Garford
| Garford | |
|---|---|
Abingdon | |
| Postcode district | OX13 |
| Dialling code | 01235 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
Garford is a village and
2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 229.[1]
Archaeology
The course of a
Roman road
passes through the parish about 0.5 miles (800 m) east of the village.
Manor
Garford's
Elizabeth I
sold Garford in 1576, after which it changed hands a number of times.
In 1624 Garford was bought jointly by Elizabeth Craven (née Whitmore), widow of
restoration of the English monarchy Craven's estates were restored to him and in 1664 he was created 1st Earl of Craven. Garford remained among the estates of the Barons Craven until 1821, when it was sold by another William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven.[2]
Chapel
Since at least the 13th century, Garford has been part of the ancient
Saint Luke dates from the 13th century, but was largely rebuilt in 1880 by Gothic Revival architect Edwin Dolby.[3] The east window of the chancel is a pair of 13th-century lancets and the south doorway of the nave is also largely 13th century. There is a 14th- or 15th-century window in the south wall of the nave, and a 16th- or 17th-century window on the south side of the chancel. The chapel's other windows are largely Victorian.[4] The ancient windows seem to occupy roughly the same positions in the rebuilt chapel as they did in the original building. There is a wooden bell-turret with one bell.[2]
Economic history
The Domesday Book records that by 1086 Garford had a watermill. There is a record of Garford having a watermill in the 16th century.[2] The present Venn Mill, on Childrey Brook where the Roman road between Besselsleigh and Wantage crosses the stream, was built in about 1800[5] but may occupy the same site as the ancient mill. It is in full working order but for insurance reasons is open to the public only occasionally.[6] Garden Games, a supplier of outdoor play equipment, is based at Chadwick Farm in the west of the parish.
An
open field system of farming prevailed in the parish until the beginning of the 19th century. Unusually, Parliament passed two Inclosure Acts for Garford: the first taking effect in 1814–15 and the second being passed in 1825.[2] Under an Act of Parliament of 1771, the Besselsleigh Turnpike Trust took over management of the road between Hungerford and Wantage and the Roman road between Wantage and Besselsleigh.[7] The road ceased to be a turnpike in 1878.[8] [9]
References
- Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Page & Ditchfield 1924, pp. 354–360
- ^ Pevsner 1966, p. 146.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Luke (Grade II) (1198665)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Venn Mill (Grade II) (1283725)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Venn Mill Garford". Attraction in Abingdon. Information Britain. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ Rosevear, Alan (2008–2009). "Berkshire Turnpikes Trusts (map downloadable from this webpage)". Turnpike Roads in England. Alan Rosevear. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ Rosevear, Alan (2008–2009). "List of Turnpike Trusts in England". Turnpike Roads in England. Alan Rosevear. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ Garden Games
- ^ Historic England. "Millett's Farm Cottages (Grade II) (1368571)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
Sources
- Page, W.H.; Ditchfield, P.H., eds. (1924). A History of the County of Berkshire. Victoria County History. Vol. 4. assisted by John Hautenville Cope. London: The St Katherine Press. pp. 354–360.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus (1966). Berkshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 146.
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