Bix, Oxfordshire
Encyclopedia
Bix is a village in the civil parish of Bix and Assendon
in South Oxfordshire
, about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Henley-on-Thames
. The village is about 130 metres (426.5 ft) above sea level in the Chiltern Hills
.
farmhouse were found during an excavation of the Common
in 1955, as well as later Saxon
remains. These were not considered to be worth retaining in an exposed condition and so the area was re-covered.
There were originally two villages: Bix Brand and Bix Gibwyn. The toponym
has at various times been Byxe and Bixa. The Domesday Book
of 1086 records Bixa as part of the Hundred
of Binfield.
Bix Brand's original parish church
of Saint James is a small Norman
building in Bix Bottom, about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the village. It has a nave
, chancel
and several Norman lancet window
s. Later additions include the Perpendicular Gothic east window and another Perpendicular window in the south wall. In 1874 the architect John Gibson
completed the village's new Church of England parish church
, closer to the centre of the village, also dedicated to Saint James. The old church was abandoned in 1875 and is now a ruin. Scenes from the 1971 Hammer Horror film Blood on Satan's Claw
were filmed in the ruined church.
Bix Manor
has a 17th century barn.
The main road between Henley and Wallingford passes through the parish. It was made into a turnpike
in 1736 and ceased to be a turnpike in 1873. The hill between Fair Mile, on the edge of Henley, and Bix was made a dual carriageway
in 1937, one of the earliest dual carriageways in the country. It is now the A4130 road
.
owns and manages in Oxfordshire. It has an important population of Chiltern flora and fauna.
Bix had a public house
, the Fox Inn, but it has ceased trading.
Bix and Assendon
Bix and Assendon is a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills just north of Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire, England. The parish includes the villages of Bix, Lower Assendon and Middle Assendon. The 2001 census recorded a parish population of 531....
in South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is a local government district in Oxfordshire, England. Its council is based in Crowmarsh Gifford, just outside Wallingford....
, about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
. The village is about 130 metres (426.5 ft) above sea level in the Chiltern Hills
Chiltern Hills
The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment in South East England. They are known locally as "the Chilterns". A large portion of the hills was designated officially as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1965.-Location:...
.
History
The remains of a RomanRoman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
farmhouse were found during an excavation of the Common
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
in 1955, as well as later Saxon
History of Anglo-Saxon England
Anglo-Saxon England refers to the period of the history of that part of Britain, that became known as England, lasting from the end of Roman occupation and establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror...
remains. These were not considered to be worth retaining in an exposed condition and so the area was re-covered.
There were originally two villages: Bix Brand and Bix Gibwyn. The toponym
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
has at various times been Byxe and Bixa. The Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 records Bixa as part of the Hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
of Binfield.
Bix Brand's original parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Saint James is a small Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building in Bix Bottom, about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the village. It has a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and several Norman lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s. Later additions include the Perpendicular Gothic east window and another Perpendicular window in the south wall. In 1874 the architect John Gibson
John Gibson (architect)
John Gibson was an English architect born in Warwickshire.Gibson was an assistant to Sir Charles Barry and assisted him in the drawings of the Houses of Parliament....
completed the village's new Church of England parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
, closer to the centre of the village, also dedicated to Saint James. The old church was abandoned in 1875 and is now a ruin. Scenes from the 1971 Hammer Horror film Blood on Satan's Claw
Blood on Satan's Claw
Blood on Satan's Claw is a 1970 British horror film made by Tigon British Film Productions and directed by Piers Haggard. The film was written by Robert Wynne-Simmons, with additions by Piers Haggard, and stars Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden and Barry Andrews...
were filmed in the ruined church.
Bix Manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
has a 17th century barn.
The main road between Henley and Wallingford passes through the parish. It was made into a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in 1736 and ceased to be a turnpike in 1873. The hill between Fair Mile, on the edge of Henley, and Bix was made a dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
in 1937, one of the earliest dual carriageways in the country. It is now the A4130 road
A4130 road
The A4130 is a British A road which runs from a junction with the A404 at Burchetts Green, Berkshire to the A417 at Rowstock in Oxfordshire. It passes through Henley-on-Thames, and Nettlebed, and bypasses Wallingford and Didcot....
.
Amenities
The Warburg nature reserve in Bix Bottom is one of the largest that the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife TrustBerkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in England....
owns and manages in Oxfordshire. It has an important population of Chiltern flora and fauna.
Bix had a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, the Fox Inn, but it has ceased trading.