Arncott
| Arncott | |
| Oxfordshire | |
|---|---|
 Green Lane, Upper Arncott | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP611173 |
| Location: | 51°51’4"N, 1°6’47"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,738 (2011) |
| Post town: | Bicester |
| Postcode: | OX25 |
| Dialling code: | 01869 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cherwell |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Banbury |
| Website: | parish-council.com/arncott |
Arncott or Arncot is a village about three and a half miles south-east of Bicester in Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,738.
Two neighbourhoods make the village up: Lower and Upper Arncott. Upper Arncott is the larger neighbourhood and includes the village green, recreation ground, shop and most of Arncott's housing. Lower Arncott is close to River Ray and includes the Tally Ho hotel and the Plough, a pub.[1] Upper and Lower Arncott are separated by the Bicester Military Railway.
The name of the village comes from the Old English Earnigcote meaning "Earn's Cottage" (10th century).[2]
Upper Arncott
In 983 Æthelred the Unready granted the manor of Upper Arncott to the Benedictine Abingdon Abbey. As a result it became known as Arncot Abbatis. In 1538 the abbey was suppressed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries and surrendered Upper Arncott to the Crown. When the church of Osney Abbey was made the cathedral church of the new Diocese of Oxford the Crown granted Upper Arncott to it as part of its endowment. However, when the church of the former Priory of St Frideswide, Oxford replaced Osney as Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Upper Arncott reverted to the Crown. The Crown then sold Upper Arncott to a local family, the Martins.[2]
Lower Arncott
The Domesday Book records that in 1086 William son of Mann held Lower Arncott. In the 12th century Roger of Caux granted Lower Arncott to the Augustinian Missenden Abbey to say Mass for his late parents. In 1232 the abbey sold Lower Arncott to another Augustinian house, Bicester Priory. As a result it became known as Arncot Prioris. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Crown granted Lower Arncott to Thomas Martin of Ambrosden, a member of the same family that bought Upper Arncott.[2]
The Abingdon Chronicle, a version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, records that Adelelm of Jumièges, Abbott of Abingdon 1071–83, let Upper Arncott to the Norman barons Robert D'Oyly and Roger d'Ivry. The cartulary of Osney Abbey records that D'Oyly and d'Ivry in turn granted Upper Arncott to Saint George's church in Oxford Castle. In about 1149 Henry D'Oyly transferred Upper Arncott to Osney Abbey, which remained lord of the manor until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.[2]
Chapel and mission room
A Methodist congregation developed in Arncott from 1823. A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in Upper Arncott in 1834[3] and enlarged in 1847.[2] It became Upper Arncott Methodist church.[4] It has since closed, to be converted into offices..
The Church of England parish of Ambrosden includes Arncott, which therefore does not have its own parish church. The Rev Charles Bagshawe, Vicar of Ambrosden 1866–84, ran a mission room in Arncott.[2] The mission room has since closed and Arncott is served by the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, a mile and a half away in Ambrosden.
Economic and social history
In 1281, Bicester Priory inclosed some farmland at Lower Arncott. However, an open field system of farming continued in both manors until an inclosure award was made in 1816.[2]
A parish school was opened in Ambrosden in 1818 and Arncott had its own school by 1833. Both seem to have ceased operating by 1854, but temporary schools existed in both Ambrosden and Arncott in 1868. A permanent parish school built in Ambrosden was opened in 1876 and in the same year an infant school was opened in the parish mission room in Arncott. In 1920 Arncott School was closed and the children transferred to Ambrosden.[2]
In 1941, during the Second World War the Central Ordnance Depot was built[2] along with the Bicester Military Railway to link it with the Varsity Line of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway west of Bicester Town. The depot is now run by the Defence Support Group.
Arncott Bridge across the River Ray on the road between Arncott and Ambrosden is a five-arched bridge built in the 18th century.[2]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Arncott) |
References
- ↑ "Welcome to the Plough pub & restaurant". Arncott Parish Council. https://www.parish-council.com/arncott/index.asp?pageid=500974.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Lobel 1957, pp. 15-30
- ↑ National Heritage List 1200145: Methodist Chapel (Grade II listing)
- ↑ "Arncott". Oxfordshire Churches & Chapels. Brian Curtis. http://www.oxfordshirechurches.info/arncott.htm.
- A History of the County of Oxford - Volume 5 pp 15-30: Parishes: Ambrosden (Victoria County History)