Eaton, Oxfordshire
Encyclopedia
Eaton is a hamlet in the civil parish
of Appleton-with-Eaton
, about 5 miles from Abingdon
and 6 miles from Oxford
. Eaton was part of Berkshire
until the 1974 boundary changes
transferred it to Oxfordshire.
Eaton is located on a single-track road leading to the River Thames
at Bablock Hythe
, where there was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the river. The village is built on land belonging to St John's College, Oxford
, and is primarily a farming community.
The Manor House, now a farmhouse, was built in 1677 by St John's College as a refuge for dons trying to escape the Plague. The five original farms have since been amalgamated into two - Manor Farm and West Farm.
The Eight Bells is a pub in the centre of the village. It sports a darts team and an Aunt Sally
team, and is reputed to be haunted by a ghost known as Libby.
Whites Coaches bus route 63 serves Eaton, running between Oxford
and Southmoor
via Eaton on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Whites Coaches further runs one bus a week (on Thursdays), route 43, from Eaton to Abingdon, and back again.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Appleton-with-Eaton
Appleton-with-Eaton
Appleton-with-Eaton is a civil parish in the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire, England, south west of Oxford. It consists of Appleton and Eaton, on the south bank of the River Thames. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 897...
, about 5 miles from Abingdon
Abingdon
Abingdon may refer to the following places:In Australia :* Abingdon, Queensland, a place in Northern QueenslandIn Britain:*Abingdon, Oxfordshire**Abingdon School**Abingdon Abbey**Abingdon Lock**Abingdon Bridge**Abingdon Air & Country Show...
and 6 miles from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. Eaton 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.
Eaton is located on a single-track road leading to the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Bablock Hythe
Bablock Hythe
Bablock Hythe is a small hamlet in Oxfordshire, situated 5 miles west of Oxford city centre. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire. There was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the River Thames at Bablock Hythe on the reach above Pinkhill Lock....
, where there was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the river. The village is built on land belonging to St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
, and is primarily a farming community.
The Manor House, now a farmhouse, was built in 1677 by St John's College as a refuge for dons trying to escape the Plague. The five original farms have since been amalgamated into two - Manor Farm and West Farm.
The Eight Bells is a pub in the centre of the village. It sports a darts team and an Aunt Sally
Aunt Sally
thumb|right|312px|A drawing from the 1911 edition of Whiteley's General Catalogue.Aunt Sally is a traditional throwing game. The term is often used metaphorically to mean something that is a target for criticism...
team, and is reputed to be haunted by a ghost known as Libby.
Whites Coaches bus route 63 serves Eaton, running between Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Southmoor
Southmoor
Southmoor is a village in the civil parish of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor, about west of Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Traditionally part of Berkshire, the 1974 boundary changes transferred local government to Oxfordshire....
via Eaton on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Whites Coaches further runs one bus a week (on Thursdays), route 43, from Eaton to Abingdon, and back again.