Baulking
Encyclopedia
Baulking or Balking is a village and civil parish about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Faringdon
in the Vale of White Horse
district of Oxfordshire
. It was part of Berkshire
until the 1974 Boundary Changes
transferred it to Oxfordshire
.
The parish is bounded to the north and north-west by the River Ock
, to the south by its tributary Stutfield Brook and to the east by field boundaries. The village is arranged along a large, elongated village green
running north – south, on the side of a slight rise of land bounded on two sides by a bend in the river.
Balking is an ancient form of the toponym
, dating from the 10th century. Other forms from the same century were Bedelacing and Bedelakinges. 12th century forms included Badeleking and Badeking. Further forms were Batheleking in the 13th century, Bauking in the 16th century and Bawlkin in the 17th century.
of land at Baulking to his servant Cuthred, and it was said that Cuthred gave the land to the Benedictine
Abingdon Abbey
. By 1187 the manor
had passed to the lords of Kingston Lisle
, with whom it remained until the 20th century.
of Saint Nicholas
was built at the beginning of the 13th century as a dependent chapel of Uffington
. The chancel
has Early English Gothic lancet window
s. In the 14th century diagonal buttress
es were added to the church and two Decorated Gothic windows were added in the south wall of the nave
. The Perpendicular Gothic window in the north wall of the nave was added late in the 15th century. The oak pulpit
is Jacobean
and came from Grittleton
in Wiltshire
. The nave roof is also Jacobean. St. Nicholas' Communion
plate includes a chalice
made in 1583.
Baulking was made an ecclesiastical parish separate from Uffington in 1846. St. Nicholas' is now once again part of the Uffington Benefice, along with the parishes of Shellingford
and Woolstone
.
The common land
s of Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone were enclosed
in 1776.
The Great Western Main Line
was built through the southern part of the parish and opened in 1840. The line immediately abuts the southern tip of the village.
Baulking village school was built in 1877. It is no longer used as a school.
Faringdon
Faringdon is a market town in the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. It is on the edge of the Thames Valley, between the River Thames and the Ridgeway...
in the Vale of White Horse
Vale of White Horse
The Vale of White Horse is a local government district of Oxfordshire in England. The main town is Abingdon, other places include Faringdon and Wantage. There are 68 parishes within the district...
district of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. It was part of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
until the 1974 Boundary Changes
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
transferred it to Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
The parish is bounded to the north and north-west by the River Ock
River Ock
The River Ock is a small English river which is a tributary of the River Thames. It has as its catchment area the Vale of White Horse, a low-lying and wide valley in South Oxfordshire and flows into the River Thames, at Abingdon on the reach above Culham Lock.-Course:The River Ock rises near the...
, to the south by its tributary Stutfield Brook and to the east by field boundaries. The village is arranged along a large, elongated village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
running north – south, on the side of a slight rise of land bounded on two sides by a bend in the river.
Balking is an ancient form of the toponym
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
, dating from the 10th century. Other forms from the same century were Bedelacing and Bedelakinges. 12th century forms included Badeleking and Badeking. Further forms were Batheleking in the 13th century, Bauking in the 16th century and Bawlkin in the 17th century.
Manor
In AD 948 King Eadred gave five hidesHide (unit)
The hide was originally an amount of land sufficient to support a household, but later in Anglo-Saxon England became a unit used in assessing land for liability to "geld", or land tax. The geld would be collected at a stated rate per hide...
of land at Baulking to his servant Cuthred, and it was said that Cuthred gave the land to the Benedictine
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
. By 1187 the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
had passed to the lords of Kingston Lisle
Kingston Lisle
Kingston Lisle is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse, England. Kingston Lisle was part of Berkshire until the 1974 local government boundary changes transferred the Vale of White Horse to Oxfordshire.-Location:...
, with whom it remained until the 20th century.
Church
The Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
was built at the beginning of the 13th century as a dependent chapel of Uffington
Uffington, Oxfordshire
Uffington is a village and civil parish about south of Faringdon. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire. Uffington is most commonly known as the location of the Uffington White Horse hill figure....
. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
has Early English Gothic lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s. In the 14th century diagonal buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es were added to the church and two Decorated Gothic windows were added in the south wall of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
. The Perpendicular Gothic window in the north wall of the nave was added late in the 15th century. The oak pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
and came from Grittleton
Grittleton
Grittleton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, 7 miles NW of Chippenham, Wiltshire at .The Grittleton House estate is the home of Grittleton House School, which was founded in 1951....
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The nave roof is also Jacobean. St. Nicholas' Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
plate includes a chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
made in 1583.
Baulking was made an ecclesiastical parish separate from Uffington in 1846. St. Nicholas' is now once again part of the Uffington Benefice, along with the parishes of Shellingford
Shellingford
Shellingford, historically also spelt Shillingford is a village and civil parish about south-east of Faringdon in the Vale of White Horse. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 Local Government Act transferred it to Oxfordshire....
and Woolstone
Woolstone, Oxfordshire
Woolstone is a village and civil parish about south of Faringdon in the Vale of White Horse. Woolstone was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire....
.
Economic and social history
Baulking was an ancient market town, with market day on Thursday. In 1219 the market was changed to Tuesday and by 1792 it had ceased to be held.The common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
s of Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone were enclosed
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
in 1776.
The Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
was built through the southern part of the parish and opened in 1840. The line immediately abuts the southern tip of the village.
Baulking village school was built in 1877. It is no longer used as a school.