Kiddington
Encyclopedia
Kiddington is a village on the River Glyme
in the civil parish of Kiddington with Asterleigh
about 7 miles (11.3 km) southeast of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The village is just north of the A44 road
between Woodstock
and Chipping Norton.
is Old English, recorded in the Domesday Book
in AD 1086 as Chidintone, meaning "estate of a man named Cydda". Historically Cuddington has been an alternative form. It has also been known as Nether Kiddington to distinguish it from the hamlet
of Over Kiddington
0.5 miles (804.7 m) south of the village.
Offa of Mercia
gave Kiddington, with Heythrop
, to Worcester Priory
in about 780. After the Norman conquest of England
the manor
was held successively by the De Salcey, Willescote or Williamscote, Babington, Browne
and Browne-Mostyn families. After the English Reformation
the Browne family were recusants
with their own Roman Catholic chapel
and priest, and they ensured the survival of Catholicism in this part of Oxfordshire.
Kiddington Hall was built in 1673, and in the 18th century "Capability" Brown laid out the gardens. In 1850 the architect Charles Barry
rebuilt the house so completely that no external trace of the original building is visible, added a new stable block and remodelled the gardens.
In 1950 Sir Lawrence Robson, founder of accountancy company Robson Rhodes, bought Kiddington Hall, and on his death in 1982 his son Maurice Robson inherited the house. In September 2009 Maurice placed Kiddington Estate (including Kiddington Hall) on the market for £42 million, his divorce seemingly being the reason for the sale. Jemima Khan
bought the property in Autumn 2010 for a reported £15 million.
of Saint Nicholas
was Norman
, and the original chancel
arch survives from this time. The rest of the church was rebuilt about 1400 in the Decorated Gothic style. The chancel was extended westwards so that, unusually amongst parish church
es, it has one chancel arch in front of another. The rest of the 14th century rebuilding comprises the nave
, a south chapel, south porch and west tower. Later in the Middle Ages a Perpendicular Gothic east window was inserted in the chancel. In 1845 the chancel was rebuilt in its present apsidal
form on the original Norman foundations to designs by George Gilbert Scott
. In 1848 the Perpendicular Gothic east window was removed and re-used to form sedilia
. In 1879 a vestry
and organ chamber were added.
The tower has three bells. James Keene of Woodstock
cast the tenor bell in 1629. Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
cast the treble bell in 1875. The date and founder
of the middle bell are unknown. There is also a smaller bell, now disused, that may have been cast by John Mitchell of Wokingham
in about 1493.
In 1771 the poet and literary historian Rev. Thomas Warton
was appointed rector
of St. Nicholas' church. In 1781 he wrote The History and Antiquities of Kiddington, and in 1785 he was made Poet Laureate
. Warton remained both rector and Poet Laureate until his death in 1790. St. Nicholas' is now combined in one benefice with the parishes of Wootton
and Glympton
.
.
River Glyme
The River Glyme is a river in Oxfordshire, England. It is a tributary of the River Evenlode. It rises about east of Chipping Norton, and flows south east past Old Chalford, Enstone, Kiddington, Glympton and Wootton, Woodstock and through Blenheim Park. At Wootton the Glyme is joined by a...
in the civil parish of Kiddington with Asterleigh
Kiddington with Asterleigh
Kiddington with Asterleigh is a civil parish in West Oxfordshire. It contains the small village of Kiddington, the hamlet of Over Kiddington and Asterleigh, which is the site of an abandoned Mediaeval village at ....
about 7 miles (11.3 km) southeast of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The village is just north of the A44 road
A44 road
The A44 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Oxford in southern England to Aberystwyth in west Wales.-History:The original route of the A44 was Chipping Norton to Aberystwyth. No changes were made to the route of the A44 in the early years...
between Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
and Chipping Norton.
Manor
The toponymToponymy
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...
is Old English, recorded in 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...
in AD 1086 as Chidintone, meaning "estate of a man named Cydda". Historically Cuddington has been an alternative form. It has also been known as Nether Kiddington to distinguish it from the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Over Kiddington
Over Kiddington
Over Kiddington is a hamlet in the civil parish of Kiddington with Asterleigh in Oxfordshire, England, about southeast of Chipping Norton. It is on the main road between Woodstock and Chipping Norton, which since the 1990s has been classified as part of the A44 trunk road ....
0.5 miles (804.7 m) south of the village.
Offa of Mercia
Offa of Mercia
Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa, Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald after defeating the other claimant Beornred. In the early years of Offa's reign it is likely...
gave Kiddington, with Heythrop
Heythrop
Heythrop is a village and civil parish just over east of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Dunthrop.Heythrop had a Norman parish church of Saint Nicholas, but the nave has been demolished and only the chancel has been preserved as a mortuary chapel...
, to Worcester Priory
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
in about 780. After the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
the 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...
was held successively by the De Salcey, Willescote or Williamscote, Babington, Browne
Browne Baronets
There have been ten Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Browne , six in the Baronetage of Great Britain, three in the Baronetage of Ireland and one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. Only one creation is extant as of 2010...
and Browne-Mostyn families. After the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
the Browne family were recusants
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
with their own Roman Catholic chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and priest, and they ensured the survival of Catholicism in this part of Oxfordshire.
Kiddington Hall was built in 1673, and in the 18th century "Capability" Brown laid out the gardens. In 1850 the architect Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
rebuilt the house so completely that no external trace of the original building is visible, added a new stable block and remodelled the gardens.
In 1950 Sir Lawrence Robson, founder of accountancy company Robson Rhodes, bought Kiddington Hall, and on his death in 1982 his son Maurice Robson inherited the house. In September 2009 Maurice placed Kiddington Estate (including Kiddington Hall) on the market for £42 million, his divorce seemingly being the reason for the sale. Jemima Khan
Jemima Khan
Jemima Marcelle Khan is a British writer and campaigner. She is associate editor of the New Statesman and European editor-at-large for Vanity Fair. She has worked as a charity fundraiser, human rights campaigner and contributing writer for British newspapers and magazines...
bought the property in Autumn 2010 for a reported £15 million.
Parish church
The Church of England parish churchChurch 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:...
of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
was 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...
, and the original 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...
arch survives from this time. The rest of the church was rebuilt about 1400 in the Decorated Gothic style. The chancel was extended westwards so that, unusually amongst 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....
es, it has one chancel arch in front of another. The rest of the 14th century rebuilding comprises the 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...
, a south chapel, south porch and west tower. Later in the Middle Ages a Perpendicular Gothic east window was inserted in the chancel. In 1845 the chancel was rebuilt in its present apsidal
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
form on the original Norman foundations to designs by George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
. In 1848 the Perpendicular Gothic east window was removed and re-used to form sedilia
Sedilia
Sedilia , in ecclesiastical architecture, is the term used to describe stone seats, usually to be found on the south side of an altar, often in the chancel, for the use of the officiating priests...
. In 1879 a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
and organ chamber were added.
The tower has three bells. James Keene of Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
cast the tenor bell in 1629. Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
cast the treble bell in 1875. The date and founder
Bellfounding
Bellfounding is the casting of bells in a foundry for use in churches, clocks, and public buildings. A practitioner of the craft is called a bellmaker or bellfounder. The process in Europe dates to the 4th or 5th century. In early times, when a town produced a bell it was a momentous occasion in...
of the middle bell are unknown. There is also a smaller bell, now disused, that may have been cast by John Mitchell of Wokingham
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
in about 1493.
In 1771 the poet and literary historian Rev. Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Nicholas' church. In 1781 he wrote The History and Antiquities of Kiddington, and in 1785 he was made Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
. Warton remained both rector and Poet Laureate until his death in 1790. St. Nicholas' is now combined in one benefice with the parishes of Wootton
Wootton, West Oxfordshire
Wootton is a village and civil parish on the River Glyme about north of Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The village is sometimes referred to as Wootton-by-Woodstock to distinguish it from Wootton, Vale of White Horse, which was in Berkshire but was transferred to Oxfordshire in the 1974 local authority...
and Glympton
Glympton
Glympton is a village and civil parish on the River Glyme about north of Woodstock, Oxfordshire.-Prehistory:Grim's Ditch in the southern part of the parish, just north of Grim's Dyke Farm, was dug in the 1st century. The surviving section is about long....
.
School
Kiddington parish school was built in 1856. It is now a private kindergartenKindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
.