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Gardner's Directory of Oxfordshire, 1852

Witney Town and Parish

Witney parish is situated in the hundred of Bampton, and contains the market town of Witney, the chapelry of Hailey, and the hamlets of Crawley and Curbridge. The entire parish contains 7,500 acres. The rateable value is about £5,342; and the amount of assessed property in 1815 was £3,204. The population of the township of Witney in 1801 was 2,584; of the entire parish 4,349: in 1831, of the former 3,190; of the latter 5,336; in 1841, of the former 3,419; of the latter 5,707 souls; and in 1851, of the former 3,103; and of the latter 5,318 souls.

The town of Witney stands on the small river Windrush, over which there is a neat bridge of 3 arches, erected in 1822, about 5 miles above its junction with the Isis. It is situated about 11 miles W. by N. from Oxford, 7 miles S.E. from Burford, 6 miles W. from Bampton, and 66 miles W.N.W. from London. The road from London to Cheltenham and Gloucester, passes through it; and the vicinity abounds in agreeable scenery.

Witney is supposed to be of British origin, and to the Saxons possibly, may be ascribed the erection of the mount or earth-work, which certainly once surrounded the town, and of which traces are still in existence. "But, if Witney received any fresh peculiarity of character from the Saxons," writes Dr. Giles in his recently published history of that town, "it certainly takes its name from the occupation of that busy ad plodding race of men. The Witan-Eye, or as it is also written in the Anglo-Saxon or old English dialect, Witan-ige, evidently signifies the island of the wise men or of the Parliament; it is well known that the Saxons, far more respectful in that particular towards their senate than we their descendents, always attributed wisdom as the chief and in fact necessary virtue of their representatives. Thus the word Witney means etymologically Parliamentary Isle, though no record has been handed down to us to tell for what reason such a name was given."

That Witney was a place of some consequence before the conquest is certain; for we find it one of the nine manors given in 1040, by Alwin or Ailwyn bishop of Winchester to the cathedral church of Winchester, in gratitude it is said by some, for the deliverance of Emma, mother to king Edward the Confessor, for the fiery ordeal which she underwent in the cathedral of that city. A short explanation of this may not be considered out of place here. Queen Emma was the daughter of Richard duke of Normandy, and in 1002 she was given in marriage to Ethelred the Unready, king of England. Emma had two sons by Ethelred, Edward afterwards king of England, and surnamed the Confessor; and Alfred who was murdered by Godwin earl of Kent. The queen was not happy in her marriage with Ethelred, for they seldom lived together, and the kingdom was in a most wretched state during his reign. She seems to have resided much in Oxfordshire, for Islip is mentioned as one of her manors, and at that place her son Edward was born.* After the death of Ethelred, and the murder of Edmund Ironside, Canute was made king of England; and upon him Emma bestowed her hand, on condition that if they had a son, he should succeed to the throne. Their son was named Hardicanute, and he afterwards became king of England, not however until his elder brother Harold Harefoot, Canute's son by a former marriage, had reigned before him. During the reign of Harold Harefoot, queen Emma was in foreign parts. Hardicanute reigned only two years, and after his death the old Saxon line was restored in the person of Queen Emma's son, Edward. For some political reason, a calumnious report against Emma the mother queen, was circulated, charging her with indulging in habits of suspicious intimacy with Alwin bishop of Winchester; as well as being accessory to the death of her son Alfred, and throwing impediments in the way of the succession of Edward the Confessor. The great friendship which existed between the bishop and his royal ward, was doubtless the groundwork of the base insinuation which formed the first charge. Cassan, in his lives of the bishops of Winchester, tells us that the king ordered the archbishop of Canterbury to convene a synod, at which it was resolved that the queen should submit to the test of the fiery ordeal; that she assented and walked over nine red-hot plough shares without suffering the least injury from them. The Saxon chronicle, though it speaks of the harsh conduct of the king towards his mother, says nothing of the ordeal; neither does Malmesbury, Hovedon, or Simon of Durham; but Ralph Higden, a writer of the 14th century, relates it st length. Wharton, and other recent historians, also mention the occurence; the former upon the authority of a MS., which stated that in the year 1338 (about three centuries after the fact), when Adam de Orleton, bishop of Winton, visited the priory of St Swithin, a minstrel was introduced who sung the tale of queen Emma, delivered from the ploughshare. Bishop Godwin treats the whole of this ridiculous story with contempt.

At all events the manor of Witney, which is co-extensive with the parish, has been in the possession of the bishops of Winchester since the time of queen Emma, except during the period of the commonwealth. The manor and its appurtenances have been long granted out by the bishop, on a lease for lives. The present lessee is the duke of Marlborough, to whose family it was first granted in 1751. A court leet for the manor is held annually, and also one for the ancient borough of Witney. The court-rolls of the manor occupy some forty volumes. These courts are held at the Mount House and at Staple Hall. Witney was formerly a royal borough, and sent two members to parliament from the 5th of Edward II. (1312) to the 33d of Edward III. (1360), when the inhabitants prayed to be released from the burden, a petition not uncommon in the early periods of the history of the house of commons.

The town experienced considerable benefit from the patronage of Aymer or Audomare de Valence earl of Pembroke, who had the fee of Bampton hundred. In the reign of Edward II., solemn jousts were performed here between that nobleman and Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford.

In the 17th century as a comedy was being performed by some countrymen from Stanton Harcourt, in a large apartment which had been used as a malting room, belonging to the White Hart Inn at Witney, the floor gave way and five persons were killed, and several severely bruised. The accident is especially memorable from the publicity it gained through puritanical misrepresentation. "Instead of sympathy, the sufferers met with execration," writes Mr. Brewer, One John Rowe, of the univeristy of Oxford, and 'Lecturer in the towne of Witney,' published an account of the occurrence, intituled 'Tragi-comœdia; being a brief relation of the strange and wonderful hand of God discovered at Witney, in the Comedy acted there, February 3rd, where there were some slaine, many hurt, with several other remarkable passages: together with what was preached in the three sermons on that occasion, from Romans i. 18. both of which may serve as some check to the growing Atheism of the present age, Oxford 1652,' "Th age must indeed be far gone in enthusiasm," continues the same writer, "which could be influenced by such imbecile ravings as those of Mr. Rowe; yet we are told that this publication contributed not a little to the suppression of plays at that period,"

In 1734, a fire broke out in the dwelling of a tallow chandler at Witney, and in less than three hours, thirty houses were entirely destroyed.

At the enclosure of the commons in this neighbourhood in 1761, the peasents we are told by Dr. Giles were almost in open rebellion, and the aid of the military was called in. No less than 3,000 rioters armed with bludgeons and pitchforks, met on one occasion, on North Leigh heath to demolish the fences. These however were dispersed by the soldiers without bloodshed, and several of the ringleaders were taken prisoners.

The town of Witney, which chiefly consists of two streets, one of which is about a mile in length, has a remarkably neat and cheerful appearance, and contains many well built houses arranged with considerable regularity. The upper part of this fine street is called High-street, and the lower part Bridge-street. As the High-street draws towards the south it progressively expands, and in the broad area, is preserved an extent of green swards, through which is formed a wide and handsome gravel walk, leading to the northern door of the parish church. The church occupies the complete termination of the street, and forms a fine architectural finish to the general view. The town is within the jurisdiction of the magistrates of the county, and its internal affairs are regulated by two bailiffs, with constables and other offices. In a field near the church, is a house called the Mount House, which still retains traces of the walls with which it was once fortified. This house is said to occupy the site of an ancient castle of which little is known. Some antiquarians suppose it to have been the palace or manor house of the bishops of Winchester.

An old half quadrangular building in the town called the College, and consisting of a low range of rooms surrounding three sides of a court, and still containing a chapel and hall almost entire; is said to have been erected for the use of the Oxford students, during the plague which in former times often prevailed in Oxford and other cities. The college belongs to the Society of Corpus Christi college, Oxford.

Staple Hall, an Inn in the town, is supposed to have been another of these collegiate off-shoots.

In the broad part of the High-street is the Market or Butter Cross, a low building standing on pillars, and surmounted by a clock, erected by William Blake, Esq., of Coggs, in 1683. It was restored by subscription in 1811, and again repaired in 1842.

The Town Hall is a stone building, the lower part of which consists of piazzaz for the use of the market. Below the town hall, on the eastern side of the street, is an old building of the Elizabethan age, now generally known as the Excise Hall. It should here be stated that the river Windrush which passes through the town separates this parish from that of Coggs, and that the hamlet of Newland in the latter parish now forms part of the town of Witney. It is conjectured by some local antiquarians that the Windrush formed the boundary between the old Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex. This river is famous for its fine trout and cray-fish; and it is remarkable that the latter do not thrive in the Evenlode, a neighbouring river. The town is lighted with gas.

The Market-day is Thursday, and the markets are well attended by the neighbouring farmers, who sell their grain by sample. Fairs for cattle are held on Thursday in Easter week; for cattle and cheese on Thursday after the 9th of July; 24th of August; Thursday following the first Sunday after the 8th of September; Thursday before the 10th of October, and that after the 1st of December.

The town of Witney has long been celebrated for the manufactory of blankets.* An old proverb makes it to be famous for four B's, beuty, bread, beer and blankets. Dr. Plot, writing in 1675, atributes this celebrity in part at least, to the detersive qualities of the waters of the Windrush. "The Isis, 'tis true," says he, "till it comes to Newbridge, receives not (that I find) any eminently salt or sulphureous waters; but there it admits the nitrous Windrush, so well impregnated with that abstersive salt, that no place yields blanketting so notoriously white as is made at Witney." The same writer tells us, that in his time not less than 3000 persons, 'from children of eight years to decript old age,' were employed here in the weaving business. We must bear in mind that every branch of the manufactory was then cultivated by manual labour. In the reign of queen Anne (1711) the blanket makers in the town and within 20 miles around it, were incorporated by the style of 'The Master, Assistants, Wardens, and Commonalty of the blanket weavers of Witney, in Oxfordshire.' At this period, 150 looms and 3000 persons were constantly employed, and the weekly consumption of wool amounted to about 100 packs. Immediately after the grant of the charter, a body of bye-laws were drawn up, which in time led to bad consequences, and tended to retard the interests of the trade, so that for many years the privilege has not been acted upon. A few years after the incorporation of the company, (in 1721) a large hall called the Blanket Hall, was erected, in which blankets were weighed, measured, and marked according to the terms of the charter, and the other business of the company transacted. The arms of the company which appear under the clock on the front of the hall, are thus blazoned: Azure; on a chevron argent, between three leopards' heads, each having a shuttle in his mouth or, three roses gules, seeded proper. Crest a leopard's head crowned with a ducal coronet, and a shuttle as before. Supporters two weeverns ermine, winged or membered gules. Motto Weave truth with trust. The manufacture is by no means in such a flourishing condition as it once was. Since the introduction of machinery, blankets have been made at various other towns, of inferior quality and at lower prices, which very considerably decreased that branch of trade. But six thriving establishments still remain, which consume weekly, in the making of blankets, druggets, duffells, girths, waggon tilts, mop yarns, and other similar articles, 120 packs of wool, each pack weighing 240 pounds. There are now upwards of 800 persons employed, comprising men women and children, and they all work on the premises of their masters. The firm of John Early and Co., give regular employment to about 300 persons. The blanket weaving company still exists, but for the last 40 years they have ceased to exercise any of their old rights. The old hall, with several appurtenances was lately purchased by Mr. Edward Early, of Witney. Among other articles which fell by sale into the hands of Mr. Early, is an old bible given to the company, in 1748 by Mr. White, the first master; a large painting of queen Anne, which was given to the company by Simon lord Harcourt, sometime lord high chancellor of England, and second high steward of the Witney Blanket weaving company; and a silver tankard. The weaving shops belonging to the blanket manufactories are principally at Newland and West End, and the mills lie at intervals along the banks of the Windrush above the town.

The Church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, stands at the southern extremity of the town, and is a spacious and beautiful cruciform structure, one of the finest in the county. It consists of a nave, chancel, north and south transepts, each having an aisle on its western side. The nave also has north and south aisles, and at the north-eastern end of the building there is a private chapel or chantry belonging to the Wenman family, who formerly resided in the neighbourhood. The north doorway, which, from its position, forms the usual entrance, is the oldest part of the church, being built in the Norman style of architecture, probably about the commencement of the 12th century. The whole structure is a combination of the early and decorated styles of English architecture, and several fine Gothic windows are to be seen in different parts. From the square tower in the centre rises a spire of substantial rather than airy proportions. At each angle of the tower is an octangular minaret; and four faces of the steeple are ornamented with a pointed piece of masonry, divided by mullions of stone into four compartments. The tower contains a fine peal of eight bells. The interior of the church is well furnished. In the spacious and handsome chancel is a fine altar-piece representing Moses displaying the tables of stone with the decalogue. Here are also the ancient piscina and some remains of the stone sedilia. In a gallery at the west end of the nave is a good organ, given by Dr. Leverett. The pulpit is of the 17th century and is elaborately carved. The living consists of a rectory and vicarage which are stated in Bacon's Liber Regis to have been united in the 9th of Charles I. (1634) into one benefice by the name of the rectory of Whitney, but all dues and fees were reserved as if they were still separate. They are both in the deanery of Witney and the patronage of the bishop of Winchester. The rectory is rated at £47. 9s. 4½d., and the vicarage at £9. 12s. 2d. The tithes of the parish were commuted in 1839 for a rent charge of £1,744. 12s. of which £30. was for the glebe land. There is also the rental of 500 acres of glebe land. The Rev. Charles Jerram, M.A., is the present rector.

The Rectory House, stands on the western side of the church, and is a large imposing building in the modern style. It was erected by Dr. Friend, a former rector of Witney in compensation, as he has expressed it in an inscription for the disadvantages of his long continued non residence during his incumbency.

The Independent Chapel, in High-street is a handsome structure, the foundation stone of which was laid by Miss Townsend, on the 4th of March 1828. The erection of the building, together with the purchase of the ground cost nearly £2,000; of this amount £1,100. was contributed by Mr. William Townsend, and a native of Witney also gave £300.; the remainder was contributed by the minister and congregation, and by the subscription of friends. The property of the chapel was placed in the Hackney trust, and the building was opened for public worship on 1st of October, 1828. This society has existed here from the days of the puritans. The Rev. Robert Tozer is the present minister. The Independents have a school for boys in an old chapel, formerly used by the Baptists.

The Wesleyan Chapel is another handsome edifice, situated in the High-street. Its front is in a light Gothic style highly decorated, and it was opened for public worship in 1850.

The Friends' Meeting House, is a good stone building in Wood-green. There is a small portion of land left to keep the building in good repair.

The Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Corn-street, is a plain stone building, opened in 1845.

The Free Grammar School was founded in 1663 by Henry Box, grocer, and citizen of London; and the foundation was confirmed by an act of parliament in the 15th of Charles II. (1664). The founder erected the school-house which is a handsome pile of building, and which, together with the garden and playground in front of the school, stands upon two acres of ground. Mr. Box also built a residence for the chief master, and endowed the school with £50. per annum. From the statutes we learn "That the school should be free for the teaching of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, to 30 scholars, whereof such whose parents should at the time of their birth inhabit the town of Witney (respect being had to the children of the poorest inhabitants) and founder's kin, should have priority; and if at any time such children should not amount to the number assigned, it should be lawful for the master, with the aprobation of the visitors, to admit children that should be born of parents inhabiting within the parish of the town of Witney, so that the children before described should not be barred of their privileges, and that the issue of the founder should be allowed by the master the most convenient chamber for their lodging in the said house."

The governors of the school are the four wardens of the Grocers' company; and the provost and two senior fellows of Oriel college, Oxford, are the visitors. The income of the school now amounts to £63.; of which sum the head master receives £30.; the usher £15.; writing master £10.; the poor of Witney £2.; and the remainder is spent in incidental expenses. The Rev. Henry Gregory, M.A., is the head master.

The National Schools were founded at a meeting held at the Blanket hall, on the 15th of May, 1813; Colonel the Right Hon. lord Francis Spencer, in the chair. At this meeting a society for promoting the instruction of the poor of this town and neighbourhood was formed, and among other resolutions passed, was the following: "That, considering the peculiar circumstances of the population of Witney and its neighbourhood, the schools formed by this society shall be open on Sundays as well as other days, to poor children of all sects and denominations, who will conform to the rules of instruction therein established; that the children of churchmen shall regularly attend divine service in the parish church; and those of dissenters either at the parish church, or at some other legally authorized place of public worship." The schools are in connection with the national society, and have latterly been placed under government inspection.

The Infant School was founded in 1838 by the present rector of Witney, who still contributes mainly to its support. It is held in the Wenman's aisle of the church, which is separated for that purpose, by a partition from the rest of the church.

CHARITIES.

William Blake of Coggs, by will dated 6th of Aril, 1693, left a yearly rent charge of £6. to the schoolmistress of Newland, for teaching 24 poor children of Newland and Coggs; and in case this number of children was not supplied from these places, it was to be made up from Witney or its neighbourhood. He also left £6. per annum to the schoolmistress of Witney, for teaching 30 poor children of Witney, and its adjacent towns; and a like sum yearly to the schoolmistress of High Coggs. For each of these schools he gave a school house, in which the teachers were to reside rent free with gardens and appurtenances. He also gave £5. per annum to be paid to a writing master for teaching a reasonable number of boy's in Witney, to write and cipher.

John Holloway of London by will dated 24th September, 1723, founded a free school here and endowed it with about 90 acres of land at Stonesfield, and Hailey. It is intended for the instruction of the son's of journeymen weavers of Witney and Hailey, ten being sent from the former and five from the latter. The boys receive also a new suit of clothes once a year, and an apprenticing fee of £15. is given with each on leaving the school. The boys are admitted at eight years of age, and remain till fourteen; at which time every boy who applies, and whose parents find a proper situation, is put out apprentice. The founder of this free school, or as it is generally called the Blue-school, also founded and endowed Almshouses here for six poor widows of blanket weavers, not under the age of 50 years. Each poor widow has two rooms and a garden, and received at the time of the enquiry by the charity commissioners, the sum of 5s. per week. The almshouses which adjoin the church-yard were erected in 1724, and are kept in good repair by the trustees. In Church-street were formerly six ancient almshouses, which in 1796, being then in a wretched state of repair and unfit for habitation, were taken down, and on the site six new substantial tenements of two stories were built at the expense of £354. In 1814 the further sum of £202. was laid out in erecting kitchens and out offices behind the houses. Of these sums £100. was given by the feoffees of the Freelands charity; £100. had accumulated from the rents, a part of which had been reserved for the purpose of building, and the remainder, except £11. 10s. which had been raised by subscription, was borrowed. The borrowed money has been since paid off, and the rents are now applied to charitable uses.

In 1821, Mr. William Townsend erected and endowed Almshouses here, for six poor aged females, each of whom now receives 4s. per week.

The other Charities of Witney, according to the parliamentary reports are the following. The charity estate called the Freelands Estate, consists chiefly of a farm house and outbuildings, with 66 acres of inclosed pasture, arable and wood, in the parish of Ensham; 6 acres of land at Bampton, and 10 acres at Hailey. Part of this property was purchased in 1682, with the amount of several donations and benefactions left to the poor of Witney, at various periods; and subsequent purchases have since been added from the sale of timber, and accumulations of the charity.

The trustees of this property are called the trustees of Freelands, by which name they are distinguished from another body of feoffees, called the Town Feoffees, in whom are vested several other charities.

Charities under the management of the Bailiffs. - The bailiffs of Witney are annual officers, appointed in September, and sworn in at the manor court at the time of their appointment, and afterwards at the county quarter sessions at Oxford. The bailiffs of one year nominate several persons as proper to succeed them in their office, and the steward of the manor generally appoints the two first on the list.

William Lee, of Abingdon, in 1692, left £40. towards charitable uses, viz: providing bread and beef for the poor, and a sermon to be preached in the parish church on the afternoon of every Christmas day. The sum of 10s. to be paid for the sermon.

Joan Green, gave £20. towards the relief of the poor, with which a tenement, &c., was purchased.

Richard Ashcombe, of Curbridge, gave a house, garden, &c., for the poor of Witney.

By an inquisition taken under a commission of charitable uses, and dated October 1652, it was found among other things, that Thomas Yeate had given an annuity of 40s. for the use of the poor of Witney. That Thomas Wiltshire gave 10s. yearly to be paid out of a certain tenement which he held in Witney.

That John Smith of Hailey gave certain lands in Hailey to the use of the poor widows and orphans of Witney and Hailey.

The rents and produce received by the bailiffs from the different premises above mentioned, and other sources amounted at the time of the enquiry to £47. 6s. 8d. per annum, whilst, with the exception of £1. 10s. for winding up the town clock; 10s. for preaching a sermon on Christmas day, and 1s. 6d. a puit rent to Hailey, was given away in beef and bread to the poor on Christmas eve.

Charities under the Management of the Churchwardens. The sum of £35. the share of a rental, is annually received from West's and Walter's Charity, which consists of certain property left by Elizabeth West of Appleton, in 1638, and John Walton of Appleton, in 1635, for the poor of Witney, Ensham and Standlake, one moiety to the parishioners of Witney, and the other moiety to the parishioners of Ensham and Standlake equally.

Andrew Holloway at an early period devised six houses or tenements in Corn-street, for the use of the poor of Witney.

Francis Collier bequeathed about 5 acres of land at Henley, for the use of the poor.

About an acre of ground situate in Coggs, and called Goose Ham, was purchased in 1774, for £90., and the rent is given to the poor.

The churchwardens of Witney receive yearly, £4. out of an estate in Clanfield, charged thereon by Leonard Wilmot, in 1608. This sum is given away in sixpences to the poor of Witney on Good Friday.

James Leverett, of Witney, by will dated 17th February, 1783, left a certain sum of money after the decease of his wife, for the purchase of an organ for the parish church, the residue to be applied towards the support of an organist. An organ was placed in the church by means of this legacy, and there is also a fund for the organist, consisting of £404. stock in the three per cent consols, arising from this bequest and other subscriptions. The dividend of this money is carried to the general account of the churchwardens, and the salary of the organist is made up out of the church rate.

Elijah Waring by will in 1813, left £1000. the interest thereof to be expended annually in the purchasing of bread, to be distributed amongst the poor of Witney, Hailey, Crawley and Newland, on New year's day. This sum was invested in stock, now amounting to £1,445. 14s. 6d., three per cents, and the dividends are disposed of annually in accordance with the will of the donor, by persons appointed by the trustees.

Besides the above request, the testator also left 1,000 guineas, to be distributed within one year after his death to 1,000 poor persons, which was done accordingly. The testator also left a further bequest of the residue of his personal property to his executors, "in trust, to be by them applied and disposed of, for and to such benevolent purposes as they in their integrity and discretion should unanimously agree on." This clause was disputed in the court of chancery, and the court directed, that the charitable bequest was void, as being too general, and that the next of kin was entitled.

The Witney Poor Law Union, comprehends 32 parishes, of which one is in each of the counties of Berks and Gloucester, with a total area of 108 square miles. The Union Workhouse, is a large stone building; erected for the accommodation of 450 persons, on the Burford road about half a mile N.W. from Witney. The average number of paupers for the past year was 300; and the average weekly expense of each pauper was 2s. 2d. The Rev. D. Adams is chairman of the board of guardians, the Rev. George C. Rolfe, chaplain, Mr. F. Hunt, clerk, Mr. and Mrs. Ward, master and matron, and Robert Baden, porter. The medical officers are Mr. E. A. Batt, house surgeon; Mr. T Cheatle for the Burford district; Mr. M. Shurlock for the Ensham district; Mr. E. A. Batt for the Bampton district; and for the Witney district, Mr. E. Batt. The following are the parishes and townships of which the union is composed:- Alvescott - Asthall - Aston and Cote - Bampton - Black Bourton - Brighthampton - Brize Norton - Broadwell - Broughton Poggs - Burford - Chimney - Clanfield - Coggs - Crawley - Curbridge - Ducklington - Ensham - Filkins - Fulbrook - Hailey - Handborough - Hardwick - Holwell - Kencott - Lew - Minster Lovell - Northleigh - Northmoor - Ramsden - Shifford - Shilton - Southleigh - Standlake - Stanton Harcourt - Swinbrook - Taynton - Upton and Signett - Westwell - Widford - Wilcote - Witney, and Yelford.

HAMLETS.

Crawley is a small hamlet in this parish, situated 1¾ mile N.N.W. of Witney. According to the parliamentary return, its acreage is 910; but local returns give it about 1084 acres, Its rateable value is about £811., and the amount of assessed property is £1,122. In 1831 it contained 275; in 1841, 252; and in 1851, 245 inhabitants.

Here is a small Chapel of Ease, which was built within the last few years. It is a neat plain building, erected by the present rector of Witney. The tithes were commuted in 1839 for a rent charge of £205. In this hamlet is a blanket mill belonging to Messrs. Horatio Collier and CO. of Witney.

Curbridge is another hamlet in the parish of Witney. It contains 2,480 acres, and extends to the town of Witney. The parish church is situated within its boundaries. Here is also Casswell House, the remains of what was once a fine baronial mansion or castle. It was formerly moated and the greater part of the fosse is still remaining. The founders or original occupiers of this once stately mansion, are not known, but the last family of distinction who resided here were the Wenmans. Dr. Giles, on the authority of Wood's MSS. tells us, that this family "were originally clothiers of Witney, and being the first that used vains or carts with four wheels to carry their cloth to London, were called wainmen, or else the first of them was a driver of a wain. Their old house in Witney was until lately an inn (The Crown to the east of the Town Hall). In the fields, within half a mile of Caswell house, is a well cased in stone." Caswell house is now in the occupation of Mr. Joseph Roberts, farmer.

The Village of Curbridge is on the road to Bampton, about 2 miles W.S.W. of Witney. Here is a small but neat Church or Chapel-of-ease, built about the year 1835, by the Rev. Charles Jerram, rector of Witney. On the banks of the Windrush, is a large blanket mill, called New Mills, belonging to Messrs. J. and E. Early. The amount of assessed property in this hamlet, in 1815, was £3,824. Its population in 1831, was 249; in 1841, 596; and in 1851, 466 souls. The amount assessed in 1839 for tithes, was £715, of which £30. was for glebe land.

Hailey is a hamlet and Chapelry, in this parish, in which stands a part of the town of Witney. According to the parliamentary returns the chapelry contains 2,120 acres. Its rateable value is £4,298, and the amount of assessed property in it, is £5,689. Its population in 1831, was 1236; in 1841, 1440; and in 1851, 1324 souls.

The Village of Hailey stands on an eminence about 1½ mile N.E. from Witney, and consists of a street of detached farm houses. J. W. Clinch, Esq. and Leonard Pickering, Esq. are the principle landowners.

The Church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist is a small but neat structure, erected in 1761, and consists of a nave or body and chancel. The living is a perpetual curacy in the gift of the rector of Witney, and incumbency of the Rev. George Crabb Rolfe, M.A. The endowment of the church consists of about 50 acres of land at Chipping Norton, purchased about 80 years ago by subscription, and augmented about 20 since, by 40 acres of land at Hailey, purchased by means of a grant from queen Anne's bounty. The tithes, the property of the rector of Witney, were commuted for a rent charge of £780. The Parsonage House is near the church.

"Many years ago," writes Dr. Giles, "these hamlets were surrounded by very extensive heaths: but these have been abridged by the enclosure act. Hailey Heath presents a feature of ancient times which has been little noticed by antiquaries - the remains of a Roman camp. Before the North-leigh portion of the heath was enclosed, at the time of the riots, this earth-work rang along the face of the hill eastward, as far as the Woodstock road, and even now it may be clearly traced: but the plough is rapidly levelling its banks; it is most perfect at the western end. Tradition still connects this spot with the Romans. In Woodley's copse, not far to the east, are some other military remains, but whether of Roman or Danish origin, cannot now be decided."

CHARITIES. - Joan Smith, by will dated April, 1649, gave £40., the interest to be appropriated to the use of the school at Hailey. She also left £10., the interest or yearly profit to be given "to a good preacher, for a sermon always on the next Sabbath day after Easter, in the parish church of Witney." This money was laid out in the purchase of land in Hailey field. The table of benefactions in the church of Hailey states, that she also gave one half yard of land in Hailey field, and one half yard land of meadow, the annual rents whereof are to be applied to the apprenticing of poor boys." This charity now consists of about 22 acres, which were allotted at the enclosure of Hailey, in 1822, in lieu of the former parcels. The rents have been expended upon the school, and in apprenticing and clothing poor children, except 10s., which is paid to the minister of Witney.

The poor of this township participate in the charity of John Smith, husband to Mrs. Joan Smith; and also in the bequest of Elijah Waring. (See the Charities of Witney).

William Wright of Over Norton, by will, in 1786, bequeathed £100. to the poor of Hailey; £100. to the poor of Coggs; £100. to the poor of Over Norton; and £20. to the parish clerk of Coggs. These three sums were laid out in the purchase of £419. 13s. 5d. stock, three per cent annuities; and a proportionate share of the dividend is annually received here. A rent-charge of 10s., payable out of the ground called Swan-hill meadow, is also received and given with the other charities to the poor.

Witney Directory

POST AND MONEY ORDER OFFICE,
Mr. John William Burden, postmaster, High-street.