arches, beneath which markets could be held. The building was the county courthouse
for some 200 years, but it now houses the town’s museum. Given that Abingdon is
one of the oldest continuously-occupied towns in England , the period covered by the
exhibits is exceptionally long. During the summer, visitors can climb to the
roof of the building for excellent views towards the Cotswolds in one direction
and Oxford in the other.
© John
Welford
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