David Betterton, Author at The Wychwoods Local History Society

Dancing Days in the Wychwoods: Our Latest Library Exhibition

Our latest exhibition , installed from May 9th in the Wychwoods Library in Milton, features historic photographs on the theme of folk dancing over the years in the Wychwoods

Among the featured images in the exhibition is this newspaper clipping showing former Ascott‑under‑Wychwood dancers reunited with their childhood costumes. It provides a useful point of entry into the longer history of the Wychwoods ‘Dancing Days’.

Here is the article:

Oxford Times October 1965 – Ascott‑under‑Wychwood dancers reunited with their childhood costumes

Transcript of the Text of the Article

Text of Anthony Wood article Download

Folk Dancing in the Wychwoods: A Twentieth‑Century Overview

Folk dancing formed a notable strand of cultural life in the Wychwood villages throughout the twentieth century. Although its visibility rose and fell over the decades, the practice left a distinct imprint on school activities, community organisations, and local celebrations.

Early Twentieth‑Century Dancing Revival (c. 1900–1930)

The first decades of the century saw a nationwide revival of interest in English folk traditions, influenced by the work of organisations such as the English Folk Dance Society (EFDS), founded in 1911. Oxfordshire was an early participant in this movement. Schools in the Wychwoods, like many rural schools in the county, incorporated folk dancing into physical education and seasonal festivities. May Day events, Empire Day celebrations, and school concerts frequently included set dances, country reels, and maypole performances.

Teachers often received basic training through county education programmes or EFDS summer schools. Surviving school logbooks from the region occasionally reference “folk drill” or “country dancing practice,” indicating that these activities were embedded in the curriculum rather than treated as occasional entertainments.

The Legacy of Reginald Tiddy

The Reading Room Ascott under Wychwood. Built in 1912, it was renamed the Tiddy Hall in memory of Reginald Tiddy following his death in 1916. Prior to demolition in 1994

Oxford University Morris Dancers perform in the original Tiddy Hall, Ascott before its demolition.

Our publication ‘The Second Wychwoods Album’ on the work of Reginald Tiddy in this era includes this extract which tells us that Tiddy brought about a revival of Morris dancing in Ascott. In 1912 he built the Tiddy Hall which has a special sprung floor for dancing. The team was much in demand for fetes and garden parties at the big houses in the neighbourhood like Cornbury, Bruern Abbey and Lee Place.

See more on Reginald Tiddy from the Second Wychwoods Album here:

Ascott Early 1900s

Interwar and Wartime Continuity (1930–1945)

During the interwar years, folk dancing remained a regular feature of village life. Women’s Institutes, which expanded rapidly during this period, played a significant role in sustaining interest. The WIs of Shipton, Milton, and Ascott frequently organised displays at fêtes, charity events, and harvest suppers. Local instructors—often schoolteachers or WI members who had attended county courses—taught standard repertoires such as “Gathering Peascods,” “Sellenger’s Round,” and “The Dorset Four‑Hand Reel.”

The Second World War disrupted many organised activities, but folk dancing proved relatively resilient. It required no specialist equipment, could be practised indoors or outdoors, and was considered a wholesome form of recreation for children and adults. Several Wychwood residents later recalled wartime dances held in schoolrooms or village halls, sometimes accompanied by accordion or fiddle.

Post‑War Community Groups and School Displays (1945–1970)

The post‑war decades saw a renewed emphasis on community cohesion, and folk dancing benefited from this environment. School events in the Wychwoods continued to feature country dancing, particularly at end‑of‑year performances and May celebrations. Teachers who had themselves learned the dances as children often passed them on to new generations.

It is within this context that the five Ascott girls featured in our rediscovered clipping—Ellen Hodson, Winifred Weston, Doris Warner, Edith Pratley, and Mary Russell—performed in the early twentieth century. Their costumes, preserved for more than fifty years, reflect the standardised dress used for school and WI displays: simple white dresses, coloured sashes, and floral headpieces.

Country dancing in the yard of Milton School 1956 or 1957

Local fêtes and pageants also provided opportunities for public performance. Newspaper archives from the 1950s and 1960s occasionally mention country dancing displays at Shipton Fête, Milton’s summer celebrations, and Ascott’s school events. These performances were typically organised by teachers or WI leaders and were regarded as emblematic of rural tradition.

Decline and Occasional Revivals (1970–2000)

By the 1970s, changes in school curricula and leisure activities led to a gradual decline in formal folk dancing instruction. While maypole dancing persisted in some primary schools, the broader repertoire of country dances became less common. Nevertheless, the tradition did not disappear entirely. Local history groups, WI branches, and village organisers occasionally revived folk dancing for special events, anniversaries, or heritage days.

Maypole dancers on the Green at Shipton, possibly in 1988

Again, the reunion captured in the newspaper clipping belongs to this pattern of late‑century revival. The reappearance of the original costumes and the presence of contemporary children dressed in similar attire illustrate how folk traditions can re‑emerge when prompted by community interest or historical curiosity.

Significance for Local History

The history of folk dancing in the Wychwoods demonstrates how national cultural movements were interpreted and sustained at the village level. It highlights the role of schools, WIs, and informal community networks in transmitting traditions across generations. The rediscovered clipping is valuable not only for its images but also for the insight it provides into the continuity of local practice.

Wychwoods Border Morris Dancers outside Tiddy Hall Ascott 2023

Although folk dancing is no longer a routine feature of village life, its legacy survives in photographs, memories, and occasional revivals.

As with many rural traditions, its endurance has depended less on formal institutions than on the willingness of individuals and communities to preserve and re‑animate the customs they inherited.

Selected Sources

English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS). History of the English Folk Dance Society and the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

National context for the early‑twentieth‑century folk dance revival and its spread into schools and community groups.

Wychwoods Local History Society. Wychwoods History

Local evidence for village events, musicians, and community traditions in the Wychwoods.

See especially Journal 16 p.28-32 James Longshaw, Musician, by Keith Chandler

James Longshaw of Shipton, Musician

Oxfordshire County Council Education Records. School Logbooks and Inspectors’ Reports (1900–1970), Oxfordshire History Centre.

References to folk dancing, country dancing, and May Day preparations in rural schools.

Local Newspaper Archives. Oxford Mail, Oxford Times, Witney Gazette (1920s–1980s).

Reports on fêtes, school displays, and WI events featuring folk dancing in the Wychwoods.

James Longshaw of Shipton, Musician

An article from Wychwoods Local History Society Journal No.16 pp 28-32 by Keith Chandler , reproduced here as a focus for the May-September 2026 “Dancing Days” Library Exhibition in Milton under Wychwood.

In 1925 the Travelling Morrice, a revivalist dance team based in Cambridge, were touring in the Cotswolds when they encountered a ‘Mr Langshaw’ at Chipping Norton. He revealed that he had formerly played the fiddle to accompany morris dance sides at both Shipton under Wychwood and Milton under Wychwood.¹

Charles Benfield of Bould – Another Local Musician

The recorded history of Milton’s morris dance team dates back to around the 1780s, while that of Shipton is confirmed only from about the 1830s onwards. In an unpublished manuscript compiled in 1885 or earlier, John Horne gave a long account of the annual ‘Jubilee’ (i.e. Whitsun Ale) held at Milton under Wychwood about 1780, ‘where Morris Dancing was one of the chief attractions, as many as three sets would attend there and prizes were given to the best dancers’.² Given that morris dance sides were always a feature of Whitsun Ale celebrations at this date, one can assume that one of the attendant dance sides would have been local. Morris dancing was a feature of the festivities held to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales in March 1863³ and, again, this seems likely to have been the village-based set.

It was probably the first half of the nineteenth century to which Horne referred when he noted ‘Shipton in Oxfordshire was formerly a very noted place for Morris-dancing, as many as four sets have been seen to attend the Club there, and some come from long distances.’⁴ Henry Franklin, a dancer at Leafield who left the village in 1858, remembered that there had been sets of dancers at Shipton and Milton under Wychwood, and Finstock, and was perhaps recalling sides which were contemporaneously active with his own. He claimed ‘Shipton [was] a lad’s morris, one man whistled to ‘em’, suggesting perhaps a younger side which remained after the set of older men had given up.⁵

It may have been this latter side for which ‘Mr. Langshaw’ had played. Given the complete absence of biographical details in the Travelling Morrice records, the first task was to identify Mr Langshaw. The 1925 Register of Electors for Chipping Norton recorded no-one by the name of Langshaw but listed the following inhabitants called Longshaw:

James	2 Goddard’s Lane
Francis, Julia & Ethel Annie	31 New Street
Henry & Amelia	15 Middle Row
Arthur & Grace	62 West Street

This offered four possibilities. If, as claimed, he had played for the dance sets at both Shipton and Milton there was a good chance that he had been resident in one of those adjacent villages. From the 1881 census only one household featured any of the 1925 names. The enumeration entry was as follows:

Name	Age and Occupation	Place of Birth
James Longshaw head	62 Chelsea Pensioner	Leafield
Elizabeth wife	56	Sunderland, Durham
James son	22 carpenter	Shipton
Jane A daughter	25	Sunderland, Durham

James the younger is the most likely candidate for the fiddle player. Parish registers revealed that James Longshaw was baptised at Shipton under Wychwood in July 1858, the son of James and Elizabeth Longshaw. His father’s occupation is described as ‘Soldier (retired)’. In time the family would also include Phoebe and Elizabeth, both born in Shipton.

By the 1891 census, James was a carpenter aged 32 and the Shipton under Wychwood marriage register in May 1891 records his marriage as a bachelor aged 40 to Sarah Longshaw, daughter of Joseph Lanfear.

The official sources reveal only a bare outline of his life. Already, by James’ birth in 1858 his father had retired as a professional soldier on a pension, and continued to receive payment until the age of 72, at least. His unit, given as ‘1st 3rd Foot’, may probably be identified as the First Battalion of the Third Regiment of Foot, otherwise the East Kent Regiment, known since 1782 as The Buffs. As a soldier in this unit he may well have seen action in India during the Gwalior Campaign of 1843,⁶ a far cry from his native Oxfordshire. His wife and first child were born in Sunderland, in County Durham. At some point between the birth of daughter Jane Ann and son James, the family had moved to Shipton under Wychwood. At this time the forest itself was being cleared extensively under the 1857 Act of Disafforestation. In fact, if the elder James Longshaw had, as the sources suggest, been away for some time, he would scarcely have recognised the region of his birth.⁷ So, we may observe that James Longshaw, the fiddle player, was brought up in what was, for the place and period, a relatively cosmopolitan household. Not only had his father travelled well beyond the bounds of his home area, but his mother, born in the north-east of the country, would have spoken with an accent uncommon in the Wychwood region.

In 1871 James was enumerated as ‘Scholar’. It was rare at this date for a boy to remain at school much beyond the age of twelve, and at some point during the next decade he became a carpenter and he continued in this trade through 1891 and, in fact, until retirement. He lived with his parents until at least the age of 32, and probably until the date of his marriage in 1898. From the entry in the marriage register his wife’s surname differs from that of her father_; further research showed she had been married before. There is no record yet found of James’ death.

My next informant was Mr W F Martin, in Iffley, Oxford. ‘The fiddler? We’ve come across him on my wife’s side. (She) knows of a fiddler at Shipton under Wychwood. ”Jimmy” she remembers him as. She seems to have a childish, vague memory of an old gentleman’. Here, at last, was confirmation that the identification of ‘Mr Langshaw’ as James Longshaw had been correct. He would have been of an age to have played during the 1870s but probably not much before this.

There was also a hazy memory among other family members of James Longshaw having been known locally as a fiddler who apparently played for dancing although not specifically morris dancing. Mrs Martin’s sister, Mrs G B Farrar in Kirtlington recalled seeing a volume of music written by James Longshaw which at one time was in the possession of Mrs Truman, a daughter of Sarah Longshaw, who lived in Hurst Street, Oxford, for many years. Using the parish registers the Martins had drawn up a family tree.

George Longshaw (1856-97) had married Sarah Landfeare (sic), who died in April 1916, and this couple were Mrs Martin’s grandparents. They had three children, two girls and one boy. The son, George Henry William Longshaw (1888–1954) was her father, and her mother was a Stroud, who were a ‘big family’ in the Wychwood area. After George Longshaw’s death Sarah remarried, to James Longshaw. Given Sarah’s death in 1916, Mrs Martin’s memory of James Longshaw would have been when she was ‘very small’, aged about four or five. It is possible to confirm that Sarah Longshaw, daughter of Joseph Lanfear, had remarried to James Longshaw a year after the death of her first husband.

Was it possible that the manuscript tune book belonging to James Longshaw might still exist? Mrs Farrar thought that James Longshaw probably did play for the morris dancers. He did have a music book, but she was only aged about five at the time she remembers seeing it, in about 1915. He also had an old violin hanging on the wall of ‘granny’s kitchen’.

She remembered a cottage on the Bruern Estate, where James was employed as a carpenter. ‘We called him Grampy Jim because we knew he wasn’t our real grandfather’ being her grandmother’s second marriage. Longshaw was considered to be fairly well up in the servants’ hierarchy. The estate carpenter and the stud groom had facing cottages. ‘Grampy Jim had a very nice workshop, away from the house. He was the only carpenter on the estate, and did all the carpentry there, as well as making bits of furniture for the kitchen, if another bench was needed for example.’ She thought that he had a beard_; the two sisters used to try and curl it while sitting on either side of him after supper.

At the time she had never encountered beards before, her own father being clean-shaven. James was very good to the two sisters, they used to play in the workshop amongst the shavings and thought it great fun. Mrs Farrar’s mother had gone to Bruern to act as a nurse to Granny when she was dying of cancer, and she and her sister went along. They were there several weeks. While her grandmother was dying the two sisters used to sit on the landing and listen to the conversation below, trying to find out what was happening. They heard something about Grampy Jim going into the workhouse. She did not know whether this was true or not.

At the time she remembers it, the music manuscript was covered with sheepskin, was very smelly and dirty, and was ‘going sticky’, which made her loath to touch it. It was quite a thick book, with the pages a bit like vellum. It was definitely a hand-written manuscript, as she recalled having taken a look at a page or two. Mrs Farrar did not know what had happened to either the violin or the manuscript book

It seems from Mrs Martin’s and Mrs Farrar’s evidence that James Longshaw had played for dancing other than morris, given that he had such an substantial tune collection. Certainly, the village benefit societies continued to celebrate their particular feast days until the end of the nineteenth century and beyond, and dancing remained a common, if not ubiquitous feature.

We may never know what prompted him to take up the fiddle, at what age, whether or not he had a formal teaching, how he acquired the tunes which he committed to paper and what prompted him to choose those in particular, how much he earned from music making, and a score of other questions. Despite failing to locate the music manuscript, which would certainly have been a find of the greatest importance, stories and memories in the family oral tradition had illuminated at least some aspects of the life of yet another working man otherwise destined for obscurity.

References

1 The log of the Travelling Morrice, 1925 (unpublished manuscript), interview with Mr Langshaw (sic), Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire_; cited in Twenty-fifth Anniversary booklet, Cambridge Morris Men, 1949, p19.

2 John Horne MSS., Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, complied 1885 or earlier. There is a typescript copy in the possession of David Hart, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, and a copy of the Hart copy in the author’s collection. For details of the chief recurrent features of the Whitsun Ales see Keith Chandler, Ribbons, Bells and Squeaking Fiddles: the Social History of Morris Dancing in the English South Midlands, 1660–1900, Enfield Lock: Hisarlik Press, for the Folklore Society, 1993, Chapter 4.

3 Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 14 March 1863, p8, and Oxford Chronicle, 21 March 1863, p2.

4 Horne, op cit

5 Cecil Sharp MSS, Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London. ‘Field notebook (words)’ 4 (17 December–[blank] 1910), interview with Henry Franklin of Leafleld, in Oxford, 1910. Fair copy in ‘Folk Dances’ 1, ff.258-26 1.

For biographical details of the known performers in these named sides see Keith Chandler, Morris Dancing in the English South Midlands, 1660–1900. A Chronological Gazetteer (Enfield Lock: Hisarlik Press, for the Folklore Society, 1993).

6 I am indebted to Dave Parry, melodeon player extraordinary and military historian employed at the Imperial War Museum, for this information.

7 Keith Chandler, ‘Wychwood Forest: A study of the effects of enclosure on the occupational structure of a group of Leafield workers’, Oxfordshire Local History 3, number 5 (Autumn 1990), pp209–220_; and Kate Tiller (ed), Milton and Shipton in the Nineteenth Century, a special issue of Wychwoods History No. Three (1987).

Article from Wychwoods Local History Society Journal 16 pp 28-32

The article is also available as a PDF for download here:

James Longshaw Article – Journal 16 Download

Family History Research: An Interesting Find

At our recent meeting [ Details here ], Sue Honoré of the Oxfordshire Family History Society opened her talk with a reminder that ‘local’ and ‘family’ history are never truly separate pursuits. Anyone who has traced a family line—whether their own or someone else’s—quickly discovers how deeply personal stories are rooted in place.

Sue emphasised the irreplaceable value of speaking with family members and recording their memories. Recollections passed down through generations, and even the stories of long-standing neighbours, can illuminate the lived texture of a community.

With this foundation laid, Sue guided us through the wide range of resources available to anyone embarking on family research—whether into their own lineage or a family of particular local interest.

A Real-World Example: The Hedges, Rathbands and Honeybones of the Wychwoods

Inspired by Sue’s talk, we turned to the web in search of examples of family history research connected with the Wychwoods. In doing so we came across a compelling piece by Dr Douglas Hope, who includes genealogical research among his many interests.

His article traces the ancestry of his daughter‑in‑law, Trudy Hope (née Hedges), whose curiosity about her roots opens a story that stretches across Shipton, Milton and Ascott. Her family line divides into two major strands:

The Hedges of Shipton under Wychwood, a family present in the parish since at least the sixteenth century, forming one of the long-settled threads of the community.
The Rathband–Honeybone line of Milton and Ascott, whose history intersects with the dramatic events surrounding the Ascott Martyrs of 1873.

Detail from the Ascott Martyrs Memorial Textile — *Detail from the* Ascott Martyrs Commemorative Textile © Sue Richards

A Historical Side-Branch

Dr Hope also touches on a branch not directly in Trudy’s line but still part of the wider Hedges story: Richard Hedges (b. 1819), whose emigration to New Zealand links the family to the tragic loss of the Cospatrick in 1874, one of the worst maritime disasters of the nineteenth century.

The result is a fascinating read—an example of how genealogical research, when handled with care and curiosity, becomes far more than a list of names and dates.

The full story of The Hedges of the Wychwoods (1800-1939) is here >>> [Opens in new tab]

© A.Vickers : WLHS April 2026 – ‘Who Do You Think They Were?’ – Evening Presentation

Our April 2026 Evening Talk: Who Do You Think They Were?

Our talk on April 8th welcomed Sue Honoré (a very experienced researcher & long standing Oxford Family History Society member).

Based on over 40 years of family history research, Sue’s talk was a helpful introduction to resources available to the beginner and the more experienced.

Sue covered important elements of the research process, key research strategies to encourage the use of information sources wisely and with care, as well as hints and tips for success, plus common pitfalls and ideas for projects.

Family History Explored

Sue introduced her talk by reminding us of the deep overlap between “Local” and “Family” history. Research into family connections will always reveal important stories. These revolve around, for example, the houses our ancestors lived in, the wars in which they fought as evidenced in war memorials in every village, the ownership and sale of land and much else which is the warp and weft of local history research.

Sue also reminded us of the importance of talking to family members and recording their memories through the generations. She reminded us also that memories of neighbours can also be important and useful. Every long life is lived with a backdrop of events, decisions, family moves and other stories. These all help to further research, but also to create a living history around the creation of a family tree.

Thus setting the tone, Sue then discussed the many and varied potential resources available for family research: for one’s own family, or indeed any family of interest.

Family History Resources

Sue directed us to the extraordinary list of resources shown on the Oxfordshire Family History Society website here [ Link opens in new tab]

The OFHS website has easy to follow links to all these resources and more.

Ancestry/FindMyPast/FamilySearch/The Genealogist
Victoria County Histories (British History Online). The Wychwoods is No.19
National Archives Discovery
Oxfordshire Heritage Search
Maps, military records, wills, Google Books, real books, newspapers & many more
DNA – FamilyTreeDNA, Ancestry, MyHeritage

Full details are on the OFHS website. It is well worth a look.

Advisors and Helpdesks

Sue also reminded us of the services offered by OFHS advisors around the county. These advisors offer expert help in all aspects of family research. Advisors are always keen to meet new people.

Here is a list of libraries currently offering this service, including the Wychwood Library in Milton. [Link opens in new tab]

Tips for Family and Local History Research

For the rest of her presentation, Sue demonstrated how family history research is best seen as an iterative process, building on different strands of research to cross-verify findings, making sure to avoid any tempting leaps towards easy answers.

She chose surname examples to watch patterns over centuries, as well as a case study featuring a local Wychwoods family, which demonstrated by example some of those easy assumptions.

The evening was again – as have been all our talks this season – well-attended, and gave us the opportunity for questions, and to remind our membership of the extensive range of family history stories in our archive.

About Sue Honoré

Sue Honoré has no Oxfordshire ancestors but has been working with the Oxfordshire Family History Society in a number of roles for the last 14 years, including Editor of the journal and DNA project co-ordinator. Currently she manages the database of details of over half a million records of Oxfordshire people from 1100 to 1946. Her ancestors are mainly from Scotland, Northumberland, Derbyshire, New England and 4000 years ago, the Rhine Valley.

Library Displays: Updated List

The society continues to present its popular exhibitions of photographs in the Wychwoods Library in Milton. Topics for these are changed approximately every 2 months, creating opportunities for visitors to see a selection of images from our photographic archive.

Here are links to past exhibitions for more information.

Cubs in Action 1981 – Can you Name Them?

The society is actively collating a large section of its photograph archive into a searchable database. In this process, we regularly come across many images where individuals are not named, sadly.

We found these very interesting and high-quality photographs recently. They record a group of of cub scouts taking part in a conservation project to clear footpaths for Shipton Walks, in 1981.

Can you name any of them? We would like very much to know. And perhaps there are memories of the event which we can record for posterity?

Any information would be welcome. Please use the comments section below, or do contact us on this form if you are able to help! We have given each picture a code, so that you can refer to them easily.

We hope to hear from you!

From Australia to Ascott: A Photographic Homecoming

These days the Society is receiving an increasing number of overseas visitors to our website. Among these we recently heard from an Australian artist, who described herself as ‘a painter who uses old photographs’.

She had seen an article on our website which referenced Cecil White, an ancestor of hers. In 1916 Cecil came to England for military training, as part of the Australian Expeditionary Force. He took the opportunity to visit the village where his father had been born and meet his White cousins still living in Ascott.

During his visit, Cecil had taken several photos of the village. Could we help her to source some of these photos?

We were delighted to help. And meantime it took us on our own journey of discovery, with Carol Anderson following the story.

Cecil White’s Photograph Album

On his return home from his 1916 visit, Cecil compiled an album of 14 of the photographs he took on his visit. He also included 4 images of other places in England – Tilbury Docks, Greenhill House/ Sutton Veny House and parish church, Wiltshire.

Two further photographs feature a group of Australian NCOs on board ship and a portrait of Cecil in uniform.

As a result of this enquiry Carol has been able to organise a full record of the album and its contents, the scans of which are now safely archived.

Here are some examples from our online photo archive.

Unusual view of North side of the parish church photographed from across the churchyard from northwest

View north from the Green along London Lane towards the railway station. Churchill Arms, later Sunset House, on the right

Railway platform and wooden station building on south side of railway line view looking east

Cecil White – A Family History

Cecil White sitting between his brothers George (left) and Baden (right) .
Photograph was taken in the Bardwell Clarke studio in Perth Western Australia.

Cecil White Family Tree and Ascott Visit Download

Cecil White – A Family History in Detail

During the 1850s a William James White came to Ascott-under-Wychwood to take over the forge overlooking the village green. William was one of twelve children, six of whom died in childhood, born to blacksmith William White and his wife Elizabeth, who lived in Christmas Common near Watlington.

When William James came to Ascott he was married to a Mary Ann Eustace. In the 1861 census William James was 31, and Mary Ann was 27 and they are recorded as having four children, William James Jnr., Harriet, George, and Susan.

Blacksmith William’s brother, Alfred, joined the Metropolitan Police and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He married Mary Elizabeth Harvey, who came from St. Pancras, and they had a daughter, Hannah. Alfred resigned from the Police and died soon after in May 1865.

William White’s wife Mary died in 1865 aged 33, having given birth to another son Frederick. Some time afterwards his brother Alfred’s widow, Mary Elizabeth, and her daughter Hannah came to live in Ascott, perhaps to look after William and his children.

On 10 August 1867 William James and Mary Elizabeth were married in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Chipping Norton. At this time, it was illegal for a man to marry his brother’s widow, and this may explain why they were married away from Ascott, in a non-conformist ceremony in Chipping Norton.

After they were married, and before he died in Ascott in April 1874, William James and Mary Elizabeth White had three children, Francis William, Mary Agnes, and Charles Harvey, who were therefore half-siblings to the three boys from William’s first marriage who were later to emigrate to Australia.

When his father died William James jnr., the eldest son of blacksmith William by his second marriage, was about 18 and became the first of his family to emigrate to Perth, Western Australia. In the 1871 Census he is recorded as aged 15 living with the rest of the family in Ascott and his occupation is that of a shepherd (he had not followed his father and grandfather into blacksmithing), a role that may have fitted him for work in Australia.

Subsequently, and separately with other young men from the village, two more of the White family also emigrated to Western Australia where a group of Ascott ex-pats seem to have gathered around Perth. Frederick White (aged 16/17) had emigrated by 1880. Currently, nothing further is known about Frederick. George White, the third of William and Mary’s sons to emigrate, arrived in Perth on the Charlotte Padbury in September 1881 and married Jane McGowan in 1884 but died the following year aged 26.

William James Jnr., the first of the family to emigrate, married Annie Coffin at Yatheroo in 1879. They had four sons and two daughters. Three of their sons joined the Australian Expeditionary Force (AEF) in World War I. The eldest, George, joined the Australian Army Medical Corps and served in Egypt. Bason, the youngest, was still too young to serve abroad when the War ended.

William and Annie’s second son, Cecil, married Ivy Derepas in Perth in 1915 and later, as a Sergeant in the AEF, was sent to England. On leave there, whilst completing his training, he travelled to Ascott to see his father’s birthplace. Here he met the family of his father’s half-brother, Charles Harvey White who had married Kate Honeybone and had three surviving children, Charles, Florence and Doris.

In January 1919 he sent his cousins, the White family of The Old Post Office (aka Centuries House), London Lane, an album containing copies of the photographs he had taken on his visit.

The album is now in the possession of Harvey Warner (Charlbury) son of Doris Warner (nee White, daughter of Charles White).

Research by Carol Anderson

Sources:

1861 & 1871 Census: Ascott-under-Wychwood

Information provided by Harvey Warner

See Wendy Pearse’s article which initiated this story

Australia Bound: From Ascott to the “Promised Land”

Our March 2026 Evening Talk: A Profile of Thomas Fairfax

Our talk on Wednesday 11th March welcomed Geoff Bayley, a graduate of Manchester University with a deep interest in 17th Century history .

Geoff presented the story of the English Civil War with a focus on Thomas Fairfax, which offered an important perspective on the events of the war.

Once again we had a good attendance, with over 60 members and guests. An enjoyable evening was rounded off by an engaging Q&A.

Here is a summary of key Civil War events with a focus on the role of Thomas Fairfax. The summary includes the milestones in Geoff’s presentation.

Fairfax and His Role in the Civil War

When the guns fell silent in 1646, Thomas Fairfax stood at the height of his fame. He had commanded the New Model Army with a steadiness that made victory seem almost inevitable, though nothing about the Civil War had been easy.

He was the conqueror of Naseby, the man who had taken Bristol, and the general to whom Oxford surrendered. Yet the moment the war ended, Fairfax found himself entering a different kind of battlefield—one in which clarity of purpose dissolved into faction, ideology, and the slow corrosion of trust.

Nothing strained Fairfax’s conscience more than the trial of Charles I. He had fought the King’s armies, but he had never sought the King’s death. When the High Court of Justice convened, Fairfax refused to attend. His wife, Lady Anne, famously cried out from the gallery, “He is not here, and he will never be here,” a protest that echoed her husband’s own silent refusal.

Fairfax did not obstruct the trial, but neither did he lend it his authority. It was an act of quiet dissent—one of the few available to a man who had no taste for political theatre. After the execution, he withdrew further from the centre of power, his sense of purpose dimmed by the knowledge that the war’s end had brought not settlement but a new and harsher uncertainty.

In 1650, he resigned his commission and retired to his estate.

The Scottish Question and Fairfax’s Resignation

The final break came in 1660. The Scots had crowned Charles II and prepared to invade England. Fairfax, who had fought to defend the rights of Parliament and the liberties of England, could not bring himself to wage war on a nation that had once been an ally in the struggle against tyranny. He believed the conflict unnecessary, unjust, and contrary to the principles for which he had taken up arms.

He backed General George Monck in his campaign that led to the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II.

It was a moment of profound moral clarity. He stepped away from power at the very moment when power was most within his grasp. Fairfax finally returned to Yorkshire, to live quietly in retirement.

He had fought a king, refused to join the regicides, resigned rather than wage an unjust war, and finally helped restore the monarchy in a constitutional form when the nation needed peace more than principle. His actions were never driven by ambition, ideology, or self‑interest.

Geoff’s talk thus enabled us to follow the role of Fairfax throughout the war. The talk offered a revised perspective, one that has been lost over time to the focus on Oliver Cromwell’s role during the conflict and particularly in its aftermath.

General Thomas Fairfax (1612-1671) Workshop of Robert Walker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

About Geoff Bayley

Geoff Bayley is a graduate of Manchester University and has held a strong interest in the history of the 17^th century for many years. Semi-retired from a role as Company Director in the automotive industry he decided to undertake a course at Oxford University about the English Civil war.

It was during this studying that he became increasingly aware of this man named Fairfax, so he decided to find out more about him. He discovered that this modest man was in fact the most influential figure in the outcome of the war and also in the subsequent creation of our constitutional monarchy.

Sadly Fairfax has been overlooked by history in favour of Cromwell so Geoff decided to try to put the record straight and give him the recognition he deserves.

Geoff has given numerous presentations on the subject and written a historical novel based on the life of Fairfax.

Geoof Bayley’s Novel available on Amazon

Next Talk: Who Do You Think They Were? Hints and Tips on Family History Research >>> Details here

Wychwoods Women: Our Latest Library Exhibition

Our latest exhibition , installed from this weekend in the Wychwoods Library in Milton, features historic photographs of women over the years in the Wychwoods.

The Shipton WI produces a quilt. Left to Right: Unknown man, Dorothy Brooks, Vi Smith, Vera Cox, possibly Mrs Wright, Mabel Souch (Terry Souch’s mother), Miss Faulkner, Maggie Turner, possible Mrs Case, Mrs Chaffers (in glasses), Mrs Wain, Win White, Mrs Amy Kemp (1959)

International Women’s Day

As we mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, it feels fitting to look back at some of the remarkable women who shaped life in the Wychwoods throughout the 20th century.

Their stories are captured in photographs here and in our archives and journals. Wychwoods women also feature strongly in our oral history recordings. Their stories also reveal a community held together by resilience, creativity, and quiet determination.

Milton Temperance Society (band of Hope). Popular in the late 19th century, this national movement successfully campaigned to protect children from cruelty and neglect caused by widespread alcohol abuse.

Wychwoods Women During Wartime

During the interwar years and later in the 1930s and 1940s, local women stepped into roles that transformed both their own lives and the fabric of village society. Some served in the Women’s Land Army, keeping farms productive while men were away.

Others joined the ATS or worked in munitions, cycled miles to volunteer as nurses, or kept households running under the strain of rationing and uncertainty. Their contributions were often unsung, yet they were essential to the survival and spirit of the community.

Women’s Groups and Activities in the Wychwoods

In the decades before and after, women were to be the backbone of village life. The Women’s Institute flourished across the Wychwood parishes, offering not only companionship but also a platform for learning, leadership, and local action.

**Vi Miles and Kath Pinches at bazaar for surgery comforts fund**

Photographs from Edwardian times through to the 1970s show groups of women in surprising roles , not only organising fêtes, preserving local crafts and making their voices heard on rural issues, but flying aircraft, working the land and assuming pivotal roles throughout the century.

These images remind us that history is not only shaped by grand events but by the steady, committed efforts of ordinary people. Inspired by International Women’s Day, our exhibition of images celebrates the Wychwood women who helped build and sustain our community.

**Many local women, like Betty Duester(later Brown), seen here (centre) in front of a glider**
**at Rissington, ‘did their bit’ in World War 2**

Wychwoods Women: Oral Histories

Our Audio Files/Oral Histories archive contains many interviews made in the 1980s and 1990s, with women who recall Wychwoods life over eight decades between 1900 and the 1980s. Here are a few samples:

Rose Burson Audio

Rose was one of the interviewees for the Wychwoods Local History Society publication “That’s How It Was”. More about this is here [Opens in new tab]

[ Each of the following links opens in a new tab ]

Audio Recordings: Life Memories of Rose Burson

Dorothy “Dor” Thomson: More Memories

In this set of reminiscences, Dor Thomson recalls many details and anecdotes from her life as child and growing up at Shipton Court. The 2004 W LHS Journal No 19 contains many excerpts from these memoirs, as well as a summary of her life during and after her time at Shipton Court.

Audio Recordings: Dorothy Thomson with Mary McNeill

Audio Recordings: Dorothy Thomson – More Memories

Wychwoods Library Opening Hours

Monday : 2 – 7pm
Tuesday : Closed
Wednesday : 9.30am – 1pm and 2 – 5pm
Thursday : Closed
Friday : 2 – 7pm
Saturday : 9.30am – 1pm
Sunday : Closed

Our February 2026 Evening Talk: A History of Witney New Mill

For our latest 2026 talk on Wednesday 11th February we welcomed David How, Chairperson for the Witney Museum. Assisted by museum administrator Beverley Sherwood, David presented a history of Witney’s New Mill.

Witney’s New Mill is a historic woollen mill site, one of several in Witney, famous of course for its centuries-old blanket industry.

Witney New Mill

David’s insightful presentation began with an introduction to the work of the Witney Museum and the lottery funding which helps its work and projects.

We were reminded of the reasons for the success of blanket manufacture in the area, including the quality of the wool of the Cotswold sheep, and the benefits of the River Windrush for quality production, before the industry’s eventual decline.

He then gave a quick round-up of the blanket types which were produced in Witney, including the Witney Point Blankets which were the subject of 19^th Century trade agreements with native peoples in America and Canada when the Northwest Territories were formed in the 19th Century.

The site has deep historical roots in the woollen industry, being recorded as having a grist mill as early as 1277 and possibly dating back to the Domesday Book. David’s talk took us through the ownership and developments in the early 1800s, specifically by the Wright family and later the Early family, to demonstrate the importance of the site and its successes.

Witney New Mill – A Chequered Past?

On the way we had stories of accidents, of a possible arson attack or two, and certainly a litany of disasters by fire in 1783, 1809, 1818 and 1883 – and so reminders of tricky working conditions which surrounded the development of mechanisation.

David’s talk also presented the various processes involved in blanket manufacture and included a fascinating short video to illustrate the origin of the expression to “be on tenterhooks”. A real gem.

The talk concluded with a quick summary of the mill towards and after the end of its function as a working blanket factory in 2002. He also named the various companies which were housed in its building in recent times to the present day.

Another fascinating talk, then, for a group of 50+ attendees, ending with a short Q and A and a chance to look at cloth samples and some interesting memorabilia.

Visit these Sites for More

The Witney Blanket Story : [Opens in new tab ] Discover more about why the words ‘Witney’ and ‘blanket’ were so closely linked.

Witney Museum : [Opens in new tab ] Information and guides to the best of Witney’s heritage, including opening dates, a picture gallery and links to the museum’s social media sites

About David How

David moved to Witney in 1989, and was a Development Manager (General Insurance) until retirement. He has been active in the Witney community, including stints as a football referee for Witney and District Men and Boys, a cricket umpire in Cherwell League which includes West Oxfordshire, and as a school governor until recently at the Witney primary school.

He joined Witney museum over 10 years ago as a steward and became more involved, resulting in becoming a committee member and chair person for the past couple of years.

Next Talk : A profile of Thomas Fairfax. Details here >>>