Swinford

A Child's Memories of Eynsham

A Quaint Corner c1950
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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 vivid memories of that episode in my life; it seemed to me that we had stepped back in time to some bygone era.  I shared a bed with my mother - the mattress was made of horsehair and it was lumpy and tickly.  We had a paraffin stove that made me feel sick at times, I did not like the smell.

I would fetch the bread from the bakery and see it being taken from the ovens on spatulas on long poles.  I would walk to school through the alleyways between the thatched cottages.  

The school was wonderful - having come from a large town school,... Read 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 for wear, but happy. Carnival day was a great day for publican with an extension, , it was not unusual to run out of glasses, although everybody behaved and enjoyed themselves. Great village, great people.

Jim Rand  

Memories

I went to Northmoor back in the 1940s and stayed with my parents' friends Mrs Bastable and her family for 6 weeks. The house was thatched and just across the way from a line of trees called "The Causeway". I remember going to the farm across the road and getting milk fresh from the cow. At the time there was an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease and we had to dip our shoes and wellies in disinfectant before entering the farm. There was a little stream going past in front of the house and a little wooden bridge built to enter the garden. I wonder if that house is still there. We also rode bikes into another village where there was a raft-like contraption to take you across a small river. I often wonder about how things are and have things changed considerably? There was no electricity in the house at that time and we had to get water from a well in the garden, the lavvy was... Read more

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, who joined the Police Force and worked in Romford, where he met his wife.

After he retired, Frederick took over as landlord at the Bell Inn, which I believe they ran for several years, into the 1940s. They used to keep pigs in the back yard.

In reply to comments on Maisey and Jarrett families in Handborough. My husband is a Maisey descendant from Warwickshire and Handborough. James at the 'Bell' was his great-grandfather's brother, having worked on the Blenheim estate as gamekeepers for many years, his great-grandfather living at the Head Keepers Lodge and Fishery Cottage on the estate. We have a 'tree' back to James and Jane Maisey 1737. Please get in touch. June.

Maisey Family - June, Please Contact me

June, you left a very interesting memory about the Bell at Long Handborough, but it doesn't seem to have a link to contact you.

I would like to compare family trees with you.

Liz

Beckley Family, Long Hanborough

My family can be traced to the 1700s and back to Robert Beckley. I hope to visit the area later this year to see where they lived. If anyone is related to Robert Beckley or any of his descendants I would love to hear from you. My grandfather moved north with his parents but my sister has moved to oxfordshire so "back to her roots" They were a large family so there must be lots of relatives to meet!!!