how we began
This is how we began. In January 2015 a simple notice was put into four local newsletters that cover the areas of Yarnton, Begbroke, Kidlington and Woodstock. The notice asked the reader "Are you interested in the local history and archaeology of your village? This is a pre-announcement that a new group is about to be formed for 2015 that will focus not only on the history of our villages but on the below ground history - the archaeology. This will be a practical archaeology 'digging up history' group. We will meet during the daylight hours. If you are interested and would like to join us in this venture and live within the Yarnton, Kidlington, Begbroke or Woodstock areas then please do contact us.
From this notice over twenty local people expressed an interest so a meeting was arranged at the Highwayman (a local pub), Kidlington for 11.15am on a Saturday morning in February. Twelve people attended. These twelve people have formed the back bone of our group. They come from each of the villages specified above, some have had a little experience - but all are very enthusiastic about local history and more importantly interested in the history of our local area - below the ground.
Over the last two years our researches have progressed. We have now completed five test pits which have confirmed to us that our area is rich in history - some visible and some still hidden just waiting for us to ask the right questions, and confirm with a dig in the right places.
Our research, walks and test pits have shown that there was a quarry just outside Thrupp this is easily visible by taking a walk from The Jolly Boatman pub - next to the Oxford Canal crossing the canal and taking the footpath across the fields towards the spire of St Mary's Church, Kidlington. From this quarry most of the old buildings in Kidlington, Yarnton and Begbroke obtained the stone to build buildings prior to the canal being dug in the 1780's. If you visit the Highwayman pub most of this building was built from stone from this quarry. At least three bridges over the canal are built from the same stone. Bridges 228, 227 and Sparrow gap bridge near to the Jolly Boatman.
We have dug two test pits at the Highwayman where we found that there was no glass at all in the first test pit. It is just as important to note what is not there as to note what is. We have records of the test pits dug in the Highwayman and will be available soon online under the heading of A Dirty Weekend at the Highwayman. We dug our first test pit here over the Easter weekend of 2015. Our second was dug later in the year further into the garden near to the canal, and a demolished wall which had been the distribution centre for coal delivered along the canal until the 1930's.
What are we doing now? Our current researches are again focusing on the Oxford Canal. We have found where the Navvies who dug the canal camped. The same site was also used for the GWR (Great Western Railway) while they built the railway through our area. We believe the English Civil War soldiers also camped in the same area. We have found structures built by the Navvies and hope to get these recognised and recorded by Historic England. We still have much to do, find & record.
If you wish to join us on our journey through history get in touch.
Chris Turley June 2017
From this notice over twenty local people expressed an interest so a meeting was arranged at the Highwayman (a local pub), Kidlington for 11.15am on a Saturday morning in February. Twelve people attended. These twelve people have formed the back bone of our group. They come from each of the villages specified above, some have had a little experience - but all are very enthusiastic about local history and more importantly interested in the history of our local area - below the ground.
Over the last two years our researches have progressed. We have now completed five test pits which have confirmed to us that our area is rich in history - some visible and some still hidden just waiting for us to ask the right questions, and confirm with a dig in the right places.
Our research, walks and test pits have shown that there was a quarry just outside Thrupp this is easily visible by taking a walk from The Jolly Boatman pub - next to the Oxford Canal crossing the canal and taking the footpath across the fields towards the spire of St Mary's Church, Kidlington. From this quarry most of the old buildings in Kidlington, Yarnton and Begbroke obtained the stone to build buildings prior to the canal being dug in the 1780's. If you visit the Highwayman pub most of this building was built from stone from this quarry. At least three bridges over the canal are built from the same stone. Bridges 228, 227 and Sparrow gap bridge near to the Jolly Boatman.
We have dug two test pits at the Highwayman where we found that there was no glass at all in the first test pit. It is just as important to note what is not there as to note what is. We have records of the test pits dug in the Highwayman and will be available soon online under the heading of A Dirty Weekend at the Highwayman. We dug our first test pit here over the Easter weekend of 2015. Our second was dug later in the year further into the garden near to the canal, and a demolished wall which had been the distribution centre for coal delivered along the canal until the 1930's.
What are we doing now? Our current researches are again focusing on the Oxford Canal. We have found where the Navvies who dug the canal camped. The same site was also used for the GWR (Great Western Railway) while they built the railway through our area. We believe the English Civil War soldiers also camped in the same area. We have found structures built by the Navvies and hope to get these recognised and recorded by Historic England. We still have much to do, find & record.
If you wish to join us on our journey through history get in touch.
Chris Turley June 2017