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Heyford, Lower (St. Mary)

HEYFORD, LOWER (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Bicester, hundred of Ploughley, county of Oxford, 6 miles (N. E. by N.) from Woodstock; containing, with the hamlet of Calcutt, 562 inhabitants. The church of Heyford belonged to the abbots of Ensham, by whom, it is believed, the ancient bridge with pointed arches was erected over the Cherwell, whence the parish was at one period designated Heyford ad Pontem. The parish comprises 1654a. 3r. 7p., of which about 1350 acres are arable, 285 pasture, and 19 woodland. On the Cherwell, which bounds the parish on the west, is a large corn-mill; and on the Oxford canal, which passes through it, are four wharfs: the Oxford and Rugby railway, also, runs near the village. A market for corn, held weekly on Monday, was established in October, 1845, at which time fairs, also, were appointed to be held on the last Mondays in January, March, April, May, July, and October. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £10. 13. 1½.; net income, £496; patrons, the President and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Oxford: the tithes were commuted for land and money payments in 1801; and there is a good glebe-house. Parts of the church are very ancient; it was consecrated by Wulfwin, Bishop of Dorchester, about the year 1060, and contains portions of the progressive styles of architecture down to the Tudor window: there are three piscinæ, and the staircase of the rood-loft. The Wesleyans have a place of worship in the village, and another in the hamlet of Calcutt. A small school is supported by the Countess of Jersey, and a second has a trifling endowment; there is also a labourers' benefit society, whose fund is about £200.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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