The society was pleased to take up the invitation from the management of Tall Trees care home to give a local history talk for their Coffee Day on August 30th.
Society secretary John Bennett took up the offer. He prepared an informative but light-touch journey through the history of five individual Shipton landmarks, to an audience of residents and family visitors.
His presentation was well received, with plenty of interactive questions and comments from the group. At least one audience member was eager to claim connections with the Reade family of Shipton Court, and others took pleasure in recognising faces from images in John’s carefully-selected set of photographs. There was certainly no shortage of instant and positive feedback!
It was a delight to meet Lil Harmer and staff, whose commitment to the day was clear in the provision of a fine spread of cakes, fruit and copious cups of tea – creating a friendly and sociable occasion for all.
The society recently arranged a fascinating visit to the Oxfordshire Museums Resource Centre, a large purpose-built, tent-like structure near Standlake. Here a group of society members were able to enjoy a couple of hours hosted by Christiane Jeuckens , who is the Collections Officer for the Oxfordshire Museums Service.
The Resource Centre is normally open to the public by appointment only, but WHLS members were given the opportunity to enjoy a special guided tour.
During the afternoon we learned about the role of the centre to preserve important artefacts, in the areas of archaeology and of social history. The centre houses 100,000+ items large and small, from Neolithic times to recent history. Just two examples we saw were the tombstone of Oxfordshire’s first named inhabitant (a retired Roman soldier ) and an early 18th century wooden blanket loom made from local timber.
Th group had a lively time wandering among the stacks, viewing pictures, photographs, farm implements large and small, domestic appliances, musical instruments, stone carvings. There was much indeed to take in.
The group was delighted to find that Christiane had lined up some particularly Wychwoods-relevant items for us to view, including the much-treasured Shipton Serpent, late of St. Mary’s Church but now housed in the Centre.
A facinating afternoon, and one well worth recommending to friends for a future group visit.
Here we publish an extract for our series of excerpts from our many Oral History audio files. In this one , Cissie Carpenter talks about a serious accident which befell her as a child, and her fond memories of the extraordinary care she received.
Listen Here
Cissie Carpenter with Trudy Yates 22nd March 1993
Dr Roe and the Founders of the Shipton Bowls Club
DR Roe
Transcript
But I’ll have to tell you about the little incident that I say in the winter which is Fox and Hounds and we used to make all the fun of chasing one another, you know. It was great fun. We had the packs for the hounds and the packs for horses and this sort thing, you know. All pretence, of course, but it, it was, they were happy days. You used to have just lots of laughs.
And one day I must tell you that I was playing with my brother up in the orchard and we were having, we were chasing, he was chasing me rather, and I was going down the path, a steep path from the orchard, down into the back door. And at the bottom of the path was a big grey water butt. I can see it now.
Well, of course, I chased down there, and thinking that I’m going to get there first. And I run into my grandmother with a, she’d got a big saucepan of hot boiling soda water. And I run straight into her and I got very badly scalded off. And it was the time that we had, it was Dr Roe then, and he was absolutely marvellous. He used to come in three times a day and dress my scold because I had blisters right, hanging right down.
(TY “On your neck and chest”)
Right from my, under my chin here, right down from my neck to the bottom of my chest Anyway he was so wonderful and then he wanted to send me to hospital I think you know because.
(TY “You probably would have been petrified to go away from your mother.”)
My mother said “No if she’s going to die, she’ll die here”. But he attended me so well. But he always said that I was his pet patient because he used to come in three times a day and put all this, it was like laurel leaves. It was a sort of a very thin green paper tissue, like.
(TY “Huh, I wonder what it was.”)
I don’t know what it was. But I remember him putting it on, dressing it with this and then ripping it off. Every time he come in and putting another lot on.
(TY “No ointment or salve under it?”)
No, nothing like that. It was all this green. I couldn’t tell you what it was. Never knew.
(TY “I wonder what it was. Still, it did the job. How long did this take?”)
Oh, twelve month. Twelve month.
(TY “For a four year-old”)
Yes, I was twelve months in bed with this. But on my, must have been my fifth birthday, I remember him coming in the front door with two parcels. It’s so vivid, isn’t it, when you’re a child? And Dr Roe come in with these two parcels. He said “You’ve been my”, what did he call me, pet patient I think. “And here’s something for your birthday”. One was a doll’s tea set and the other was a doll’s furniture set.
(TY “Oh, bless him.”)
Yeah, yeah, marvellous, wasn’t it?
(TY ”And by that time you were up?”)
I was up, yes. Yeah. I don’t know, I was still in bed, mind you, but I mean I’d got over the worst, I think. And I remember him coming in so vividly with these parcels. I can see him now.
(TY “How kind. Imagine a doctor doing that now. They’re all too busy aren’t they?)
Yeah, yeah wonderful, wasn’t it? Anyway, I got over that.
(TY “And now that that must have been before you went to school.”)
Oh I was at school at the little Baptist, up by the Baptist Chapel then.
(TY “Oh you were in school then?”)
I was in school then, yes.
The Full Interview
The interview with Trudy Yates includes memories of Cissie’s early family life, and her time at the infants school and then the Grammar school in Burford. Then her later time as a housemaid, including at Shipton Court. It includes her marriage into the close-knit Carpenter family . Cissie’s reminiscences also feature childhood games, memories of the local shops and businesses in Milton and Shipton, an outing to the the Scottish Highlands, and particulary this dreadful accident she had aged about four and her treatment by Dr Roe.
Here is a short extract from one of our many Oral History audio files. In it, RAF veteran Albert “Bim” Champness includes a summary of his extended family and also recalls Wychwoods village characters, in a clip from a 45-minute conversation. The full 23rd March 1995 interview covers wide-ranging details of an interesting life from difficult beginnings.
Albert Champness, known as Bim 1919-2014 Served in the RAF during the Second World War servicing aircraft used by the Dam Busters.
Albert Edward Champness born 2 May 1919 – 29 October 2014 Always known as Bim. Served in the RAF during the Second World War servicing aircraft used by the Dam Busters.
Listen Here
Bim Champness Remembers. Interviewed 23rd March 1995
Transcript
After a ten-year gap, Steven arrived and then four years after that when my wife was 39, Sarah arrived. But of course, we were very thankful for her because, as I said, we were to lose our eldest daughter.
I got my leg pulled with a friend on gapping out the children, as he put it, and he very cheekily said, “Well if you will go to bed on Sunday afternoons, what do you expect!” I didn’t touch him, but I felt like whacking him one!
Anyway, so that’s a bit about the family.
Well, what have I done in the village? I’m afraid I’m guilty of not taking too much interest in village life, although I did really. I used to love to watch the cricket and the football matches. I became, I suppose, more engaged with the Chapel than any other activities, but I thoroughly enjoyed village life.
In those older days we knew everybody and there were real characters in those days — Jackie Miles the Postman, Ridley the farmer, Wally Rawlins who owned half Milton, Shipton, Bournemouth, Reading and I don’t know what else he didn’t own but was a real character, and some of the men who worked in Groves’s Yard too, I remember well.
Not to mention the sportsmen — Perce Bridge who was a superb fast bowler, Doggie Pritchard who could mix it up with speed and spin and could act the fool at most of the matches, and one or two fine footballers, such as Frank Miles who played for the County on one or two occasions, and I remember another sportsman from Shipton, Buckney Slatter, who was urged to turn professional but played for one of the famous London amateur clubs which I think was called the Corinthians in those days.
Summary of the Full Interview
The interview is by Janet Wallace and covers Bim Champness’ life story. It includes his early life after being adopted in London, his adoptive family’s move to Milton in the early 1930s when he was 12, following many family visits to grandparents in Fifield, his apprenticeship and early working life in Milton, his marriage, wartime service in the RAF, subsequent career and retirement, family life, and involvement in village activities especially the Baptist chapel.
Here is another in a series of extracts from our many Oral History audio files. In it, former 1920s Shipton Court resident Dorothy “Dor” Thomson tells of her meeting in later life of Mrs Wiggins (nee Coombes), whom she remembers from Mrs Wiggins’ days at Hathaways Stores.
Listen Here
Dorothy Thomson, interviewed with Mary McNeill: 2004
Transcript
“I can also remember, thinking of recollections of the village, that what I believe is now called the Village Store was at that time Hathaways, because it was run by a gentleman who had been Captain Hathaway in the First War. And you had to call him very carefully ‘Captain Hathaway’, because he was very proud of having been a captain, and he ran the shop, and it was a splendid shop and everybody used it.
And also I can remember Miss Coombes who was the dragon in the Post Office, and she used to terrify the children – we were really quite frightened to go in. She was quite harmless really, I suppose, but we were a bit frightened of her. And then some years after that- I mean, we thought she was quite old then- and then suddenly to everybody’s astonishment she got married. And she married Mr Wiggins, and became Mrs Wiggins which was very difficult for us to remember to call her Mrs Wiggins.
Since I came to live in Bampton I read a number of years ago in the Witney Gazette that she had just retired, and I happened to be in Shipton and I went to see her. And I was so delighted because she remembered me and remembered the family, and we had quite a good chat. Her husband I think was still alive then. And I was so glad I’d been because I think it was three or four years after that she in fact died, and it was very nice for me that we’d made this contact late in both our lives”.
Hathaway’s shop High Street Shipton 1930s. Originally Dees stores, the shop was built in 1919 when Mr Dee moved from his premises opposite Shipton Lodge. The drapery section was upstairs with the groceries below. Deliveries were made to surrounding villages by Stanley Gorton seen here with Mary Barnes and the Model A Ford van. The railings around the shop went in the war effort in 1940
The Full Interview – and Additional Reminiscences
There are two separate audio files of Dorothy “Dor” Thomson’s memories in the WLHS archive.
She is interviewed by Mary McNeill at her home in Bampton, where she talks of the arrival of her family in 1919 at Shipton Court, where her family lived until 1934. She recalls the Wild Garden, and reference is made to the lack of motor traffic – but there is an amusing anecdote about Mr Samuda of Bruern Abbey and his Model T Ford. There are especially detailed descriptions of the stables – which were prominent in the lives of the Thomson family. Some interesting details of the main gate into Plum Lane are also recalled.
Inspired by this interview, Dorothy recorded her own set of additional memories for the society, creating rich and varied insights into Shipton and Milton life over several decades from the 1920s, as well as stories of her father’s gambling and interest in horse racing.
Here is a snippet from one of our many Oral History audio files. In it, Dulcie Arundell tells the story of a night-time meeting at Shipton Station.
Here is a photo of Dulcie in later life (2007): The Society invited Wychwood senior citizens to view archive photographs Dorothy Shepherd (Dulcie Arundell’s sister) , Dulcie Arundell, Kath Cooper
Listen Here
Dulcie Arundell with Trudy Yates: 2nd April 1993
Transcript
“There was a lot of work. I met an American serviceman, working late one night, and I shan’t ever forget him. I was in the office. We had one office staff, one outside staff, always on late duty. And he’d come from a convalescent home somewhere, and he was going to RAF Lyneham.
At least the American Air Force was at RAF Lyneham. And he’d been sent to Shipton, as we had such a lot of both goods and people come to Shipton station for Lyneham.. But it wasn’t our Lyneham.. It was Lyneham in Wiltshire, you see.
And at that time of night there was no possibility of getting out of the village really. And I felt so sorry for him. I said, “Right, well, I’ll ring through and I’ll see what I can do”, and I was itching to get home.
And it took me almost, I think, an hour and a half before I could get anybody to do anything about it. And I said, “Something’s got to be done. He’s just come from a convalescent home. He can’t stay here on the station all night.”.
And eventually, they agreed to send a truck out for him. And I’ll never forget him. He opened out his wallet, and he said, “Now, I want you to have all this.” And I said, “Well, don’t be silly.”
And he said, “I know my number’s up.” he said, “I’d like you to have it, because wherever they send me, I know my number’s up.” And I said, “No, on no account.” I said, “You take the chance like anybody else.” I said, “And we shall all pray for you.” And I said, “I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll take one of these $1 notes.” And I’ve still got that $1 note.
I’ll always remember then, because I felt so sorry for him, because he didn’t look well. Anyway, they sent the truck out for him. What happened to him? I don’t know. But I’ve never forgot that fellow.”
The Full Interview
Dulcie’s grandparents were from an agricultural background, grandfather was cowman to the Hartley family in Shipton. Mother, Winifred Emma Powell married father Leonard Hill Shepherd – he came from Stonesfield, a butcher’s roundsman.
Descriptions of family life and growing families, and of school attendance- especially the opportunities for social mobility for pupils showing ability – Dulcie was one such beneficiary.
A lively and in-depth interview with references to many Wychwoods family names, village and community activities, shops, postal services, the telephone exchange, her sister’s shocking accident, and with special reference to Dr Scott and his paternal care for village families in need.
Among many anecdotes is this touching story of a GI soldier who arrived late night at Shipton station, looking for Lyneham in Wiltshire. Many such stories and anecdotes pepper this extensive interview.
In this extract from the WLHS Oral History archive, we find George Bradley telling the story of his one single failed delivery during World War II.
George Bradley’s Bedford lorry used in his haulage business. Note the masked headlights as used for wartime service
Listen Here
George Bradley with John Rawlins: March 17th 1988
The Transcript
Before and during the war, I was delivering products for the wood-working company and that took me about 100-mile radius around the country, as far as Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham and London.
At that time of day. That was before the war. Well then, when the war came, this work got more restricted you see and they did a lot of sub-contracting to shopfitters, you see, across here. And I delivered their products to the various shopfitters round the cities, London, Birmingham and the like.
Well that dropped off of course during the war very much and I was delivering some of their products during the war when the aircraft were coming over, when they were bombing London. That was sometime around 1940.
Well then that went on and only on one occasion I had to bring some stuff back. And we put the load on over the weekend. On the Sunday, that was a Sunday when the Germans came over and plastered the Dock area of London.
On one weekend in particular. On the Sunday night that was their one point was to plaster the Dock area of London. Which they did in some order and the Dock area was knocked about bad on that occasion. Including parts of East London, you see, that was where we used to deliver.
One of the places we went to deliver was still on fire. We went in the morning and I never saw such a thing. The road was absolutely covered with hoses. Fire engines and hoses all over the place. That was in Snow Hill just behind the Old Bailey. That was the only delivery I wasn’t able to do and I had to bring that back.
The Full Interview
George and Megan Bradley lived in Station Road, Shipton. George had a haulage business and brother Reg ran a garage business. Originally in Station Road, they then moved to centre of Shipton to new premises used by the Americans during the war. This informal conversation with John Rawlins was recorded on March 17th 1988 . This is a single conversation in two parts, divided simply because of the arrival of Megan Bradley halfway through.
Here is an extract from an Oral History audio file of Megan Bradley’ s March 1988 conversation with John Rawlins
George and Megan Bradley: 50th Wedding Anniversary 1987
Among memories of evacuees, low-flying Spitfires, and requisitioned land for aircraft maintenance, Megan has several anecdotes, and a particularly touching one about the arrival at her house of three big men “asking for potatoes”… These turned out to be three exhausted Canadian soldiers looking for a place to rest up and get a wash!
Listen Here
Megan Bradley with John Rawlins: March 17th 1988
Transcript
I can tell you a story about the war.
One morning I was bathing Ralph, what was he, about two, and a knock come at my kitchen door, and down Meadow Lane you knocked at the door, and you walked into the kitchen. There was no porch or anything. There were three of the biggest men I saw, I think.
They were in uniform, and they looked dreadful. And they asked me if I’d got any potatoes to sell. I said, “Oh no”, I said,” I’ve got no potatoes to sell”, I said. “Why?”, I said, “What do you want to buy potatoes for? Where have you been on manoeuvres? “.
I could see by their uniforms they were Canadians. And they’d been on these manoeuvres anyway. And so, I said “Well I can cook you some breakfast”. “Oh, we’d rather have a wash ma’am”.
And so, I said:” Right, would you come inside?”. And I thought to myself then, there’s these three men there and there’s me by myself, my husband gone out. Anyway, in they come and I started pumping water, because you only had a pump.
And so, they said: “Oh no we won’t wash in here. If you let us have a towel and some soap, we’ll wash in the river” – which was at the side of our house. Which they did. They took the towels. I give them towels and soap.
And while they were doing that, I had a pig on the wall. A ham, a bacon side, and off come some of this ham and I cooked slices of ham. We had chickens, no end of chicken’s eggs and bacon I cooked for them.
And they sat there, and they ate that breakfast and one of them looked up on the wall and he said “It’s a long time since I’ve seen that”, he said. “We used to have one hanging at home”, he said, “but I hope I’ll be able to go home and see it”. I often wonder whether the poor fellow did.
But you know, they went out of the house. They were, they couldn’t thank me enough. They asked me what I wanted in money. I said,” No thank you”, I said, “You go away, you’re not supposed to have eaten that”. But do you know what they done? They put their hands in their pockets and pulled out money out of their pockets and dropped it on the table and they said:” If you don’t want it, give it to your little boy”. It was only a matter of shillings and pence. That was for the baby. They had a good wash and I lent them father’s razor.
(John Rawlins comments: “It’s amazing now when you think that in this day and age this wouldn’t happen. But in 1940 or 1941, whenever that was, there were a lot of strange children about, there were a lot of strange men about, all different nationalities and yet you felt entirely safe. When we were children, we went with these soldiers all over the place, rode in their vehicles sometimes, against the rules mind you, but you never felt in any danger. Even in the black out. Half of them were strangers. You felt entirely safe”.)
Members and guests gathered for our last talk of the year. This was a lively look at the history, philosophy and evolution of almshouses, as well as an informative description of the work of the Almshouse Association today.
Shipton resident Peter Wilkinson regaled us with a finely constructed talk, copiously illustrated with many examples of almshouse projects undertaken in various parts of the UK. Peter is a retired chartered buildings surveyor and is currently active as an Almshouse Association Panel Consultant. He brought a a wealth of detailed knowledge of his subject.
Almshouses in Witney : Church Green
Many of us have the common perception of almshouses as a picturesque row of cottages, a reminder of a past age. As such they seem of little relevance in a modern welfare state – but we quickly learned of the scope involved, with 1,660 Almshouse Charities managing over 30.000 dwellings for upwards of 36,000 people – with buildings old and new.
Almshouses: Definition and History
Peter took us through the outline history of the founding and development of the almshouse phenomenon. It all started with the Synod of Aix in 816 A.D which gave monasteries the obligation to distribute alms. Usually in the form of food, clothing, medicine, sometimes money. But also, it could involve board and lodging – and it has been from this element that the almshouses come into being.
The Role of the Monasteries
Monks had always looked after their own sick or old brothers in an area known as the Farmery. The term “infirmary” is derived from this. In the 12th & 13th centuries hospitals within the monastery took over from the Farmery with their own Hall & Chapel. They catered for travellers and began to help poor and infirm lay people, giving alms as board and lodging.
But gradually the practice of ministering to lay people at the monastery hospital ceased and separate hospitals were built – for hospitality not medical provision – away from the monastery.
In the monasteries, alms were given out by the ‘Almoner’, the manorial official or monk appointed to collect and distribute them to the poor. Often the alms were dispensed from an almonry, a special room by the church. Gradually the custom of providing board and lodging for travellers developed, usually in the outer court of the monastery.
Fountains Abbey : Farmery Model
Peter’s talk took us through the various iterations of hospitality provision and into the concept of almshouses as we understand them today. He described how through history the monastic Farmery was extended in scope to become the mediaeval hospital for sick and later for elderly poor people.
That in time developed into what we now know as almshouses, moving away from the “hospital” concept and into the world of “hospitality”.
Almshouses Today
Abingdon : Long Gallery
At Chalfont St.Peter – Modern Almshouses
We learned that almshouses tend to be characterised by their charitable status and by the aim of supporting the continued independence of their residents. Peter took us through an extraordinary set of images, describing almshouse projects associated with the work of trustees – many of these involving very creative discussions with developers for new-build almshouses and refurbished older buildings.
Extraordinary Developments – A Surprise to Many….
Crucially, and a surprise to many of us, there is an important distinction between almshouses and other forms of sheltered housing.
Almshouse residents have no security of tenure, being solely dependent upon the goodwill of the 3 administering trustees. Thus, occupants are always referred to as residents, never as tenants. No rent is paid, but rather a weekly maintenance contribution which is like rent but different in law, and perhaps 60-70% of commercial rates.
Most almshouse residents today will be of retirement age, of limited financial means but we also learned that, these days, young families qualify for almshouse residences.
The Almshouse Association: Guiding Principles
The Almshouse Association assists charities to build, modernise and update almshouse dwellings. These projects provide 21st century living in many properties across the UK, and Peter outlined the challenges faced, especially where properties have listed status or where – as is often the case – funds are limited or lacking.
The Almshouse Association ensures that residents have dignity, freedom and independence to live their lives as they see fit within a safe and secure environment. Almshouses are considered homes for life – care packages provided by social services when residents need additional help.
Over 400 wardens or scheme managers are employed by the larger almshouse charities. Some of larger charities offer extra care and even residential care. But the general position is that almshouse residents should be capable of independent living for the rest of their lives.
The society is grateful to Peter for his time and expertise, and indeed for the provision of images and texts to help with this short overview of an enjoyable evening for all.
2022 marks 100 years since the Hartley brothers from Shipton under Wychwood arrived together on the international sporting stage. Their their lives – as well as the sporting lives their sisters – are celebrated in a recent article published online on the Playing Pasts sporting history website.
The article is written by Bill Williams, former Head of Physical Education and sport at Burford school. Bill writes in fascinating detail of the careers of this illustrious sporting family, from early Burford schooldays and onwards. Burford was a pioneer in the promotion of Association Rules Football, and the boys excelled. But cricket were also played to high standard, and the Hartley boys were firmly in the mix, setting themselves up for successful sporting careers in their chosen disciplines. In addition to the boys playing football and cricket, the elder brother Ernest was selected to play for England at field hockey.
The brothers, on horseback as part of The Oxfordshire Yeomanry in 1914
Bill’s article covers the sporting achievements of each family member, and at the same time takes us through the challenges facing each of them through two world wars. We learn a great deal about the life and times of those pursuing a sporting career in the face of historical changes.
For example , we read “As war broke out in 1914, Tom, Ernest and Frank joined the Army, while William joined the Merchant Navy; Richard stayed at home to run the family farm, which during times of conflict, was a reserved occupation and vital to the war effort. The three brothers joined The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, which formed part of The Oxfordshire Yeomanry and by the start of the twentieth century, had reached regimental strength. As a reserve regiment, the Hussars were often granted permission to conduct drills and exercises on the extensive grounds at Blenheim Palace. Thus, as a young boy, Winston Churchill often witnessed the summer cavalry training camps in which he would later take part in as a grown man, rising to the rank of Major and commanding the Henley squadron, the rank he maintained until 1924”.
Richard, Ernest and Frank in later life
The society is pleased to been able to contribute in some small way to Bill’s extensive research, and we recommend members and visitors to visit Bill’s article here.
More on the Hartley Heritage can be discovered in our 2001 Journal here
About Bill Williams Bill was Head of Physical Education and sport at Burford school in Oxfordshire, from 1987- 2019. Since retiring in 2019, he has spent time researching the sporting history of the school and beyond.
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