Moreton, Thame, Oxfordshire
Encyclopedia
Moreton is a hamlet
1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Thame
in Oxfordshire
, England.
of 1086.
In the past the main occupation of the inhabitants was farming — there being at least seven farms and more than 30 cottages, the majority housing the farm labourers. A decline in agriculture greatly reduced the size of the village and eventually led to the closure of the Methodist chapel, the school and the shop. The bottom of the decline came in the 1950s and today there are about 50 houses and cottages, plus two farms and a smallholding, all family-owned and run.
The majority of Moreton’s older buildings cluster at the east end of the hamlet surrounding the green and the two ponds. They then trail thinly up to the war memorial which was erected in 1920. Beyond the war memorial is a small, but mixed, collection of houses.
Although to car users Moreton only has one road in and the same road out, its roads were passable once. Until well into the 18th century, the main thoroughfare from Aylesbury
to Tetsworth
and Wallingford ran through Moreton. The needlemakers of Long Crendon
made use of this road twice a year to send their goods by stagecoach
for sale in London. Before that, it was used by the Roundheads, who would have passed through carrying the mortally wounded John Hampden
from the Battle of Chalgrove Field
to Thame in 1643.
Like many villages and towns in Oxfordshire, Moreton was pillaged during the English Civil War
. This era is the one that appears to have produced the ‘troubled spirit’ that haunts Brook Cottage. The various happenings have been recorded by Mr. Ron Mott (now an inhabitant of Thame) who was born in the cottage. He remembers his parents occasionally referring to hearing the ‘Old Man’s’ rat-tat on the door and heavy footsteps on the brick path outside.
Until early in the 20th century Moreton had two public house
s: the Bell at one end and the Royal Oak at the other. Both have since closed and are now private houses.
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...
1 miles (1.6 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....
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England.
History
Moreton has been in existence as long as Thame, being mentioned with it in 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.
In the past the main occupation of the inhabitants was farming — there being at least seven farms and more than 30 cottages, the majority housing the farm labourers. A decline in agriculture greatly reduced the size of the village and eventually led to the closure of the Methodist chapel, the school and the shop. The bottom of the decline came in the 1950s and today there are about 50 houses and cottages, plus two farms and a smallholding, all family-owned and run.
The majority of Moreton’s older buildings cluster at the east end of the hamlet surrounding the green and the two ponds. They then trail thinly up to the war memorial which was erected in 1920. Beyond the war memorial is a small, but mixed, collection of houses.
Although to car users Moreton only has one road in and the same road out, its roads were passable once. Until well into the 18th century, the main thoroughfare from Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
to Tetsworth
Tetsworth
Tetsworth is a village and civil parish about south of Thame in Oxfordshire.-Manor:At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Tetsworth did not exist as a separate manor. In the 12th century, benefactors gave land in the area to the Cistercian Thame Abbey and these lands were brought together as an...
and Wallingford ran through Moreton. The needlemakers of Long Crendon
Long Crendon
Long Crendon is a village and civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England, about west of Haddenham and north-west of Thame in neighbouring Oxfordshire.The village has been called Long Crendon only since the English Civil War...
made use of this road twice a year to send their goods by stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
for sale in London. Before that, it was used by the Roundheads, who would have passed through carrying the mortally wounded John Hampden
John Hampden
John Hampden was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643) was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, John Hampden (ca. 15951643)...
from the Battle of Chalgrove Field
Battle of Chalgrove Field
The Battle of Chalgrove was a small battle during the English Civil War in the county of Oxfordshire. It took place around 09:00 hours on the morning of 18 June 1643 in Chalgrove Field, northeast of Chalgrove in Oxfordshire...
to Thame in 1643.
Like many villages and towns in Oxfordshire, Moreton was pillaged during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. This era is the one that appears to have produced the ‘troubled spirit’ that haunts Brook Cottage. The various happenings have been recorded by Mr. Ron Mott (now an inhabitant of Thame) who was born in the cottage. He remembers his parents occasionally referring to hearing the ‘Old Man’s’ rat-tat on the door and heavy footsteps on the brick path outside.
Until early in the 20th century Moreton had two public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s: the Bell at one end and the Royal Oak at the other. Both have since closed and are now private houses.