“Fiction is strange, but facts more strangely fall, And Charlbury names eclipse in strangeness all, Pass we then, reader, thro’ each lane and street, And mark the curiosities we meet.” Poem from an anonymous author, 1876 Tourists passing through Charlbury might easily assume that they’d just found another pretty Oxfordshire town, but they’d be missing something. Beyond the exterior of Cotswold stone …
Eynsham’s History of Robbers, Rabbles and Riots
“As regards Eynsham I can only confirm that poor old town is the most Godforsaken hole in England”. A wandering churchman, Oxford Times 28th October 1876 That does seem a little harsh doesn’t it? He’d obviously never been to Carterton! I suppose he could have just been having a bad day when he visited, but perhaps he was offended by Eynsham’s …
Banbury’s History of Prudes, Drunkards and Murderers
Banbury’s a nice place to be, right? It’s full of friendly people, lovely parks, and fun events like the Old Town Parties. Don’t be fooled though, Banbury has hosted a millennium of strife, warfare and some horrible, horrible murders. … and drunk people. Lots of drunk people. The people of Banbury have never hesitated to stand up for themselves, a …
Abingdon’s History of Madness, Murder and Mayhem
“Abingdon is a typical country town of the smaller order — quiet, eminently respectable, clean, and desperately dull.” – Jerome K Jerome in Three Men in a Boat, 1889. Three Men in a Boat may be a brilliant read, but it’s amazing how wrong Jerome K Jerome was when he wrote that down. Abingdon, dull? Sure people might just associate …
Chipping Norton’s History of Battles, Bigamy and Bizarreness
Chipping Norton. What does the name mean to you? Most people would probably mention the cluster of famous millionaires associated with the town despite not living here, or the fact that aspirin was discovered nearby. Unsuprisingly there’s a lot more to be said of Chippy – the town has been the backdrop of a jaw dropping amount of fighting, crime and scandal, …
Burford’s History of Murder, Mistresses and Misbehaviour
“Rich in unspoiled treasures of the past, its long street, which leaves the Windrush rippling among the willows and mounts the steep hill, has something rare to show us at every step.” That quote, featured in the section on Burford in Arthur Mee’s 1931 book The King’s England, goes a long way to explain why the town has become such …