Marston, Oxford
Encyclopedia
Marston is a village and civil parish about 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of the centre of Oxford
, England
. It was absorbed within the city boundaries in 1991. It is commonly called Old Marston to distinguish it from the suburb of New Marston
that developed between St. Clement's
and the village in the 19th and 20th centuries. The A40
Northern Bypass, part of the Oxford Ring Road
, passes just north of Marston village.
is said to come from 'Marsh-town', because of the low-lying nature of the land near the River Cherwell
, which in earlier times was liable to frequent flooding.
The parish used to be part of the manor of Headington
. The Church of England parish church
of St Nicholas
began as a chapel, first mentioned in a charter of 1122 by which it was granted to the Augustinian canons of St Frideswide's Priory. The building dates from the 12th century, and has substantial additions in the 15th century.
The village played an important part in the Civil War
, during the siege of Oxford
. While the Royalist forces were besieged in the city, which had been used by King Charles I
as his capital, the Parliamentary forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax
had quarters in Marston, and used the church tower as a lookout post for viewing the enemy's artillery positions in what is now the University Parks
. Oliver Cromwell visited Fairfax at what is now known as "Cromwell House" at 17 Mill Lane, and the Treaty for the Surrender of Oxford was signed there in 1646.
In the 20th century expansion of Oxford, new housing followed the Marston Road
from St Clement's towards Marston, which was soon absorbed by the city. New Marston became a separate parish in the 1950s.
Old Marston parish become part of the City of Oxford in 1991. It retains its parish council.
Marston has had a number of notable residents, including members of the Oxford penicillin
team: Howard Florey and his second wife Margaret Jennings, and Norman Heatley
.
and St Cross Road
near the Science Area
of Oxford University. It is also possible to walk on footpaths across the meadows to the Parks, either via Mesopotamia Walk or Rainbow Bridge
.
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was absorbed within the city boundaries in 1991. It is commonly called Old Marston to distinguish it from the suburb of New Marston
New Marston
New Marston is a suburb about northeast of the centre of Oxford, England.-History:New Marston is built on land that was originally part of the manor of Headington. It was rural until the 19th century, when housing began to develop along Marston Road from St. Clement's towards the village of Marston...
that developed between St. Clement's
St Clement's, Oxford
St Clement's is a district in Oxford, England, on the east bank of the River Cherwell. Its main road, St Clement's Street , links The Plain near Magdalen Bridge with London Place at the foot of Headington Hill at the junction with Marston Road to the north...
and the village in the 19th and 20th centuries. The A40
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
Northern Bypass, part of the Oxford Ring Road
Oxford Ring Road
The Oxford ring road is a ring road around the city of Oxford, England. It is a dual carriageway for most of its length apart from a short section to the North between the Woodstock and Banbury Roads....
, passes just north of Marston village.
History
The toponymToponymy
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...
is said to come from 'Marsh-town', because of the low-lying nature of the land near the River Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
, which in earlier times was liable to frequent flooding.
The parish used to be part of the manor of Headington
Headington
Headington is a suburb of Oxford, England. It is at the top of Headington Hill overlooking the city in the Thames Valley below. The life of the large residential area is centred upon London Road, the main road between London and Oxford.-History:...
. The Church of England parish church
Church 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 St 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...
began as a chapel, first mentioned in a charter of 1122 by which it was granted to the Augustinian canons of St Frideswide's Priory. The building dates from the 12th century, and has substantial additions in the 15th century.
The village played an important part in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, during the siege of Oxford
Siege of Oxford
The Siege of Oxford was a Parliamentarian victory late in the First English Civil War. Whereas the title of the event may suggest a single siege, there were in fact three individual engagements that took place over a period of three years....
. While the Royalist forces were besieged in the city, which had been used by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
as his capital, the Parliamentary forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
had quarters in Marston, and used the church tower as a lookout post for viewing the enemy's artillery positions in what is now the University Parks
University Parks
The Oxford University Parks, more normally the University Parks, or just The Parks to members of the local community, is one large parkland area slightly northeast of the Oxford city centre in England...
. Oliver Cromwell visited Fairfax at what is now known as "Cromwell House" at 17 Mill Lane, and the Treaty for the Surrender of Oxford was signed there in 1646.
In the 20th century expansion of Oxford, new housing followed the Marston Road
Marston Road
Marston Road is a road in the east of Oxford, England. It links the junction of St Clements and the foot of Headington Hill to the south with the suburb of New Marston to the north. This is a mini-roundabout connecting with Cherwell Drive and Headley Way at the northern end. To the north is the ...
from St Clement's towards Marston, which was soon absorbed by the city. New Marston became a separate parish in the 1950s.
Old Marston parish become part of the City of Oxford in 1991. It retains its parish council.
Marston has had a number of notable residents, including members of the Oxford penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
team: Howard Florey and his second wife Margaret Jennings, and Norman Heatley
Norman Heatley
Norman George Heatley was a member of the team of Oxford University scientists who developed penicillin.He was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk, and as a boy was an enthusiastic sailor of a small boat on the River Deben; an experience which gave him a lifelong love of sailing...
.
Amenities
A cycle route links Marston with central Oxford via the meadows west of New Marston, over a bridge on the River Cherwell, past the southern boundary of The Parks to the junction of South Parks RoadSouth Parks Road
South Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England. It runs east-west past the main Science Area of the University of Oxford, where many of the science departments are located....
and St Cross Road
St Cross Road
St Cross Road is a road in Oxford, England. It connects South Parks Road to the north and Longwall Street to the south, where it also adjoins Holywell Street....
near the Science Area
Science Area, Oxford
The Science Area in Oxford, England is where most of the science departments at Oxford University are located.-Overview:The main part of the Science Area is located to the south of the University Parks and to the north of South Parks Road, bounded by Parks Road to the west. Some departments are...
of Oxford University. It is also possible to walk on footpaths across the meadows to the Parks, either via Mesopotamia Walk or Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge, Oxford
Rainbow Bridge is a curved footbridge over the River Cherwell in the University Parks, Oxford, England. The bridge is made of concrete with metal railings, in the shape of a rainbow, hence the name...
.