| Warborough | |
|---|---|
 St. Laurence's parish church | |
  Warborough Location withinOxfordshire | |
| Area | 6.95 km2 (2.68 sq mi) |
| Population | 987 (parish, includingShillingford, 2011)[1] |
| • Density | 142/km2 (370/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU5993 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Wallingford |
| Postcode district | OX10 |
| Dialling code | 01865 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Warborough Parish Council |
| |
Warborough is a village andcivil parish inSouth Oxfordshire, about 2.5 miles (4 km) north ofWallingford and about 9 miles (14 km) south ofOxford. The parish also includes thehamlet ofShillingford, south of Warborough beside theRiver Thames.
Thetoponym has evolved over the centuries. A property deed written about 1370 calls the villageWareburewe.[2] In 1086 Warborough was part of the large royal estate ofBenson.[3] TheChurch of England parish church ofSaint Laurence was originally achapel of the parish of Benson. There is a record of theEmpress Matilda giving thebenefice of Benson, including chapels atNettlebed and Warborough, to theAugustinian Abbey at nearbyDorchester in about 1140,[4] and for most of the Middle Ages Warborough was regarded as part of the parish of Dorchester. It remained part of the Dorchesterpeculiar until 1847, but functioned largely as an independent parish from the Middle Ages.[5]
Perhaps the oldest item in the church is thefont, which dates from late in the 12th century.[6] Thechancel hasDecorated Gothic features from the early part of the 13th century, including the east window and one of the windows on the south side. The other windows of the chancel are laterPerpendicular Gothic additions. The nave and southtransept are Perpendicular features from the 14th century, although the transept arch and window are Decorated. TheGothic Revival architectsG.F. Bodley andThomas Garner restored the chancel in 1881. The Perpendicular Gothic windows in thenave are likewise Victorian.[6] Thebell-tower was rebuilt in 1666. Its two oldest bells were cast in 1618, and two more date from 1675. It had aring of six bells, but in 1955 two new bells were cast and hung increasing the ring to eight.[7]
Warborough has a number ofhalf-timbered andthatched houses, including acruck cottage 100 yards (91 m) southwest of the parish church. A date stone on themanor house on the north side of the village green says it was built in 1696. Thevicarage isGeorgian. Near the cruck cottage is a terrace of four cottages designed in 1952 by the architectLionel Brett.[8] ThemaltsterJoseph Tubb (1805–79) lived in Warborough. In 1844–45 he carved thePoem Tree atWittenham Clumps.[9] Warborough and Shillingford Festival was founded in 1965. It is held annually in July.[10]
Warborough has a village shop, a post office and apublic house: The Six Bells.[11] It used to be served by two other pubs, The Cricketers and Nellie’s, but these have long since closed. The village has a pre-school[12] and aChurch of England primary school.[13] Most secondary school pupils from the parish attendWallingford School. The picturesque village green has a playground, a cricket pitch and football goals. To the east of the village green is a large allotments field, tennis courts, a table tennis table and cricket nets. Warborough & Shillingford Cricket Club have a large junior section, a women’s and girls’ section and a senior XI who play friendly declaration cricket every Sunday through the season against a variety of mainly wandering sides.[14][15] There is a large village hall, The Greet Memorial Hall which hosts various classes including ashort mat bowls club and ajujitsu club,[16] is the venue for parish council meetings and is also available to hire. There is also a small church hall for hire - St Laurence Hall, which hosts various classes including the Warborough and ShillingfordWomen's Institute,[17] There is also the newly refurbished sports pavilion which is available to rent outside of cricket club usage.
The village and surrounding areas have been the subject of filming locations for the crime dramaMidsomer Murders.[18]
Media related toWarborough at Wikimedia Commons
