Wychwood
Encyclopedia
The Wychwood, or Wychwood Forest
, is an area now covering a small part of rural Oxfordshire
. In past centuries the forest covered a much larger area, since cleared in favour of agriculture, villages and towns. However, the forest's area has fluctuated. Parts cleared for agriculture during Britain's centuries under Roman rule
later reverted to forest.
It is believed that "Wych-" is derived from the Old English word Hwicce
. The Hwicce were the Anglo-Saxon
people living in the area from some time in the 6th century until the assimilation of the Old English peoples into the wider Middle English society.
Early medieval clearings were made to convert forest land to pasture for wool production. Irregular field boundaries in parts of the forest's former area are evidence of mediaeval assarting
. Later clearances elsewhere in the former forest area have left more regular field boundaries, as for example in Leafield
parish where the area south of the hamlet of Langley was cleared in 1857-58.
Some of the land that had been cleared for agricultural use was purchased by the Woodland Trust
, and re-planted with native English deciduous trees creating Shillbrook Wood, a 9 acres (3.6 ha) site near Bampton
, and Eynsham Wood, a 13.37 acres (5.4 ha) site near Eynsham
.
Recent years have seen a particularly strong resurgence in Wychwood culture. A number of forest fair
s take place around the Wychwood area, promoting pre-Industrial Revolution
crafts and employments. The Oxford University Historical Re-Enactment Society, also known as the Wychwood Warriors, is a reenactment group that recreates aspects of Saxon
life in Wychwood during the Dark Ages.
The Wychwood has also given its name to a set of three villages in Oxfordshire, Milton-under-Wychwood
, Shipton-under-Wychwood
and Ascott-under-Wychwood
. The villages together are known by locals as "The Wychwoods".
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, is an area now covering a small part of rural Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. In past centuries the forest covered a much larger area, since cleared in favour of agriculture, villages and towns. However, the forest's area has fluctuated. Parts cleared for agriculture during Britain's centuries under Roman rule
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
later reverted to forest.
It is believed that "Wych-" is derived from the Old English word Hwicce
Hwicce
The Hwicce were one of the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England. The exact boundaries of their kingdom are uncertain, though it is likely that they coincided with those of the old Diocese of Worcester, founded in 679–80, the early bishops of which bore the title Episcopus Hwicciorum...
. The Hwicce were the Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
people living in the area from some time in the 6th century until the assimilation of the Old English peoples into the wider Middle English society.
Early medieval clearings were made to convert forest land to pasture for wool production. Irregular field boundaries in parts of the forest's former area are evidence of mediaeval assarting
Assarting
Assarting is the act of clearing forested lands for use in agriculture or other purposes. In English law, it was illegal to assart any part of a Royal forest...
. Later clearances elsewhere in the former forest area have left more regular field boundaries, as for example in Leafield
Leafield
Leafield is a village and civil parish about northwest of Witney in West Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Langley, west of Leafield village....
parish where the area south of the hamlet of Langley was cleared in 1857-58.
Some of the land that had been cleared for agricultural use was purchased by the Woodland Trust
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is a conservation charity in the United Kingdom concerned with the protection and sympathetic management of native woodland heritage.-History:...
, and re-planted with native English deciduous trees creating Shillbrook Wood, a 9 acres (3.6 ha) site near Bampton
Bampton, Oxfordshire
Bampton, also called Bampton-in-the-Bush, is a village and civil parish in the Thames Valley about southwest of Witney in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Weald....
, and Eynsham Wood, a 13.37 acres (5.4 ha) site near Eynsham
Eynsham
Eynsham is a village and civil parish about east of Witney in Oxfordshire, England.-History:Eynsham grew up near the historically important ford of Swinford on the River Thames flood plain...
.
Recent years have seen a particularly strong resurgence in Wychwood culture. A number of forest fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s take place around the Wychwood area, promoting pre-Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
crafts and employments. The Oxford University Historical Re-Enactment Society, also known as the Wychwood Warriors, is a reenactment group that recreates aspects of Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
life in Wychwood during the Dark Ages.
The Wychwood has also given its name to a set of three villages in Oxfordshire, Milton-under-Wychwood
Milton-under-Wychwood
Milton-under-Wychwood is a village and civil parish about north of Burford, Oxfordshire, just off the A361 road between Burford and Chipping Norton.-History:The village is one of three named after the ancient forest of Wychwood...
, Shipton-under-Wychwood
Shipton-under-Wychwood
Shipton under Wychwood is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode valley about north of Burford, Oxfordshire. The village is one of several named after the ancient forest of Wychwood. The others are Milton-under-Wychwood immediately to the west of the village and Ascott-under-Wychwood about to...
and Ascott-under-Wychwood
Ascott-under-Wychwood
Ascott-under-Wychwood is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode valley about south of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.-History:The village is one of several named after the historic forest of Wychwood; the others being Shipton-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood.Ascot d'Oilly Castle was...
. The villages together are known by locals as "The Wychwoods".
External links
- The Wychwood Project - A promoter of Wychwood culture
- The Wychwood Magazine Online