Wroxton
All Saints' parish church
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Wroxton is located in Oxfordshire
Wroxton
Wroxton
Location within Oxfordshire
Area10.28 km2 (3.97 sq mi)
Population542 (parish, including Balscote) (2021 Census)
• Density53/km2 (140/sq mi)
OS grid referenceSP4141
Civil parish
  • Wroxton
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBanbury
Postcode districtOX15
Dialling code01295
PoliceThames Valley
FireOxfordshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament
WebsiteWroxton Village Web Site
List of places
UK
England
Oxfordshire
52°04′26″N 1°24′00″W / 52.074°N 1.400°W / 52.074; -1.400

Wroxton is a village and civil parish in the north of Oxfordshire about 3 miles (5 km) west of Banbury. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 546.[1]

Wroxton Abbey

Main article: Wroxton Abbey

Wroxton Abbey is a Jacobean country house on the site of a former Augustinian priory.[2][3] Since 1965 Wroxton Abbey has been home to Fairleigh Dickinson University. The Wroxton Abbey grounds are open to the public although during 2020 and much of 2021 they were closed due to risk of falling timber. On 3 September 2021 the grounds re-opened.[4]

Churches

Church of England

Wroxton is recorded as having a church in 1217,[5] but the present Church of England parish church of All Saints is early 14th century. A Perpendicular Gothic clerestory and porch were added early in the 15th century. The west tower was designed by Sanderson Miller and in 1748, paid for by Lord North, who owned Wroxton Abbey.[6] All Saints' is a Grade II* listed building.[7] The tower has a ring of five bells, all cast by Henry I Bagley of Chacombe in 1676.[8] All Saints' is now one of eight neighbouring parishes in the Benefice of Ironstone.[9] It is the final resting place of Lord North, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782 and led Britain through most of the American War of Independence.

Roman Catholic

The Roman Catholic church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury[10] was built in 1894. It is unusual in having a thatched roof.

Methodist

Goodman Methodist Church was built in 1935 and was a member of Banbury Methodist Circuit. It is now a private house.[11]

Oxfordshire Ironstone Railway

An ironstone quarry northwest of the village was opened in 1917 and worked heavily in the Second World War. It had its own railway, the Oxfordshire Ironstone Railway, that linked it to the Great Western Railway near Banbury. The quarry and its railway closed in 1967. A newer quarry close by is now served by road transport only.

Amenities

The North Arms

Wroxton has a hotel and two public houses, both public houses are closed and one is currently for sale.[12] The North Arms in Mills Lane, named after Lord North, is 17th-century with a 19th-century extension.[13] It was controlled by Greene King Brewery. Wroxton Abbey who were fundraising to restore the pub abandoned their plans in February 2021 citing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.[14][15] The White Horse in Stratford Road is mid-18th-century.[16] Its proprietors state it was built in 1730 and has been licensed as a pub since 1756.[17] The Wroxton House Hotel is also in Stratford Road. It is formed from four cottages, dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries.[18] It is operated by Best Western.[19] Wroxton Church of England Primary School is in Lampitts Green.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Area: Wroxton (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ Page 1907, pp. 101–102.
  3. ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 862.
  4. ^ "Grounds of popular Banbury area walking destination reopen to the public".
  5. ^ Lobel & Crossley 1969, pp. 171–188.
  6. ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 860–861.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (Grade II*) (1300046)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  8. ^ Davies, Peter (19 April 2009). "Wroxton All Saints". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. ^ Archbishops' Council (2015). "Benefice of Ironstone". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  10. ^ "St Thomas of Canterbury, Stratford Road, Wroxton, OX15 6QW". Archdiocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Wroxton". Oxfordshire Churches & Chapels. Brian Curtis. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Wroxton Commercial Property for Sale – Primelocation".
  13. ^ Historic England. "The North Arms Public House (Grade II) (1185033)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  14. ^ "The North Arms". Wroxton Village Web Site. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Village pub near Banbury goes on the market".
  16. ^ Historic England. "White Horse Public House (Grade II) (1185161)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  17. ^ The White Horse Inn
  18. ^ Historic England. "Wroxton Hotel including Suites 1, 2 and 3 (Grade II) (1369619)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  19. ^ Wroxton House Hotel
  20. ^ Wroxton C of E Primary School

Sources and further reading

External links

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