Great Haseley
Encyclopedia
Great Haseley is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire
. The village is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) southwest of Thame
. The parish includes the hamlets
of Latchford, Little Haseley and North Weston and the house, chapel and park of Rycote
. The parish stretches six miles along a northeast - southwest axis, bounded by the River Thame
in the north, Haseley Brook in the south and partly by a boundary hedge with Little Milton
parish in the west.
of 1086 records that a Norman
nobleman, Miles Crispin
, held the manor
of Great Haseley. In the 13th century the manor belonged to Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk
. In 1332 Edward III
granted Great Haseley to William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton
.
The Old Rectory
was built in the 14th or 15th century. It was rebuilt in 1846 but retains a 14th century window, a 15th century window and its 15th century hall. Great Haseley tithe barn
was built in about 1400. It was originally 14 bays
long, but only seven bays survive.
The Manor House
was built in the 17th century, altered in about 1700 and has a Georgian
stable block.
A school for the boys of the village was founded in 1600, enlarged in the 18th century and rebuilt in 1902.
Great Haseley has a tower mill
, now derelict, about 600 yards (548.6 m) north of the village.
The village is the birthplace of Alfred St. George Hamersley
, a nineteenth century barrister, English MP and English rugby union
international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New Zealand
and in British Columbia
.
of Saint Peter
dates from about 1200. The three-bay
arcades
linking the nave
with the north and south aisles are in a Transitional style from Norman
to Early English Gothic, as is an external doorway that has been re-set on the west side of the bell-tower. The chancel
and its arch were built late in the 13th century, and it retains all of its Decorated Gothic windows from that time. In the 14th century each aisle was extended eastwards with a fourth bay, and at the end of each aisle is a chapel
with a squint
into the chancel. The northeast chapel is Perpendicular Gothic, as are the bell-tower and the clerestorey that was added to the nave. The Gothic Revival architect
Thomas Garner
restored the chancel in 1897.
The tower had a ring
of four bells by 1552. In 1641 two of these bells were re-cast and a fifth bell was added. The other two original bells were re-cast in the 1690s and 1774, and a sixth bell was added in 1775. In 1925 two of the bells were re-cast and all six were re-hung.
St. Peter's parish is now part of a single benefice with the parishes of Great Milton
and Little Milton
.
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is a local government district in Oxfordshire, England. Its council is based in Crowmarsh Gifford, just outside Wallingford....
. The village is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) southwest of Thame
Thame
Thame is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about southwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It derives its toponym from the River Thame which flows past the north side of the town....
. The parish includes the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Latchford, Little Haseley and North Weston and the house, chapel and park of Rycote
Rycote
Rycote is a hamlet southwest of Thame in Oxfordshire.-Saint Michael's chapel:Richard and Sybil Quartermayne, lord and lady of the manor of Rycote, founded Saint Michael's chapel as a chantry in 1449. It is a Perpendicular Gothic building with a chancel, nave and west tower...
. The parish stretches six miles along a northeast - southwest axis, bounded by the River Thame
River Thame
The River Thame is a river in Southern England. It is a tributary of the larger and better-known River Thames.The general course of the River Thame is north-east to south-west and the distance from its source to the River Thames is about 40 miles...
in the north, Haseley Brook in the south and partly by a boundary hedge with Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
parish in the west.
History
The Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 records that a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
nobleman, Miles Crispin
Miles Crispin
Miles Crispin , also known as Miles or Milo of Wallingford, was a wealthy Norman landowner, particularly associated with Wallingford Castle in Berkshire...
, held 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...
of Great Haseley. In the 13th century the manor belonged to Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was the son of Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk and his first wife, Juliana de Vere. Although his father died 1176 or 1177, Roger did not succeed to the earldom of Norfolk until 1189 for his claim had been disputed by his stepmother for her sons by Earl Hugh in the reign of Henry II...
. In 1332 Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
granted Great Haseley to William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton
William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton
William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton, KG was an English nobleman and military commander.-Lineage:He was the fifth son of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Elizabeth of Rhuddlan. He had a twin brother, Edward...
.
The Old Rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was built in the 14th or 15th century. It was rebuilt in 1846 but retains a 14th century window, a 15th century window and its 15th century hall. Great Haseley tithe barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
was built in about 1400. It was originally 14 bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
long, but only seven bays survive.
The Manor House
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was built in the 17th century, altered in about 1700 and has a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
stable block.
A school for the boys of the village was founded in 1600, enlarged in the 18th century and rebuilt in 1902.
Great Haseley has a tower mill
Tower mill
A tower mill is a type of windmill which consists of a brick or stone tower, on top of which sits a roof or cap which can be turned to bring the sails into the wind....
, now derelict, about 600 yards (548.6 m) north of the village.
The village is the birthplace of Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley was a nineteenth-century solicitor and entrepreneur of great renown, an English MP and perhaps most notably an English rugby union international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New...
, a nineteenth century barrister, English MP and English rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Parish 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 Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
dates from about 1200. The three-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
linking 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...
with the north and south aisles are in a Transitional style from Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
to Early English Gothic, as is an external doorway that has been re-set on the west side of the bell-tower. 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...
and its arch were built late in the 13th century, and it retains all of its Decorated Gothic windows from that time. In the 14th century each aisle was extended eastwards with a fourth bay, and at the end of each aisle is a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
with a squint
Hagioscope
A hagioscope or squint, in architecture, is an opening through the wall of a church in an oblique direction, to enable the worshippers in the transepts or other parts of the church, from which the altar was not visible, to see the elevation of the host.Hagioscopes were also sometimes known as...
into the chancel. The northeast chapel is Perpendicular Gothic, as are the bell-tower and the clerestorey that was added to the nave. The Gothic Revival architect
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
Thomas Garner
Thomas Garner
Thomas Garner was one of the leading English Gothic revival architects of the Victorian era. His name is usually mentioned in relation to his almost 30-year partnership with George Frederick Bodley...
restored the chancel in 1897.
The tower had a ring
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
of four bells by 1552. In 1641 two of these bells were re-cast and a fifth bell was added. The other two original bells were re-cast in the 1690s and 1774, and a sixth bell was added in 1775. In 1925 two of the bells were re-cast and all six were re-hung.
St. Peter's parish is now part of a single benefice with the parishes of Great Milton
Great Milton
Great Milton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about east of Oxford.-History:The toponym appears to refer to the "Middle Town" of a group....
and Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
.