Aston, Oxfordshire

Aston

St James' parish church
Aston
Aston shown within Oxfordshire
Population 1,374 (parish, including Cote, Shifford, Chimney)(2011 Census)
OS grid reference SP3403
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Bampton
Postcode district OX18
Dialling code 01993
Police Thames Valley
Fire Oxfordshire
Ambulance South Central
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament
Website The Parish of Aston, Cote, Chimney & Shifford

Aston is a village about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Witney in West Oxfordshire, England. The village is part of the civil parish of Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney. The southern boundary of the parish is the River Thames. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,374.[1]

History

Until the 19th century Aston was a township in the ancient parish of Bampton.[2] In 1866 the civil parish of Aston and Cote was separated from Bampton. In 1931 Aston and Cote was united with Chimney were united to form the civil parish of Aston Bampton, which was merged with Shifford in 1954 to form the parish of Aston Bampton and Shifford.[3] The parish was later renamed Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney.

Parish church

The Church of England parish church of Saint James was built in 1839[4] with only a low squat tower and one bell. Later a spire and second bell were added. The Gothic Revival architect Joseph Clarke restored the building in 1862,[4] even though it was only 23 years old at the time. The architect HGW Drinkwater made further alterations in 1885–89.[4]

The present ring of six bells was cast by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough in 1883, the two original bells being taken in part exchange. Two brass plates in the church commemorate the names of local clergy and churchwardens at the time of the bells' dedication and benefactors who contributed to the cost, the balance of which was raised by public subscription. In 1992 the bells were restored and re-hung by White's of Appleton following two years of local fund-raising.

In 1857 Aston, Cote and Shifford were made part of the ecclesiastical parish of Bampton Aston. It now forms part of the benefice of Bampton with Clanfield,[5] which includes also the parish of Lew.[6]

Pottery

Aston Pottery[7] was founded in 1990 and now employs 50 people producing over 120 different patterns on 45 different shapes. The pottery also has a café and gardens.

References

War memorial at the centre of Aston
  1. ↑ "Area: Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Crossley & Currie, 1996, pp. 6–62
  3. ↑ Crossley & Currie, 1996, pp. 62–80
  4. 1 2 3 Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 426
  5. ↑ Crossley & Currie, 1996, pp. 62–80
  6. ↑ Archbishops' Council (2015). "Benefice of Bampton with Clanfield". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Aston Pottery

Sources

  • Crossley, Alan; Currie, C.R.J. (eds.); Baggs, A.P.; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C. (1996). A History of the County of Oxford. Victoria County History. 13: Bampton Hundred (Part One). London: Oxford University Press for the Institute of Historical Research. pp. 6–80. ISBN 978-0-19722-790-9.
  • Sherwood, Jennifer; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974). Oxfordshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 426. ISBN 0-14-071045-0.
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