The Bicestorian: Genealogy & Local History

Elm Tree House, situated on Church Lane in the village of Wendlebury near Bicester, was built circa the early 17th century. It was officially recognised as a Grade II listed building in the 1980's. In 1892, George Castle - a local auctioneer - hosted a sale of 'household furniture and effects' which had belonged to the recently deceased owner of the property, a Mrs Ann Tanner. Shortly after the auction, an advert appeared in the Bicester Herald newspaper: "TO LET: At Wendlebury, Bicester, ELM TREE HOUSE containing six rooms, stable and coach-house with garden." After further research, it transpires that Mrs Tanner was born as Ann Foster in the village in 1818 - the daughter of Richard King Foster and Ann Tredwell. She married John Tanner in 1847, and they went on to have at least 7 children. Ann lived in the village her entire life, and was buried just up the road from Elm Tree House in the cemetery of the church, in January 1892.

Dated 1729, Grove Farmhouse is situated in the village of Beckley, on the edge of Otmoor. It was a cattle and dairy farm throughout its history, and its owners provided jobs to many local agricultural labourers.  In March 1867, a notice appeared in a local newspaper, requesting that anyone having any demands upon the estate of Mr William Denchfield Parrott of Grove Farm should contact his solicitor, Mr Davenport of Oxford. In November 1889, Mr William Henry Hall - brother of Mr Edward Pinniger Hall of Grove Farm, Beckley - was elected as Mayor of Aldeburgh-on-Sea, Suffolk. During the 1890's, the farmhouse was occupied by the Shrimpton family; on 7th June 1891, 4 year old Louisa Mary Shrimpton sadly passed away at the property. Louisa appears to have been the daughter of John Shrimpton (born 1857 in Great Haseley, the son of John Shrimpton and Mary Louisa Hatwell) and his wife Louisa Mary Tirrell (born 1858 in Woodeaton, the daughter of Thomas Tirrell and Susannah Shaw). The second ...

Crick House is located on Church Street, Bicester, and was built circa the late 17th or early 18th century, although it was remodelled during the 19th century. In February 1904, an inquest was held at the nearby Six Bells Inn concerning the death of Vera Grimsley Smith - the infant daughter of Mr Sydney Frederick Smith of Crick House. After reviewing the medical evidence given by Dr Cecil Hendriks, as well as testimony provided by local chemist Mr Mountain, the jury returned a verdict of 'death from narcotic poison'; it transpired that the child's mother had purchased cough mixture from Mr Mountain, who had advised her to give little Vera just 10 drops of the syrup (which contained laudanum/opium). The mother swore that she had heeded the chemist's advice, but as Dr Hendriks stated, "it was a difficult thing to know how much a child could stand", and that Vera may have been "extraordinarily sensitive to opium". The parents were not charged, as it see...

Pound Farmhouse, situated in Blackthorn, dates back to 1658, although it was altered in the 19th century, and extended in the 20th century. In the early 1900's, the house was occupied by the Jones family, who were farmers. It would appear that it had been the home of the Jones' for several generations - in 1875, a Mr John Jones was residing there. (Photograph courtesy of Move Market).

Yew Tree Farm, situated in the village of Charlton-on-Otmoor, dates back to circa 1700. On 27th July 1887, auctioneers Mumford & Bond held an auction of approximately 23 acres of land attached to Yew Tree Farm at The Crown Inn, advertising it as 'excellent for growing crops of corn'. (Photograph courtesy of Knight Frank).

Manor Farm in Hardwick (also known as Hardwick Hall) was built sometime between 1580 and 1643 by Sir Richard Fermor, the then Lord of the Manor.  The Fermors leased the house to the Day family in the 18th century, and between 1793 and 1812, the property was occupied by the Collingridge family. Hidden inside the house is a priest hole, which were relatively common in large houses in days gone by! In May 1932, the fire brigade were called out to the house, as two corn ricks and one straw rick in a rickyard close to the Manor were ablaze. Thankfully, the fire was extinguished, resulting in no damage being done to the house; it was then in the possession of Mr Vivian-Smith of nearby Tusmore House, although the Manor itself was unoccupied at this time. Tusmore and Hardwick had a large percentage of Roman Catholics, who would worship at the Fermor family's chapel at Tusmore House, as well as in the attic of Hardwick Hall! The Fermors, along with the other tenants of the manor house, were...