Ducklington
Ducklington | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Witney | |
Postcode district | OX29 | |
Dialling code | 01993 | |
Police | Thames Valley | |
Fire | Oxfordshire | |
Ambulance | South Central | |
UK Parliament | ||
Website | Ducklington Parish Council | |
Ducklington is a village and
History
Ducklington is one of the earliest
The Church of England parish church of Saint Bartholomew[3] is 12th century.[4] The Gothic Revival architect EG Bruton restored the building in 1871.[4] The bell tower has a ring of six bells. William and Henry III Bagley of Chacombe in Northamptonshire cast the second, fourth and fifth bells in 1708. Robert Taylor & Sons cast the tenor bell in 1829, presumably at their then foundry in Oxford. Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the treble bell in 1889. The Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry of Asten in the Netherlands cast the third bell in 1988.[5] The village had a Baptist Chapel until 2016, when it was converted into a private home.[6] The former village schoolhouse was built in 1858.[4] The modern Ducklington Church of England Primary School is across the village green from the original site.[7][8]
Natural history
Ducklington is notable for the rare fritillary flower (mainly of the snake's head variety), many of which grow in a specially designated meadow just outside the village. Before the Second World War many fritillaries had grown on fields all over the Windrush Valley. However, the national drive for food production during the war meant that most meadows were intensively ploughed, the rivers dredged, and consequently the fritillaries were lost. Only the current fritillary field happened to be left unploughed. The flowers have survived with help from both locals and farmers. Once a year, the local community celebrates Fritillary Sunday when the field, parish church and hall are opened so that the public may walk among and enjoy the flowers.
Ducklington also has a duck pond that was notably devastated by Frank, a young outdoor cat who ate 23 ducklings in two months. The mayor requested that Frank leave immediately.[9]
Amenities
Ducklington has a
Sports
Ducklington Sports and Social Club has several cricket and football teams. They include three men's football teams that compete in the Witney and District League. Ducklington's football first XI is in the Witney and District Premier Division.[13] The club has nine boys' teams. The cricket section has one adult teams and three youth teams.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Ducklington Parish". nomis. Durham University. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ a b Ekwall 1960, Duckington
- ^ Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew
- ^ a b c Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 589.
- Central Council for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Sold property in Witney Road". John D Wood and Co. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Ducklington CE Primary School Archived 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ducklington Pre-School Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ https://www.tumblr.com/cheshiregrinfu/725445573357060096/menace-to-society-wonderful-old-man-keep-your?source=share
- ^ Ducklington Morris Archived 9 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "District Council Grant Scheme". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Ducklington". Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Witney, District Football Association. "Premier Division". Pitchero. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
Sources
- Crossley, Alan; Currie, CRJ; Baggs, AP; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C (1996). "Ducklington". A History of the County of Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19722-790-9.
- ISBN 0198691033.
- Sherwood, Jennifer; ISBN 0-14-071045-0.