North Aston, A Millennium: A Thousand Years of Rural Life. This item is unavailable.North Aston, A Millennium: A Thousand Years of Rural Life

North Aston has stood on the western slopes of the Cherwell valley, mid-way between Oxford and Banbury, for well over a thousand years. Already well established by the time of the Norman Conquest, the village was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Today the size of North Aston and its population remains much as it did then, and the land still provides employment for many of its residents. This book recounts the history of North Aston from the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day. It also taps into the memories of those whose families have resided within the parish for hundreds of years and unearths a vibrant history that stretches back through the generations. Published to coincide with the celebration of a thousand years of the county of Oxfordshire, North Aston - A Millennium delves into the heart of a rural community, revealing a diverse heritage that blends an inherently pastoral way of life with the unique legacy of a succession of Lords of the Manor. There are tales of ghostly misbehaviour from England s first recorded poltergeist, and agricultural innovation introduced by Oldfield Bowles, a friend of the artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. Centuries before, North Aston was home to Timothy Kendall, the Tudor poet whose translations of classical poetry inspired Shakespeare, while later inhabitants included William Churchill, the great grandfather to an American President. Bernard Gates, resident in North Aston during the eighteenth century, is credited with encouraging Handel to compose his splendid oratorios, while his successor, Thomas Dupuis, became Organist and Composer to the Chapel Royal. Thus a rich musical, artistic and theatrical tradition is exposed, intertwined with royalty, high society and the eminent characters of history. This book encapsulates the changing centuries, but most of all, it is an account of a community and its people a microcosm of English society. It is a chronicle of a thousand years of rural life, generously illustrated with hundreds of images, including maps and rare or previously unpublished photographs - a vivid reminder that we are all a part of the continuity of history.

The book has been written and compiled by the people of North Aston. The editors; Marcus Potts and John Harvey-Lee, are both residents. John, as well as being an author in his own right, is also an illustrator and cartoonist. Marcus is a freelance journalist, photographer and graphic designer.