Freeland, Oxfordshire

The Bell Inn, Long Hanborough

I have a long line of ancestors from the Jarrett and Maisey families who were born in Long Hanborough.

James Maisey, born in 1852, was originally a game keeper who became landlord of the Bell Inn in the late 1880s. He and his wife Mary Ann (my great-great aunt) had at least ten children. Among them was Frederick Thomas Maisey,... [more]

A child's memories of Eynsham

I lived in Eynsham for just 6 months when I was 9 years old.  My mother was doing her health visitor training in Oxford and so from Monday to Friday we lived in a rented cottage in the village and I attended the local school.  At the weekends, we returned to the family home in Stafford.  I have such happy and... [more]

The Queens Head

As the ex-landlord of the Queens Head in Eynsham have many fond memories of the village and my customers, and cricket club of which I was president-1975-78.
Known as the village with the most pubs, of which i have visited all, including a race in which the contestants had to drink a pint at each pub, i finished some what worse... [more]

Landlord of White Horse Inn

I believe the White Horse was run by the Pratley family in the 1940s - 1950s. Jack Pratley married my father's cousin, Kathleen (nee Keen).

I am slightly confused as the name of this pub is sometimes recorded as the "White Horse" and sometimes the "White House".

Kathleen's grandparents (my great-grandparents), John and Louisa Jarrett, are buried in... [more]

Cadel shop - Market Square

The shop in the middle of the picture with the two awnings (now the Nationwide building society) used to belong to my great grandmother Eva Cadel and was a wool and toy shop.  My Grandmother and Great Aunt ran it until 1971.  My grandmother Joan ran the toy side and my Great Aunt Mary ran the wool.  Many people still today... [more]

Get them in quick

My mother Pamela Gaskins has often spoken of her days working at the sterling cinema. She was cashier there and has told me she could get a full house in within half-hour, the cheapest being 9 old pennies, the most expensive 3 shillings. Giving change and no automative calculators, quite a feat of mental agility.

Oxford Road

I lived at 253 Oxford Road in the 1950s. Visited the old house in 2006 while visiting from Canada.

The Marlborough

The white building in the picture below the church tower was the Marlborough pub. During the war through till the early 1950s my grandmother and grandfather were licencees and my father was brought up there. I have a picture of my grandfather and myself as a small child in the back yard of the pub. I'm not sure... [more]