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Stadhampton
Stadhampton maps
Historic maps of Stadhampton and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Stadhampton maps
Stadhampton area books
Displaying 1 of 7 books about Stadhampton and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Stadhampton
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Stadhampton.
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A Glance Backwards
I came to live in Stadhampton in 1954 from Henley on Thames. My father was the village Policeman. I found that even for 1954 life in Stadhampton was comparatively primitive compared with what I was used to! But it was a very good life for all that. Life was gentler, slower and bore far more comparison with Victorian England than I had been used to. The village was full of 'characters'. George the Postman still suffered from Second World War shell shock. He could not/did not speak, just 'zuzzed' his way through life. He made a perfectly competent local postman, cycling around the village with his collie dog parked in the carrier on the front of his bike. Would he be employed as postman (postie) now? Not a chance. The social life of the village was centred around the Village Hall, the venue for the Youth Club, Cinema, Dances - this old thatched barn of a structure was one of the... Read more
Childhood Memories
I lived in Stadhampton from 1949 - 1952. When I was eight years old living in Rutland my parents split up leaving my Dad with three small boys rather suddenly. As was often the case in those days I was shipped out and came to Stadhampton to live with my aunt & uncle Lottie & Reg Wood during term time at what was then No1, The Close in School Lane (after other houses were built in the row it became no11). It was an interesting and rather scary experience, for all parties I suspect! A middle aged couple with no children suddenly have their routine and space invaded by a fairly lively and large 8 year old used to playing with two brothers noisily. I went to the village school at the end of the Lane which is now a private house. At that time the head teacher was Mrs Burston who wore her hair in a bun and was very strict but fair. She lived in the school house with... Read more
Town/e Family
My Great Great Grandmother,Eliza Town was born here in 1831. In 1854 she married James Barnard Balmer in St.Mary's Portsea,Hampshire,who was a Plasterer by trade.
If anyone knows anything about the Town/e family from Stadhampton,please get in touch with me.
Oxfordshire memories
The Olivers, William, Lilian, May, Violet, Henry, Bill, Jack, The Lodge, Chiselhampton Oxon
My grandparents William and Lilian together with their 5 children lived at The Lodge, Chiselhampton. William was head gardener employed by Sir Charles Peers until his death 22.9.42 aged 58, Lilian died 18.10.74, her 86th birthday. They are both buried in St Katharine's Churchyard, Chiselhampton. William was a special constable. I have a photograph of a fire which started at the bakehouse, Stadhampton, (1926?) in which I can see him, also his son Bill born 1919 - he looks c.7 years old. William had a huge garden which grew many vegetables, which fed the family. He cut the village men's hair, repaired shoes, watches, clocks, bicycles. Daughter Violet (my mother) was also employed by Lady Peers, starting as a maid, she once accompanied Lady Peers as her personal maid on a visit to London. When Sir Charles was 80 and they both were going to a nursing home, my mother Violet was asked if she would look after them for a week or two. Mother was only too pleased... Read more
Drayton St Leonards 1936
1936 - my father Ernest Eldridge and mother Violet and myself Barbara moved from Dorchester on Thames to Drayton St Leonards. My mother's friend May Rusher (wife of Frank Rusher) arranged for the cottage next door to be let to us. The kitchen window looked out to the churchyard. I attended the small village school until we moved to Oxford in c.1939. My grandparents lived at The Lodge, Chiselhampton. I remember going to the chapel on a Wednesday afternoon straight from school where mothers would be. I suppose it was a meeting of sorts.
Frank Rusher was a lay preacher there. I remember the plays and various other entertainments which were enjoyed in the chapel hall. Our garden was across the road from our cottage adjoining a field. The old fashioned toilet was there. I absolutely loved the cornfield with poppies, daisies and cornflowers and it led to my interest in my later life designing flower birthday cards and also Christmas cards. I remember taking a milk churn to... Read more
Famliy
In the last two months (year 2006) I found out that I had a Great Uncle that lived in Cuddesdon in the 1881 census. This was a surprise to me as I lived in Cuddesdon in Parkside Cuddesdon for 5 years under my ex married name(1995 to 2001) and never new I had famliy there beforehand. This was David King who married a Ann Gunn, who was born in Cuddesdon, her father John Gunn was also born in Cuddesdon. (I am not related to the Gunns, only by marriage.)
Playing in The Daisy Field
I grew up in Cuddesdon and spent many happy hours playing in the surrounding fields. My family moved up to Parkside (No. 15) from The Park houses in '56 when I was 2. I don't remember living there although a trip with mates down Redman's Lane, turn right and pass the crab-apple tree, then on towards the river was a regular summer jaunt. The water from the spring was so refreshing - much more pleasant than the Corona bottle of tap water someone had brought along.
We would play in Cuddesdon Brook (straight down the hill on Redman's Lane) although that was seen as 'foreign' due to it being on land owned by a Wheatley farmer (Mr Greaves) rather than the familiar Palmers. The sloping meadow at the top of Parkside by (now) Sunset Lodge was the Daisy Field, named for reasons obvious in the summer. In the winter of 1963 when the snow and ice was ferocious I well remember sledging on Mum's baking tray to the bottom of... Read more
