OMPANION TO IFFLEY MILL AND ITS STORY. SIXPENCE.

JVCarcoF, Church,
and Village
Illustrated.

BlM.D*

Vfc

:f

Henry % Taunt, f.k.s.s.

niform with Iffley Manor, Church and Village.
Third Edition. 8vo. Sixpence.
The first Edition sold out the same day as published.
IFFLEY MILL
and its Story
for the last Seven Hundred Years.
With several Photographic Illustrations of the Mill,
the Lock and Mill, and the Mill in Ruins.
by Henry W. Taunt.

F.R.GS. &C.

SautvVs *' o.

«» Sams of

?ho\o$T?apfcs % ?\ctuta ?os\ Ca\?ds
OF IFFLEY,
IFfliEY JHIIiIi in its Beauty and in trains,
Also of the beautiful NORMAN CHURCH, the LOCK,
Village, May-day Festivities, in Winter &c, &c.
are by far the best.
Photographs 8 by 6, Ten-pence each.
Post Cards, One Penny each.
Any of the Illustrations of the books can be had as Post Cards.
Henry W. Taunt & Co., Oxford.
So\d by a\\ pr\nc\pa\ BooVseWers and Stationers.
See over.

Uniform with IfHey Mill.
Just published 8vo, Sixpence.
IFFLEY Manor,
Church and Village,
with their story for the last 1.000 years.
Fully illustrated by a number of very interesting:
Photographic Illustrations of the Church, Village, Manor,
Rectory and May-day festivities, and Map of the way
to Iffley by the River.
by Henry W. Taunt, fr.g.s. &c.

Henry W. Taunt & Co., Oxford.
So\d tty a\\ pr\nc\pa\ BookseWers and Stationers.
Any of the illustrations of the books can be had as
Photographs or Post Cards.

Iffley Church from South East.

COMPANION TO IFFLEY MILL AND ITS STORY

_&.

lire

ate.

by
Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s.
(M
Photographer to the Oxford Architectural and Historical Society,
and Author of the well-known Guides to the Thames,
&c, &c.

Illustrated with fAap and photographs.

"S^ fit5 jfes

OXFORD :
Henry W. Tauqt * do

All Rights Reserved.

TAUNT & Co.,
ART PRINTERS, OX FO R O .

/

[qoqT
The best of thanks is rendered fay the Author to his many kind friends,
both at Iffley and elsewhere, who by their kind information and assistance,
have materially contributed to the successful completion of this little work.
For an extended account of Iffley, Marshall's ' Township of Iffley,'
published by Parker & Son, Broad St, will be found invaluable.

Iffley Church from above the new Graveyard

Iffley and how to get there.

'A pleasant spot in summer days,
With river, trees, and hills."

*ANY times since we wrote "Iffley Mill and its Story,"
we have been asked to " tell the story also of the
Church and Village," which some day will be included
in the fair City of Oxford, whose growing arms are
fast extending themselves towards it. Indeed even now there are
only a couple of fields on each' side of the brook which forms
the boundary of the City, which are not being overgrown with
houses, and the first of these already bears a sign, with the
ominous intimation that " Building leases will be granted," which
points to only a short time before the road to " Iffley Turn " will
have a continuous line of Shops, Colleges, Houses, or Villa
residences, extending the whole way from Carfax to the pretty
village. It is only a half century since the Iffley road had open
fields on both sides without a house, and the roadway as far as
the stone which had upon it the " Mile end of the City of Oxford,"
was one uninterrupted series of ruts ; so deep indeed were they,
that loaded waggons in winter time fairly rubbed along on the
hubs of their wheels, and six horses have been seen harnessed to
a not overloaded waggon, which even then they could but slowly
haul along. This was owing to a dispute between the City and
the Parishes, as to who should keep the roads in repair ; the
Parishes claiming that the City should repair them to the ' Mile

end ' stones, and the City that the Parishes should keep their
own roads in repair. The matter of course culminated in a law
suit, in which twice as much money was spent as would have
put everything right, and ended at last in a compromise ; no one
being benefited except the lawyers, as is usual in such cases.
Now the Oxford boundary is extended beyond the Stone to
the little brook crossing the road near ' the Turn,' and this is one
of the finest roads leading out of the City ; while visitors to
Iffley can get out to ' the Turn ' at a cost of one penny from
Magdalen Bridge, by the busses which run to and fro every, half
hour during the day, from Broad Street, through Holywell, and
over Magdalen Bridge. This perhaps is the easiest way of reaching
Iffley, and a very pleasant one, although there is even a prettier
track in summer along the towing-path, or down the River itself,
which is noticed on the next page. In summer the ride should be
on the top of the 'Bus, and in front if possible, to enjoy the chang
ing panorama as it winds past, which we will now describe.
The view from Magdalen Bridge where the three roads part,
has for its centre the ornamental structure with a clock, erected
as a drinking fountain by the late G. H. Morrell M. P. ; close
behind it being the old Churchyard of St. Clement, now con
taining the memorial to the Officers and Men of the Oxfordshire
Light Infantry, who fell in the South African war ; on the other
side of the way is Magdalen College School, and the road lead
ing to Milham Ford, in olden times sacred ground, for it led to
St. Edmund's Well, a spot high in legendary renown.
A row of houses now extends as far as the eye reaches, up
the East side of the road from the Cape of Good Hope, the hotel
which stands at the parting of the Iffley and Cowley roads ; while
on the other side are Cricket fields and Running grounds, and
the river valley with the hills beyond. Several streets connecting
this road with the Cowley Road open out as we pass ; among
them being Marston Street, in which is the Mission House of
St. John the Evangelist, the home of the Cowley Fathers ; while
a few yards on is the Church belonging to that Society, with
its Western Tower on which is a Calvary, facing the road. The
houses improve farthur along, and semi-detached villas line the
Western side, with streets beyond leading to the fields : a line
of trees has lately been planted along the edge of the path,
and everything wears the appearance of surburban gentility. Soon
we leave the houses, and rolling down an incline cross a little
brook ; which is the present boundary of Oxford. Then we rise
to the Turn, just before reaching which is Rosebank ; a house for
some time occupied by the mother of Cardinal Newman, which
has in its front a high Scotch Fir, said to have been planted by
the Cardinal himself.

At a very sharp turn the 'Bus stops, and the village begins ;
the road to London bearing to the left, while that to the village
turns to the right ; the first houses stand singly, back up on the
hill hidden in greenery, with carriage drives leading up to them ;
then a row of cottages called The Terrace with trees beyond,
soon leads to the ' The Tree,' the remains of a fine old Elm
standing up on a mound of earth, where a road turns off to the
left. Under this tree once stood the Village Stocks, and the
Hotel named after the Tree, is close by ; it was called ' The Elm
House ' years ago, and then was a noted rendezvous for Village
Benefit Clubs, and kindred Societies. Cottages are now dotted
about in picturesque irregularity, a few yards on is the turn down
to the old Mill, the way to the Lock, but the main street con
tinues by the old house of Mrs. Sarah Nowell's School, the Post
Office, and the newer stone built and thatched building bearing
the legend ' Iffley Parochial School mdcccxxxviii,' straight to the
Church, the Court House, and the path across the fields to the
little village of Littlemore, at one time itself a hamlet in the
parish of Iffley.
There is another way of strolling to Iffley from off the
Iffley Road, but it is too dirty in wet weather to traverse,
although on a dry summer evening it is very pleasant. This
can be reached by taking the turn down into the fields opposite
Bullingdon Road, and along Meadow Lane as it is called facing
the fields, ( which also leads to the Free ferry over the river.)
From the turn to the Ferry a pretty grassy field-road leads along
until it turns up to the left and ends in Iffley village just before
reaching ' the Tree.' It is one of the only places close to Oxford
where we have seen the Glow-worm's light shining on the banks
by the side of the lane, and even here in some summers, they
are not to be found.
We have already mentioned there is a third very pleasant
way to Iffley, by ' Tram to Folly Bridge, and either down the river
by boat, or keeping by it along the towing-path, which leads
straight to Iffley Lock. The little map on next page will be
found useful in showing the way along the river side, and over
the Lock gates, where a little path leads to the toll bridge at
the old Mill. We have fully described the way down in another
of our little books, " Down the River to Nuneham and Abingdon."
Iffley grows very pretty as we near it, the old Norman Tower of
the Church with its round headed openings, looks down upon us ;
"we hear the drone of the weir before we reach it, and then a
short distance on past the Isis Hotel, by the Lasher, we see the
Lock and Mill, with the old Manor house on the Hill. Every^
one is pleased with the pictures here, and such a number are to
found, one or two indeed at every step ; one particularly where

the old woodwork of the Lock makes so admirable a foreground,
and the willows and other trees half hide and half reveal, the
old ruin'd Mill. Once over the Mill Bridge rise the sloping road
from it, take the first turn to the right, then at the next corner
the turn fo the left, which leads by the Rectory to the Church.

Chart of the
OXFORB' BOAJ RA.C.6 COURSE
with the
BARGES AND STARTMG STATIONS
av
HENBY W TAUHT (OF OXFORD.)

All RIGHTS RESERVED

The Way to Iffley by the River.

Iffley Manor from the River,

Iffley and its Manors.

"Ages have passed since the vassal horde
Rose at the call of their feudal lord,
Serf and chief, the fetter'd and free,
Are resting beneath the greenwood tree."

FFLEY stands out pre-eminent in this district, for the
number of wavs in which its name has been spelt in the
past ; Marshall in his history giving details of Eighty
variations. The first, ' Gifteleia ' from the Chronicles of
Abingdon in 941-6, is not only the earliest mention of the place,
but also supplies the most probable derivation of its name from
those Saxon times. It may be rendered ' The fields of Gifts,'
and connected with this rendering is the story of Beri Meadow
and the miraculous course of the taper set in the dish of corn,
which floated against stream all round the meadow, and proved(?)
its owners to be the Abingdon Monastery ; the legend will be
found in full in "Iffley Mill and its Story." Among the many
other ways of spelling Iffley we may mention Giveletei (1086
Domesday Book) Ivittelai (1164) Giftele (1220) Yftele (1220) Ivetelei
.(c 1230) Yiftelei (c 1250) Esteley (r266) Parva Yfteleye (1267)
Hyftele (T284) Giffthebure (1303) Zyfteleye (1340) Zistele (1369)
&c, those with Z being only a common form of the small Saxon
letter 5 (g). In Domesday Book we are told. "Earl Alberic held of
the King* Givetelei, there are four hides : the land is of six caru-
cates, and five serfs and fourteen villeins with six bordars have

8
four carucates, there is a fishery of four shillings: and twenty four
acres of meadow and one furlong of pasture : wood two furlongs
in length and in breadth, it was worth one hundred shillings,
now four pounds. Azor held it freely in the time of King
Edward (the Confessor.)"
The area of the land given, four hides of 120 acres each, is
as near as possible that stated in the inclosure award (including
the roads) of 472 acres 3 roods and 26 poles, but the money
value must be reckoned at more than thirty times that of our
own time. Azor seems to have been a Saxon chief and held
Iffley as his freehold ; but whether he was killed in battle, or
as a rebel was deprived of his possessions, which were at this
time in the hands of the Conqueror, we know not. Earl Alberic
(or Aubrey de Vere) is said to have held, not holds, and it is on
record that he turned monk and left his possessions before 1086
when the Domesday survey was made ; while from some cause
the value of the Manor had declined one fifth, between the early
valuation of Edward and that of Domesday, pointing possibly to
its having been raided at some time, when Oxford also suffered ;
as Domesday also speaks of 478 houses in that City so waste
and destroyed that they cannot pay tax. Alberic, we read, was
in one instance accused of having dispossessed the church of
Coventry of land given to it by Earl Alwin in the time of the
Confessor ; and also is said to have been a man unfit for public
business, while nearly all his Manors were in 1086 in the hands of
the King. He is said to have come over with the Conqueror,
from whom he received numerous grants of Manors, at one of
which, Headingham in Essex, was his Castle. He married
Beatrice the Countess of Ghisnes, and had five sons, but there
seems to be some uncertainty when and where he died, the
Chronicles of Abingdon speak of a donation to that Abbey when
Faritius was Abbot, which was confirmed by a charter of Henry I.
in which the King authorizes those donations made by Earl
Aubrey his wife and sons, on account of the kindness his son
Goisfrid received from Faritius in his sickness, of which he died.
Earl Aubrey also built a cell on his estate at Colne in Essex, to
be subject to the Abbey, where he and his successors might be
buried : here he eventually retired after assuming the religious
habit, and dying was buried there with his youngest son.
In 1156, Richard de S. Remigio was, in the Oxfordshire
Pipe rolls, assessed at the sum of eight shillings, from which he
was quit by the King's writ ; and in 1158, Robert de S. Remigio
was assessed in like manner at three shillings and fourpence •
which may have been an assessment for Iffley. The chief estate
at Iffley was at this time certainly possessed by the family De
S. Remigio, and in the latter part of the century Juliana de S.

Remigio, the daughter of Robert gave to the Priory of Kenil-
worth the Church of Iffley, and certain land with her body for
burial. Her property in Iffley is further evidenced, by the gift of
one virgate of land to her palfrey man Robert, who gave it to the
same Priory; by the grant of half a virgate, which in 1279 was
held by Ralph de Sanford ; and by the grant of one and six
pence per annum, from the Mill to the Hospital af St. John the
Baptist in Oxford.
From the circumstances that she owned the Mill and the
tenement on the Hill above the Ferry, which descended with it,
and is included in the property belonging to Lincoln College,
being still termed the Manor house, it appears she owned part
of the Manor or a separate and subordinate Manor, which
descended as distinct from the chief estate of Iffley.
The large estate afterwards passed to the family of Nigel, a
Norman : who, under the name of Fitz Neele, held it for a con
siderable period. This family originally resided at Boarstall,
Bucks ; where they were said to have been before the Conquest.
In the nth. of Henry II (1164-5) Robert Fitz Neele is said to
owe forty marks for the right of ten Knights fees, and Richard
Fitz Neele to owe one hundred marks for the right of Ivittelai,
and Robert de S. Remigio to render an account of four marks,
from which he was free by the King's writ. In the 2nd. of
Richard I. 1190-1. Richard Fitzneele is stated to owe forty marks
for the right of Covelay, (Cowley,) and Yvetelai ; that is for
one Knight's fee, against Robert de S. Remigio. It comprehend
ed four hides of land, (as at the Domesday survey,) and was
valued at £22^ Another family, that of Geoffrey de Clinton,
who, was Chamberbain to Henry I. and founded the Priory of
Kenilworth about n 22 held land here. His grandson confirmed
the grants of various possessions which had been acquired by
that Priory, including those given by Juliana de S. Remigio,
and this donation of hers probably led to the lawsuit between
the Clintons and the Fitzneeles about 1200. Richard Fitzneele
also gave a quantity of land to the Knights Templars who held
the preceptory at Cowley ; and we find that in Iffley Parva
(probably the present Hockmore Street) and in Cowley, his
tenants were seventeen, and each had fifteen acres of land. For
these they paid three shillings and were also compelled to work
with waggons and horses, at their Lord's will ; but if they work
he remits the three shillings.
Richard Fitzneele left a daughter Agnes, who married Reginald
Basset ; and in one of the Magdalen College deeds he is spoken
of as 'Lord of Iftele', but dying before his wife, she became
liable to the King for a fine of twenty marks, for the wardship
of her daughter Alice ; but when Alice married Warine Fitzgerald

he was directed to pay the fine, and evidently was afterwards
recognized as holding Iveteleg from the King. When they died
the property passed, in 1251, to another branch of the Fitzneeles ;
and Robert the heir paid a fine of twelve pounds and ten shill
ings to the King; while in 1253 an 'aid' of forty shillings was
also paid to the King by him, for making his eldest son a
knight. In 1265 he was killed at the Battle of Evesham, and
his forfeited lands were granted to Walter de Merton, and re-
granted by him to Robert de Lusches ; but this was probably
only a friendly arrangement to save the estates, as when Walter
died the property was left by his will to Robert Fitzneele the
son, with also thirty marks to stock his lands, while the exe
cutors "also paid a hundred marks to Robert, which Walter had
promised him."
In the rolls of the hundred, 7 Ed. 1. a number of interesting
particulars are recorded, the summary of which is :- That the free
tenants or freeholders, as well as the part of Littlemore and
Little Iffley, and the tenants of William Burgan, and the Rector
of the Church of Iffley, and the Prior of Kenil worth, shall give
scutage for four hides of land and a half, geldable to the Lord
of Iffley, who is the mesne ' Lord between them and the King.
This half hide in addition to the other four seems to have
constituted the property of Wm. Burgan, and afterwards to have
been called "Burganham," to distinguish it from the rest of the
parish. It was held of the Lord of Iffley by the annual payment
as quit rent, of a pound of pepper and a pound of cumin ; with
suit of court at Iffley and at the court of the hundred, and this
portion of the Manor may be the same as is vested in Lincoln
College, or that which constituted the part in ' Covelay.'
The inhabitants of Iffley at the time of this survey claimed
the appointment of a ' head tythingman,' and a ' taster of ale in
the Lord's court ' &c. One of the quaint customs was in con
nection with the cottagers, of which there were seven on the
Manor, who were bound to make the lord's hay, and each of them
after every days work was permitted to have a ' Yelm ' of hay,
which answers roughly to a truss. At Harvest, when each had
to give the Lord three days work, they were to have a sheaf of
corn as large as a band of its own would hold ; but they had to
pay each year, twenty-four or more head of poultry, which was
called Chirshat or Church-scot. In this survey a large number of
copyholders and tenants are mentioned, as well as grants to the
Hospital of St. John, (now Magd : Coll.) St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, Cowlev Road, the Brethren of the Temple at Cowley,
the Abbot of Osney, and the Priory of Ken il worth ; but the latter
held no land here at the dissolution, although they had some
at Cowley ; it had been appropriated to the Archdeaconry of

Oxford. The account altogether covers about three folio columns
in the abbreviated type used ; so is too long for this little work.
Robert Fitzneele, probably a son, died seized of the Manor
of Iffley 5. Ed. III. ( 1331-2,) when the escheator took cognizance
of his estate ; which seems to have descended to his daughter
Grace, who married John de Nowers, and from her to her son
and heir Robert Fitzneele. She had other children by her husband,
and this heirship is curious and not clear ; however he afterwards
became a lunatic, and his property was held in trust for him,
but eventually it is found in the possession of one of her other
sons, John de Nowers, who retained it until 1369 ; when it was
released to the King and became Royal property again, as the
following deed tells.
"John, son of John de Nowers of Gothurst, doth release to the
Lord the King, and the Lord Ingleram de Coucy and the Lady Isabella
his consort, daughter of the Lord the King, and the heirs of the
same Lord the King ; all the right and claim which he had in all
the Manors, lands &c., with their appurtenances in Salden, Murreslee,
Zistele &c."
Iffley is here spelt Zistele. Ingleram de Coucy, was the husband
of Isabella, the eldest daughter of Edward III. and was created
Earl of Bedford. When John, King of France, then a prisoner in
England, was allowed to return home to procure the sum required
for his ransom, he sent to England the young Lord de Coucy,
Count of Soisohs, as one of the hostages, and when the King of
France came back to England, De Coucy took a leading part in
the reception at Eltham ; with the result that he acquired the
favour of Edward, and he and the princess were married in 1368.
De Coucy was some time after judged to be an adherent of the
French, and his estates forfeited ; but they were granted to the
Archbishop of York, and others, in trust for the maintenance of
the princess, until her death ; when they reverted to the crown,
and by Richard II., were granted to his Queen Anne of Bohemia,
as part of her dowry.
By the Queen, Yftelei was again granted to Sir Richard
Abberburv for her life, and in 1385 the grant was confirmed by
the King, in terms to the following effect.
" The King &c, greeting : Know ye that whereas Richard Abberbury
chevalier, for keeping our state during our youth, sold his Manors of
Shorham &c, being of great value, we, having consideration thereunto
of oar special favour, and for the good service which the said Richard
did to us in our youth, have given and granted to the aforesaid Richard
and his heirs, the reversions of the Manor of Yistele in the County of
Oxon, which the said Richard held for her life of the gift and grant of
our most dear Consort the Queen of England which grant we have
confirmed by our letters patent &c.
Sir Richard was also Lord of Donnington, where he built
the Castle and the Hospital, and by letters patent ( 1393 ) he

obtained permission to assign the Manor of Iffley, to support this
Hospital, and thus to this day the greater part of Iffley still belongs
to the maintenance of " God's Poor House of Donnington," and
is administered by the brethren of that charity.
The property of Donnington Hospital consists of the Manor
of Iffley, which extended over the present parishes of Iffley, part of
Littlemore, Rose Hill, and part of Cowley, and certain lands with
in the same, these are held by the tenants at reserved rents, being
the same with few exceptions as they paid 200 years ago upon
leases. Fines proportional to the value of the property are claimed
by the Hospital on renewal, and a heriot is claimed upon transfer
through death. Some of the leases extend over three lives. The
proceeds of the property are divided between the Minister of the
Hospital, and the Inmates pro rata, as the will of Sir Richard
Abberbury provides.
An early tenant ( 1565 ) was Dr. David Lewes, the first Prin
cipal of Jesus College, and the property continued in this family
for a hundred years, afterwards passing to the Pitts family, whose
tomb is noticed in the Church. In the 18th century, Dr. Nowell
of Oriel College was lessee, and after him his nephew Admiral
Nowell, who was distinguished for his skill and courage. This
anecdote is told of him. " At the time of a mutiny in his ship,
having learned that the ringleader was one of the carpenter's crew,
Lieutenant Nowell volunteered to go down and secure him.
Accompanied by another Officer, he went down the hatchway,
and made the men haul up the lower deck ports, as he advanced
forward to the berth where this man was haranguing and cheer
ing the men collected around him ; Nowell planted a blow under
the ringleader's throat and knocked him backward over a chest,
then seized him and declared he would run any man through who
should attempt a rescue. The mutiny was ended." He died at
Iffley in 1828, and his widow who founded the School, in 1842.
These families lived at Court Place on the South side of the
Church, but this now is not the old house, having been rebuilt
after the fire of October 12th., 1810. A large number of tenants
have holdings under Donnington, and even the principal estate
has been divided more than once. For a number of years before
1869, Mr. Henry Walsh held it, and his name is still remembered
with honour in the little village. Major Ind held Court Place
until his death in 1906 ; since then it has been in the possession
of L. Pearsall-Smith Esq. and the Manor House on the hill above
the ferry is tenanted by Mr. E. H. Turner.
The outlying part of Iffley on the main road above the turn,
called Rose Hill, takes its name from a house erected here about
1825, by a Mr. Ireland, a self styled M.D. who was very successful

*3
as a practitioner, and the last gentleman in the neighbourhood
to sport a pigtail, and ruffles at his wrists ; but the term has ex
tended to the other houses, near it, as far as the ' King o' Proosia'
Inn. Mr. Ireland's house was afterwards a School. The chief road
to Church Cowley once traversed the turnpike road at this spot
and passed across to the blacksmith's shop, and by two cottages
visible in the direction of the Industrial School. There is a small
Chapel and burial ground belonging to the Primitive Methodists.
A field-path still leads from Rose Hill across to the old
Church of St. James' Cowley, along the top of the new cemetery
belonging to the Oxford Corporation.

Iffley Church from South West.

Iffley Church.

Where'er we tread 'tis haunted, holy ground.

FFLEY Church,
dedicated to St.
Mary, is one of
the most beauti
ful specimens of late
Norman Architecture we
have in the district. It
dates probably about
1160, and may have been
built by Bishop Cheney
who held the see of
Lincoln from 1147 to
1 166, which would agree
with the date assigned.
The first clear notice of
the Church, is the pre
sentation by the Lady
Juliana de S. Remy of
the Advowson, with three
Cottages and other ap
purtenances, together
with her own body for
burial, to the Prior and
Convent of Kenilworth,
Iffley Church in its Decadence c. 1806 in the time of Henry II.
(1174-1189.) and it is not improbable that the Norman portion
of the edifice was built by herself or her father Robert, who was
the then owner of the Manor of Iffley ; as she seems to have had
control of the ecclesiastical property, and was able to dispose of
the patronage. The Church of the Priory at Kenilworth has
some features like Iffley, and the same hand is seen in the design
of both Churches. The Prior of Kenilworth also held one yard-
land in Iffley, which he derived from the gift of Robert, the
palfrey groom of the Lady Juliana ; which land Robert had
received as a gift from the lady herself.
The Church stands in a charming position on the brow of
the hill overlooking the river, close to it being the Rectory on
the West ; with the Court house to the South of the beautiful

i6
God's Acre surrounding it. Like a tale told of other places the
Church is said to have been begun at Rose Hill, in another part
of the parish ; but every morning it was found that the work
done the previous day had been removed here during the night.
The entrance to the Grave-yard from the village is at the
North-east corner ; and on entering, the whole length of the Church
is seen. It presents a Chancel and Nave, with a centre Tower
dividing the Church into two parts,- nearly equal in length. The
path leads to the North door, which although lofty and well
proportioned, is not so elaborately carved as either of the others ;
only the columns appear to have been at one time ornamented,
as they seem to bear traces of shallow chevron work round them ;
yet this may be the peculiar grain of the stone. This door

North Door of Iffley Church.

Iffley Church Interior East.

leads into the Nave of the Church, close to the fine Norman
Font, and from this point the glorious beauty of the Church is
at once seen. It forms a parallelogram of five bays, each bay
being about twenty feet square, the first two forming the Nave
are not divided, and the present roof of this is modern. The
third is formed by the arches of the tower, the piers project
boldly, and partly divide the Church from the Chancel ; ornament
is lavished on the arches, while the mouldings and enrichments
are those pertaining to the Norman style when at its best. The
view from the Font with the two magnificent arches, is sublime
in the extreme, each of the arches is carried on bold circular stone
shafts with cushion caps for the inner arches, and long black
octagonal marble ones for the outer, while over the whole of
the carving is a hood moulding, the upper part of which, by its
shadow, seems designed to give depth to the ornamentation. Not
onlv is the outer part of these fully ornamented, but the en
richment is carried beneath the arches and partly up the other
side. The bold carving over the arches seems to consist mostly
of flowers of two forms, one of which has been described as that
of the Fir Cone, or Pine Apple, and the other that of the Marigold,
or Sun Flower ; but neither are very obviously so, it is said to
be Burgundian in character.
A blocked-up door which led to the rood loft is seen on the
South side, while another blocked door on the North side led up
to the To#lr and belfry ; these now are approached from the
corner buttress of the Tower on the outside. A new Oak Pulpit
has just taken the place of the older stone one, and traces of
several of the twelve consecration Crosses have also been uncovered.
Before 1844 the Pulpit stood by the Western Tower arch, and a
floor for the ringers usurped the Tower and intruded into the
Church. There was also a Western Gallery.
The fourth bay beyond the Tower is of the same date as
those described, the corner columns are seemingly divided into
three circular shafts with connecting bosses, and headed with
cushion caps ; from which spring the heavy ribs of the original
vaulting, ornamented with triple zig-zag moulding, and meeting
in the centre at a curiously carved boss. The effect of this is
slightly barbaric, it seems too massive for the size of the bay, and
this effect is increased by the lighter style of the Chancel beyond.
The walls show the junction of the two styles, and here the Church
when first built may have terminated with an apse, (like some
other Norman Churches in the neighbourhood,) which at a later
period was cut away when more room was required for the elab
orated service and was replaced by the present extended Chancel,
now forming the fifth bay. In the outer wall are traces of a little
doorway which may have been a Priest's door, it is very plain,

1$

and possibly is a wheel-barrow door made for the purpose of
bringing in the material when the Chancel was built. This
Chancel bay is of Early English architecture, the vaulting is
lighter than that of the others, the mouldings are less simple, and
the windows pointed instead of round ; in the South wall is a
very elegant sedilia, of three openings, surmounted by well carved
hood mouldings, beyond are a piscina and an aumbry, all of the
same date as the later work.
The two-light windows in the fourth bay seem to have been
in the fourteenth century inserted in the earlier openings, as the
outside Norman roll and chevron remain fairly intact. To the
fifteenth century we owe the insertion of the four larger per
pendicular windows beneath the Tower and the Nave ; these may
have been the gift of John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and
Elizabeth of York, his wife ; thus only the two windows of the
Western bay are left in their original Norman form, untouched.
These latter however have the advantage of showing exactly their
complete form when the Church was first built, while the Norman
outline of others can easily be traced.
The West end is dominated by the circular window, restored
by Dr. Warburton, which seems too large and out of due pro
portion, possibly through the heavy moulding which encircles it ;
this is not found on the three smaller windows above, or the
windows on each side of the Nave. Above the circular opening,
the three windows of the arcade with chevrons around them,
exhibit the most beautiful proportions. There are few old Tombs,
but removed from its original site and set in theWestern wall,
is the remains of one with all its figures and shields gone, which
once formed the top slab to an altar tomb, belonging to the
Pitts family, who
were tenants of the
Manor, and lived
at the Court.
The Font is
Norman, a fine,
early, and curious
specimen which de
serves particular
notice. It is of
black marble simi
lar to the columns
of the Tower arch ;
is large and square,
and supported by a
circular stone pillar The NoPman Fonti |ffley church.

beneath the centre, with four columns without caps at the corners ;
three of these have flutings twisting round them, but the fourth
half round and half flat, seems of later date. The basin is lined
with lead, and large enough for the purpose of infant immersion.
The elegant Organ case, although somewhat obtrusive, may have
been the best way out of a difficult problem : it blocks up the
South door, and thus only the North door is left clear, and usable.
Returning to the outside, a few steps lead to the Western
end, the most beautiful part of the Church. Years ago this was
in a sad plight, the top of the gable with the roof had been
lowered, and the arcading, as well as the small window above it,
had been mostly cut away. Where the circular window is now,
a three-light perpendicular window had been inserted ; and the
beautiful West door had a rough railing across it, partly over
grown with nettles, and a heap of debris in front. Our picture
of it, published in 1808, speaks forcibly of the degradation, but
happily it is of the past. In 1823 the gable was rebuilt by
Robert Bliss, who had been a bookseller in Oxford and was
residing at Iffley ; although it was not until 1844 that the roof
was raised to its proper elevation, and then the circular window
was inserted from Buckler's design, who was guided by the traces
of the old one in the wall.
This Western end has one of those grand Norman doorwavs,
which often in edifices of this style are their greatest glory. The
outside hood moulding is elaborately carved with a variety of
figures, some illustrative of the signs of the Zodiac, each contained
in a beaded tape connected together by masks, the terminations
being larger figures than the rest. Inside this is a complete row
of beak-heads, fifty-nine in number, reaching all round the doorway
with their beaks partly bent round a bold roll moulding, and
carved with a twist up each side, to the spring of the Arch.
Then a second row of beak-Heads, fifty-one in number, are carved
round a recessed and twisted roll within the others, and receding
from these again are four complete rows of zig-zag moulding,
with plain inner jambs. The effect of the whole is very ornate,
and this is helped by the plain shallow arcading on either side,
and the string course above.
The space over this slightly recessed, contains the circular
window, which is smaller outside than inside and more pro
portionate to the rest. There is some slight ornamentation on
each side of the recess, and above is a corbel table, supporting the
bases of the shafts of the upper windows. These form a beauti
ful arcade of three lights, the centre one larger and loftier than
the others, with outer ornaments of beak-heads, supported by
single twisted columns at either end, and double ones in the
centre ; three rows of deeply recessed zig-zag moulding completes

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the design, which makes beautiful lights and shadows, above being
a row of shallow ornament and one small single light with zig
zag enrichment round it, like its fellow on the East end of the
Church, while the apex of the gable is terminated by a closed
cross. Passing round to the South side of the Church, the original
string course clearly points out the changes which have taken
place, which are just as apparent here as in the interior. The
first window is an original one, with the string-course complete,
both the next two perpendicular windows cut right through this
string-course, but it is again complete in a circular form over
the decorated window in the Choir, and the Early English
window of the Chancel ; then is finally lost behind the four
teenth century buttresses which support the walls there.
The Nave on this side is surmounted with a parapet rising
from a corbel-table, only one or two of its corbels are carved
and one bears the date r6i2 : the South door, a shallow
pediment, is protected by a light iron railing from ruthless hands,
the owners of which could not without desecration, admire
this beautiful specimen of the work of eight hundred years ago.
Up to the beginning of the last century it was enclosed beneath
a porch, ( and to this probably it owes its freshness,) the re
moving of which caused quite a commotion among the villagers,
who contended it was a necessary place for resort before services ;
the removal however was so carefully made, that only a trifling
damage happened to the outside hood-mould.
This doorway although not so elaborate in its design as the
Western one, and of a different character, is yet of great beauty.
The outside hood moulding has plainer ornament than the other
door, and a bold roll is carried by the abaci, which are again
supported by fluted cushion caps and plain shafts. Inside this
is a zig-zag roll with elaborately carved caps, the shafts being
very chastely ornamented : a chevron pattern on the one,
and diamonds with centre flowers on the other. On one of the
caps is the representation of a Centaur feeding its young, while
on the other side the young Centaur is feeding its parent. Here
also is seen a lioness or leopard attacking a horse, the opposite
carving having a man vanquishing a ferocious animal. One of
the designs represents a warrior on horseback pursuing another,
who is seen brandishing a sword and falling apparently wounded.
The jambs are formed by a roll, and a double series of bosses
outside and inside, consisting of flowers and figures of various
forms as far as up to the spring of the Arch, above this are
flowers only. The ironwork of this door is early and worthy
of notice. The beauty of the stone carving is unmistakable
and we can imagine the care taken by the Lay Brother or Monk

23

into whose hands it had been placed to execute, and when it is
considered that near eight centuries have passed since it was
complete, it is veritably marvellous work.
The characteristic old Tower has two recessed lights on each
of its four sides, but only one of the eight is carved, and this
has the usual zig-zag ornamentation. The staircase in the but
tress on the North side must not be forgotten, its upper part is
verv noticeable. The present battlements are of latter date.
There are three different dates of buttresses in connect. on
with the walls of the Chancel : the early ones of Transition
Norman, then those of the 14th. century, and the last built when
the Church was restored in 1844. The flat buttresses seem really
earlier in date than their interior of the Chancel,and a small
round headed window with zig-zag is over the East window,
but this latter may have been removed from the early apse,
when this part of the Church was extended.
The Church as a whole, is very beautiful, it presents one of
the finest possible lessons in Architecture, amply repaying every
one who will take the trouble to follow out its many interesting
features. The venerable old Yew Tree is
traditionally said to be as old as the
Church itself, at some time past its
hollow stem has been filled with debris
and chips of stone, ( it was the mason's
room on one or two occasions,) around
which in places, the bark has grown ; &
near it is the Palm Sunday Cross,
standing on an octagonal base, the
new head of which was designed by
Mr. Street in 1857, and has again
been restored in 1894. On one side was
the Agnus Dei, and on the other a
floriated Cross. The grave yard is
full, so an addition is being prepared Ji
on the East side of the road leading £
to the Court house, but is not yet in
use. The Communion plate includes a
Chalice "augmented" by Mr. Newlin
and his family in 1679, an alms plate
and flagon given in 1773 by the Rev. T. West, another alms
plate given by Mr. Allin in the same year, and a paten given by
Mr. John Parsons in 184 \.

Wardens,

24
The Bells. The inscriptions on these are as follows.
No. 1 — Thomas Janaway fecit 1785.
No. 2 — Thomas Janaway fecit 1785.
No. 3 — Mears & Stainback Founders Londdn.
Vivos voco, Mortuos plango, Fulgura frango.*
T. A. Warburton, Vicar. J. Reed.
J. French.
No. ' 4— Prayse ye Lord,
No. 5^No inscription or date, (put up at same time as 6th.)
No. 6 — Our hope is in the Lord. 1642.
Little Bell. A.R. 1709.
The ecclesiastical parish of Iffley is not so large as it was
of old. In 1847 part of it which is now included in Littlemore
was severed, when that hamlet was formed into a separate
parish ; in 1885, the hamlet of Hockmore was transferred by the
Local Government Board to Cowley, and by the same order an
other detached part of Iffley was annexed to Littlemore, while
in 1886, Hockmore Farm and Cottages were also added to
Cowlev. But before these latter, in 1868, a large slice of the
northern part of Iffley contingent to Oxford was formed into
the ecclesiastical parish of Cowley St. John, and is now included
within the boundary of the City.
The earliest of the Clergy given in Marshall is Oliver, Cap-
ellane c 1170, and there are fifteen others mentioned before
Charles Forbench, who was Curate in the time of the Rebellion ;
and was seized and imprisoned at Woodstock for reading the
Common Prayer. When set at liberty he said, "If I must not
read it, resolved I am to say it by heart, in spite of all the rogues
in England." The fortieth Vicar was Dr. Jacobson, the late
Bishop of Chester, 1839, who was followed by W. W. Woollcombe,
Dr. T. A. Warburton, Rev. H. Walmisley, and the present Vicar,
the Rev. M. R. Newbolt. The earliest Capellanes were presented
by Kenilworth Priory, but since A.D. 1225, the Archdeacons of
Oxford have had the patronage.

an

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* ( I call the living, I mourn the dead, I break the thunder's toree.)

Iffley Rectory. Garden Front.

Iffley Rectory and Vicarage.

HE Rectory at Iffley lies to the North West of the Church.
It is a charming old house mainly of the 16th. century,
but in its Eastern part there are some remains of the
earlier building of 13th. century -work, consisting of
walls a yard thick in which is a charming little oblong window
of two lights with heavy centre mullion, and on each side small
shafts with round caps, and dog-tooth ornament above the
moulding. The inside of the window is deeply splayed and
shows the enormous thickness of the wall, and at some recent
time another outside wall has been built, enclosing it in a pas
sage. There is also some old panelling in the rooms.
The Garden front looks over the river and the valley, with
the woods beyond ; on this side the house is lighted by six ob
long perpendicular windows, two of which have three lights
each, and the others six lights each, but two of the lower ones
are partly blocked. The door also is noticable, because in 1830,
it was pierced for firing ; while staves were served out and
every preparation made to resist, when the place was expected
to be attacked by rioters under Swing, but the attack was not
made. The later building was probably the work of some of
the Pitts family who were in possession of the rectorial estate
for some time, to whom the tomb in the West wall of the
Church belongs.

26

The earliest
mention of the
Rectory is in con
nection -with the
Priory o f Kenil-
worth. Dugdale
supposes that the
grant was made
about the time of
Henry II, but it
would seem to have
been late in his
reign, as during the
time Walter de
Constantiis ' was
Early Window In Rectory. Archdeacon of
Oxford 1175-83, a dispute arose in which the patronage was
contested. Robert de S. Germano, maintained it was his, and
the Canons of Oseney that it was theirs, as a Chapel dependent
on their Church of Cowley. The Archdeacon decided in favour
of Robert, but "with a certain caution." About 1195, Oseney
again claimed it, and the matter was settled by Hugh, Bishop
of Lincoln, that the Priory should pay one mark yearly to the
Abbot and Canons of Oseney, as a pension from the Church of
Iftel, on condition they should not interfere again. At some
time previous to 1279, the Rectory became appropriated to the
Archdeaconry of Oxford, and the Minister became simply a
Chaplain subject to the Archdeacon ; in 1475, composition was
made with the Vicar as he was styled, for an annual pension of
Eight pounds. The rectorial estate became of greater value and
was leased in the 16th. centurv to Arthur Pitts, of All Souls,
Registrar of the Diocese &c, who died and was buried here in
1579. His sons quitted the Kingdom without license from Queen
Elizabeth, being Catholics and liable under the orders issued by
her and a commission was in consequence appointed to deal
with the property they possessed, which included the Rectory at
Iffley, as well as some in Buckinghamshire.
After them came Barten Holyday, who wrote the poems we
have quoted from ; after him in 1803, the lease was purchased on
behalf of the Rev. Ed. Marshall, whose son resigned it to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in whom the estates of the Arch
deaconry of Oxford had become vested. In 1859, in Dr. W^ar-
burton's time, further alterations were made, and the Chancel and
soil of the Churchyard with the Rectorv house &c. were trans
ferred to the Vicar. The patronage still belongs to the Archdeacon.

Iffley in days gone hy, and now.

HERE is always a charm in the traditional stories and
folk-lore of a village, which tell of its life in the past,
and " what my father used to tell me many years
ago," is often one of the most popular chapters in the
story of a place. There are not so many stories flying about
Iffley as in some places ; but we have collected one or two
which are perhaps worth recording.
Barten Holyday, the Iffley Poet.
Only a few people of to-day have heard of Barten Holyday,
and his poetry of 1601 and later. He was the son of an Oxford
Tailor, and from a chorister of Christ Church rose until he became
Archdeacon of Oxford. In the time of the Commonwealth he
was deposed from his living, but on the Restoration he return
ed to Iffley, where he died. " His poetry and sublime fancy
were such, that famed him second to none in his time, in the
University," says Antony Wood.
Here are some of his verses.
River is time in water, as it came,
Still so it flows, yet never is the same.
Clay, sand and rock, seem of a different birth,
So men, some stiff, some loose, some firm, all earth.
The rose is but the flower of a briar,
The good man has an Adam to his sire.
Pride cannot see itself by mid-day light,
The peacock's tail is farthest from its sight.
The nightingale's a quire, no single note,
O varied power of God, in one small throat.
The moon is the world's glass, in which t'were strange,
If we saw hers and saw not our own change.
All things are wonder, since the world began,
The world's a, riddle; and the meaning, man.
How reminiscent of Iffley are the first lines of this his Dedication.
"As weary travelour that climbes a hill,
Looks back, sitts down, and oft, if hand have skill,
. Landskippes the Vale with pencil; placing here
Medow, there Arable, here Forest, there
A grove, a City, or a, Silver-streame,
As offring to yield beauty to his scheme,
Then decks it for the Gallery and Views,
If th' Eye and Phansy count it pleasing news."

28

The world's a picture : Light at first was hurl'd,
Upon't.- Is it God's shadow in the world?
Britons, yee are stout men, bee also wise,
They'd need be so, on whom are all men's eyes.
The world's a prison, no man can get out,
Let th' Atheist storm then, 'tis Heaven round about.
This is the old idea of Spheres one within another, the outermost
being the Empyrean. Holyday's final prayer is
Father of Gifts, who to the dust did give,
Life, say to these my meditations, Live.
" His Majesty The King, when he was Prince of Wales, and.
a Student at Oxford, used often to attend service at Iffley on
Sunday afternoon, in Dr. Warburton's time, he was always prompt
to time, and used to sit in a particular spot in the Church.
Major Teesdale or Canon Duckworth usually accompanied
him, but there was no ceremony or fuss except that sometimes
people in the pews rose as he passed up the Church. On one
occasion Sacrament was celebrated, and in consequence the service
was late. As the Doctor went up into the pulpit, the Prince and
his attendants left the Church, and the explanation given was,
that having to attend Cathedral service, he could not wait to
hear the sermon, or would have been behind at the Cathedral
but it should not happen again." ]VIay Day at Iffley.
Old English
May-day festivities
were once the hon
oured pastimes of
the whole nation, in
those days which
are often referred to
as the merriest of
M e r r i e England ;
but if we could
only look back the
two or three hun
dred years and fair
ly compare those
times with the present, there is little doubt as to which we
should choose, and which are the gayest and merriest. No time
equals the present with its many blessings ; and where the old
customs have been fairly kept up, they are now carried through
with a zest and spirit which were not present in the earlier days ;

Promenading the Village, May-day.
with the present, there is

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nl

3°
while the many facilities for doing things, help to make them far
superior than in the past. At Iffley, for many years past, the
School children have carried out fetes in a style which would
have been impossible in older days ; while some one has collected
for them a number of rhymes and music, which is a feature of
these happy children's pastimes, and instead of their dying away
as they have in some villages, here, — thanks to some of the village
Ladies, — they are held not only on May-morning, but other sea
sons of the year. Of course May-morning stands first, and after
having got up early in the morning to listen to the charming
music on the top of Magdalen Tower, visit this little village,
where the thatched School near the Church is then the centre of
a busy throng of children and teachers and friends ; half the
village in fact, with every one of the younger ones.
In the centre are the ' Lord ' and the ' Lady,' chosen for the
day to lead and rule and be the centre of the merry throng ; not
the oldest among it, some of the older ones have had their turns
in May-days gone by, but a pretty pair of the youngest, dressed
in their best, indeed the ' Lady ' has a new dress especially for
the auspicious occasion, and is brilliant in her white frock and
hat garnished with flowers, while a wreath of the same, depending
from one shoulder encircles her. Her ' Lord ' seems fairly to be
embowered in Arum Lilies, a contrast to his darker clothes, but
his bright rosy face is beaming with happiness as he stands by
the side of his ' Lady.' For the moment both of them have set
down the garlands they carry, upon the ground before them.
Behind them come a group of youngsters, attendants on these two
chief personages, while on every side extending across the village
street, are bigger lads with staves wreathed to the top with flowers
and greenery. When all are formed up in order, they begin their
May songs to simple airs which have been handed down for
generations, and which they have practised lately among their
exercises. Listen to them.
The summer days are coming, We'll rise and hail thee early,
The blossom decks the bough, Before the sun hath dried,
The bees are gaily humming, The dewdrops that all sparkle,
And the birds are singing now. On the green hedge by our side.
We have our May-day garment, And when the blaze of noonday,
We've crown'd our May-day Queen, Glares on the thirsty flowers,
With a coronal of roses, We'll seek the welcome covert,
Set in leaves of brightest green. Of our Jasmine shaded bowers,
Tho summer days are coming,
The blossom decks the bough,
The bees are gaily humming,
And the birds are singing now.

31
or perhaps this will be the favourite.
Welcome bright and sunny spring, And tho little children's feet,
Oh ! what joy and light you bring, Patter down the village street,
Meadows green and pretty flowers, Into woods and meads so fair,
Pleasant walks and happy hours, Primroses and Violets there,
First the pretty Snowdrop see, Some to pick and some to sing,
Drop her bell so tenderly, Welcome, happy, joyous, spring.
There are a number of other songs in the School song-book
equally as pretty, and when these are sung a move is made along
the village street, visiting first the Court house, and then one
after another the other houses in the village. At some of these,
entertainment is given to the children, who cheerily greet the
Ladies and those who are always so ready to lend a helping hand
in the preparations, and the day passes along until the youngsters,
fairly tired out with happiness, at last make their way home,
and the festivities are over for another year.
No ! not quite, for some months later in the quiet autumn
we were invited to a Mortice dance, held on a pretty Croquet
lawn shaded with lofty elms and smaller shrubs, and here with
dresses made gay with Red, White and Blue ribbons, the boys
bare headed, and the girls with country bonnets on, and each
with a jangle of Morrice bells upon their legs, the youngsters,
flower basket in hand, were just preparing to dance ' Strawberry
Fair,' and sing the melody as they skip to the accompaniment of
the bells. It was a very pretty scene, and gave great pleasure
not only to the youngsters, but to the invited guests ; while the
beaming and happy faces of these little English boys and girls,
would furnish a splendid lesson to those who sometimes permit
themselves to think our people are deteriorating, and that our
race has seen its best days. As the chorus of another of their
songs says : — Every heart with joy shall glow,
Rural pleasures banish woe,
Bells shall ring and all be gay,
This is Nature's holiday.
In the olden times, the May festivities were not confined to
the children as they are now, but many of the older people took
a part, and this plainly points out how it is that the children
act their part in these so admirably now, they inherit the gift.
One of the old inhabitants tells us this story.
" It was very gay times sixty years ago, and the songs were
sung with a swing and go which they hav'nt got now. The young
men and lassies were all well dressed for these occasions, even
those who were away in service, often came home for a holiday,

32
and took a part in the festivities. Everywhere they went they
collected money, which was afterwards used to provide another
feast on Whit Monday, when gay times were again carried out,
a Church Ale it was called, which was finished up with a dance,
and the country lassies could dance then, not the slow mincing
steps fashionable dances are now, but good hearty country barn
dances, that brought plenty of colour to the cheeks, and made you
thoroughly exhilarated.
The Harvest Homes too, were scenes of no end of fun and
enjoyment. When the last of the carrying was nearly done, old
Master Thomas Smith used to go into Oxford and fetch a big
quantity of bright new pennies from the bank, and then when the
last waggon was loaded, everybody dressed themselves up with
ribbons and streamers, and the whole village turned out and
escorted the waggon to the farm, where in the open air, there
was a good dinner laid out to all the hands, men and women
who had helped with the harvest ; and even chance acquaintances
were just as freely welcomed. The bright coppers were for the
children, and apples and things besides, these were scrambled for
in the home close, while after dinner there was dancing on the
green-sward, and everybody got jolly. Ah, yes ! some of them
did get too jolly now and then, but not often, though I have more
than once seen somebody or other put by the village constable
into the stocks, which used to stand under the great tree in the
middle of the village. Six hours they had to stop there or pay
five shillings, but if nobody gave them more drink they soon got
sober enough. Beer then was'nt like it is now, all made of
chemicals ; but real home-brewed malt and hops, and not a head
ache in a barrel full, even if you did get a little drop too much."
With these reminiscences we close, but to all visitors to
Oxford, and to all residents in the city also, we would suggest
what a large amount of real pleasure can be obtained from a
visit to Iffley, its grand old Church, and the lovely river-side peeps
around its Lock and ruined Mill.

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Established 1842.

PIGOTT & SONS,
Curing House :- Denmark Street, Iffley Road.
0n Sale,
21 to 25 The jVtarket, OXFORD.

,y(^

KeX^

Awarded Prize Medal for their own Cured Bacon,
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in competition open to the United Kingdom.

Noted for the last THIRTY YEARS for the
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^Shi^ee ©HOUSAND Sgenes^-

INCLUDING

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OXFORD LaIJ7E
We have an immense variety of
INSTANTANEOUS SCENES OF OXFORD LIFE.

BYE-GONE OXFORD.
No other Firm has such a fine collection of Old and Bye-gone
Oxford, the negatives of which have been accumulating
for the last FIFTY YEARS.

HENRY W. TAUNT & Co., OXFORD.

New ^ooks awi New Cdlttoxis,
by Henry W Taunt, f.r.g.s.
Many years Photographer to the Oxford Architectural and
Historical Society.
PUBLISHED BY HENRY W. TAUNT & CO., OXFORD.

Taunt's Illustrated Map and Guide to the River Thames from
Thames Head to London, with Map in Sections, two inches to a
mile, from direct Surveys 'by the Author, combined with Guide giving
every information required by the Tourist, the Oarsman, and the Angler ;
as well as to the Canals and Rivers in connection. Illustrated by over
a hundred Photographs.
Ten thousand Copies sold. Seventh Edition in Preparation.
A copy of this Guide has been accepted by H.M. The King.
"With Taunt's Map and Guide any Oarsman can find his way down the Thames
as easily and comfortably as if he had been born on one of its green banks. It is
really a handsomely got up volume of over two hundred pages, illustrated with
numerous photographs, and containing accurate and detailed descriptions of everything
requiste. We should say that it is as essential as the boat for a successful journey."
New York Herald.
Taunt's Pocket Map and Guide to the Thames.
16mo., Oblong. Two-and-Sixpence. 5th Edition.
"We have nothing but the most cordial praise for Mr. Taunt's delightful, useful,
and artistic Guides."
"Taunt's Map and Guide to the Thames is invaluable."
The Rollright Stones. The Stonehenge of Oxfordshire, with
its Folk-lore, and full descripton and guide to the neighbourhood,
with some account of the Ancient Druids, and their Sagas rendered
into English, by Henry W. Taunt, F.R.G.S. Demy 8vo. Cloth lettered,
Plan, Eleven full page Photographic illustrations, and Ten smaller
ones. 72 pp. One-and-Sixpence.
"The latest and in some respects the most important and interesting of the valu
able series of historical and antiquarian Guide Books prepared by Mr. Taunt, who
has done his work with his usual thoroughness." Oxford Times.
"This very interesting book should be read by all Druids, especially ihose who are
students of our ancient predecessors. It is profusely and beautifully illustrated. The Druid.
The Rollright Stones. Cheap Edition, I'aper, with fewer illustrations,
One Shilling.

Iffley Mill and its Story, Illustrated, by Henry W. Taunt, K'.R.G.s.
Jird Edition just ready, enlarged and extra illustrations. Demy 8vo.
Sixpence. The first Edition sold out the day it was published.
"To the many thousands of persons interested this narrative of the history and
ownership of the Mill for 800 years, is a valuable souvenir." Oxford Times.
"Mr. Taunt deals fully with the historical associations of the place as well as its
picturesque surroundings, and excellent photographic illustrations add to the interest
of the brochure." South Bucks Free Press.
Companion to Iffley Mill. Just Published.
Iffley Manor, Church and Village, by Henry W. Taunt, fully
illustrated, Demy 8vo. Sixpence.
The History and descripton of the very fine Norman Church, the
story of the Manor, and Rectory, with the May-day festivities &c,
all fully illustrated from direct photographs.
A complete Guide to Iffley, with its companion of "Iffley Mill."
Abingdon, Ancient and Modern. The story of its Abbey and
Cross, the Town and Churches, Christ's Hospital, the Bridges &c.
A complete guide to Ancient and Modern Abingdon, by Henry W. Taunt,
with Plan and Illustrations. Ready. Small 8vo. One-and-Sixpence.
"Those persons — iheir name is legion — who have used the illustrate! bcoks of lhat
warrantable artist, Mr. Taunt of Oxford, in their voyages on the Thames, will have
noted that he is not only a sun-painter, a philosopher and friend, but also strongly
imbued with antiquarian tastes. It will be good news to them to learn that Mr. Taunt
has almost ready for the press a careful, chatty, and well-illustrated work on "Ancient
and Modern Abingdon." This sleepy but beautiful old town, with its, ruined abbey,
its Christ's Hospital, and its many ancient buildings, is fragrant with legends and
traditions, and of these Mr. Taunt has collected a great number. Having seen an
advance copy of the work, I pronounce it worthy and entertaining." Country Life.
Goring, Streatley and the Neighbourhood, including the Thames
from Wallingford to Reading, Cheap Edition with general Map and
three River Maps, Photographic frontispiece and other illustrations.
Complete Guide, by Henry W. Taunt. Small 8vo. Cloth lettered, 122 pp,
Two Shillings nett.
"A book which to the utility of a Tourist's Handbook adds many attractions which
such publications usually lack. Reading Mercury.
"Mr. Taunt is well known as a guide philosopher and friend in all things concern
ing the River. His work on Goring, Streatley &c, is an authority on the subject, and
its success has induced him also to issue this cheap edition, which will be likely to
induce many of those who read it to visit the delightful spots about which he writes.
Oxford Times.
Dorchester ( Oxon ) and its Abbey Church, with a complete
guide to the neighbourhood, by Henry W. Taunt, k.r.g.s. Illustrated
with Plan and original Photographs. Small 8vo. Paper. Eightpence.
"Mr. Henry W. Taunt our well known Antiquary, has laid all lovers of Historical
objects under fresh and greater obligations, by the production of his excellent little
book, "Dorcl-ester and its Abbey." The book will have many appreciative readers."
Oxford Chronicle.

Godstow with its Story of Fair Rosamund, Medley, Wytham
and Binsey, by Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.S. Small 8vo. Paper. Profusely
illustrated and Map, 2nd Edition, Sixpence.
"In this little book the history and legends of one of the most, picturesque and
charming districts near Oxford, are skillfully retold. The illustrations are numerous
and specially interesting." Oxford Chronicle.
" This little work is admirably illustrated by map and photographs. The letterpress
is from the pen of Mr. Henry W. Taunt, and he handles his subject with characteristic
brightness and ability." Wilts and Glo'ster Standard.
"Written by the same hand as the well known Thames Guides, which every
American who runs down the river always carries, this like that book, contains
everything wanted, written in il most pleasing and graphic style."
Down the River to Nuneham and Abingdon, Small 8vo.
By Henry W. Taunt. Map, Plan and Illustrations. Eightpence.
"Mr. Taunt's charming little Guide "Down the River to Nuneham," is an earnest
of what the larger one will be." Sunday Times.
"This is another of the delightful handbooks to river scenery by Mr. Taunt, and
is illustrated with photographic views. Every visitor will do well to secure this chatty
account of the scenery and antiquarian features. Oxford Times.
Kirtlington, Oxon. Ancient Kirtlington. St. Mary's Church. The
Park and House. Royal Kirtlington, tho Manors and their owners.
The Village with some scenes of Country Life. Illustrated with Camera
and Pen by Henry W. Taunt, l'.R.G.S. Demy 8vo. 2nd Edition. Fancy
Cover. One Shilling.
"Mr. Taunt is always springing welcome surprises upon his Oxfordshire friends,
and has now brought home to his readsrs the interesting village of Kirtlington. Stylo
and study have vied with each other for supremacy and the result is a most tasteful
and interesting publication." Oxford Times.
"There is no need to tell over again the story of Kirtlington which Mr. Taunt has
lately told in the capital little handbook which he wrote and illustrated with
photographs  The Church also has been exhaustively written of, and the photograph
of the fresco on the North wall, is the best thing in the book." Zoe in Oxford Times.
Magdalen Tower on May Morning. By Henry W Taunt, 4th Ed. The
story of the singing on Magdalen Tower, with Music, Latin Hymn and
Translation, Fully Illustrated with direct Photographs, 8v0. Sixpence.
" Another edition is to hand of Magdalen Tower on May-morn, one of the interest
ing booklets of Mr. Taunt. It is the most complete record published of the May-
morning ceremony." Oxford Times. ,
"Magdalen Tower on May-morning is a charmingly illustrated brochure on tho
delightful old custom of welcoming May in with a chorus of praise at 5 a.m. from the
top of Magdalen Tower, Oxford." Penny Illustrated Paper.
" The brochure is interesting and complete." Oxford Chronicle.
The Boar's Head at Queens College Oxford, on Xmas Day,
with the authorized words and music, illustrated with Photographs,
by Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s. Small 8vo. 2nd Edition with additions.
Sixpence. Mr Taunt is indefatigable in collecting the records of ancient customs and
illustrating them, weaving their stories into charming little brochures like his " Boar'n
Head Ceremony at Queens College," which is in every way complete."

The Four Noses at Brasenose College, Oxford, by H. Hurst B.A.
with Photographic frontispiece. Published by Henry W. Taunt & Co.,
Oxford. 12mo. Sixpence.
" An interesting story of the very curious Noses of B.N.C. with a very capital
Photograph of them for the frontispiece."
Fairford Church with its celebrated Windows, Lechlade and
the district round them, by Henry W. Tau:it, 1J.R.G.S. Third Edition
enlarged. Small 8vo. with Plan of Windows and Nine Photographic
Illustrations, One Shilling.
"A more useful guide to this neighbourhood cannot be imagined."
Blenheim Palace and Woodstock. What to see and how to see
it, by Henry W. Taunt. ( Under the direct sanction of His Grace The
Duke of Marlborough.) A descriptive and historical guide, with Map,
Plan, and a number of Illustrations. 8vo. Paper Sixpence, Cloth
One Shilling. In the press.

New 3er'cs °f H'st°r'cal harI^^00^> Illustrated.
The River Thames from Oxford to Wallingford, with the
Towns and Villages on its banks, including Abingdon, Dorchester &c.
By Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s. Illustrated with Maps and Photographs.
8vo. Cloth Gilt. 180 pp. S Maps and Plans, 28 Illustrations. Six Shillings.
The River Thames through the Chiltern Country, Wallingford
to Reading, including Goring, Streatley, and the Neighbourhood.
By Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s. Illustrated with Maps and Photographs.
Second Edition. 8vo. Cloth Gilt. 125 pp. 3 Maps, 30 Photographic
Illustrations. Six Shillings.
The River Thames, Staines to Henley and Reading, includ
ing Windsor, Maidenhead, Marlow &c. By Henry W. Taunt, F.R.G.S.
Illustrated with Maps and Photographs. 8vo. Cloth Gilt. 6 Maps and
Plans. 37 Illustrations. Six Shillings.
These three books make a complete Thames Historical Guide from
Oxford to Staines.
" When you want to know anything about a plaoe, procure one of Taunt's Guides.
He is one of the most painstaking of Collectors, a genuine Antiquarian, and the folk
lore of a district seems to come to him without any difficulty. We were delighted
with his new books, well written, printed, and illustrated in such a way as to make
them worth double the modest price at which they are issued." Telegraph.

J4ew Illustrated Photograph pook^.
One Shilling each nett.
Each with a concise Guide, (some with Plans,) and a number of Scenes
of the place and district, in Orn. Gilt blocked Covers. Demy oblong,
by Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s.
Blenheim Palace and 'Woodstock, with some scenes in the
Park &c. 28 Illustrations.
Charlbury Oxon, and round it, including Cornbury Park,
Ditchley &c. 2i Illustrations.
Chipping Campden, Glo'stershire. A Gem of the Cotswolds.
27 Illustrations.
Beaulieu Abbey, and round it, with some scenes in the New
Forest &c. 3rd Edition with Plan of Abbey and 27 Illustrations.
Netley Abbey and round it, with scenes on Southampton Water,
new Plan of Abbey and 30 Illustrations.
Witney Oxon and round it, Minster Lovell, Stanton Harcourt &c.
including the story of 'Blankets while you wait. From Sheep's back
to Blankets in a, day.' 21 large and 20 small Illustrations.
St. Giles' Fair the popular Oxford Carnival, and its Story, illus
trated with photographs by Henry W. Taunt, 13 Illustrations, Demy
oblong, Paper, Sixpence.

Ir| Preparation.

Fairford Church and its 'Windows. A fully and richly illustrated
book, the text by the Rev. F. R. Carbonell, Vicar of Fairford, the
illustrations by Henry W. Taunt, the well-known veteran photographer
of Oxford. Crown 4to. Art Paper. Ready shortly.
Blenheim Palace and Woodstock. A fully written and beautifully
illustrated book on this subject. Demy 4to. Art Cover. Ready shortly.

J\ new Series of Lantern, Pleadings.
Original and Selected, to accompany the several sets of Photographic-
Lantern Slides. By Henry W. Taunt. Paper, Sixpence each.
No. I Lantern Readings contains,
Hookey-beak the Raven, that Raven wasn't good. ( rhyme.)
Misadventures at Margit, now edition. ( rhyme.)
The Oxford Bullingdon Guards. ( rhyme.)
A capital ship for an ocean trip. ( rhyme.)
The Serenaders Symphony, (rhyme.)
iNo. 2 Lantern Readings contains,
A Terrible Adventure in Rhineland. ( prose.)
The Slave's Dream. ( Longfellow.)
New Nursery Rhymes for the Bairns. Little Tom Noddy.
There was a crooked Man. Three Blind Mice.
Two-and-twenty little Boys. The Man with the nose.
A Wonderful Pie. A Tam-o-shanter dog. Polly put the kettle on.
The Wonderful One-hoss Shay. ( Wendell Holmes.)
The Comet and the Earth. ( rhyme.)
Our Trip to the Figi Islands, (prose.)
No. 3 Lantern Readings contains,
Johnny Todd's extraordinary adventures in Dreamland, and the
curious people ho met. (prose.)
An hour in Picturesque Cornwall, (prose,) mestly boautU'ul scenes
round the Lizard, Falmouth and Kynance.
No. 4 Lantern Readings contains,
Jummy and Jappio in Fairyland, and their many adventures before
the happy wedding of Princess Osmunda to Prince Goodheart. (prose)
The Laird of Dunlavin's Musicians, (prose)
The Four Ages of Life, (rhyme)
No. 5 Lantern Readings contains,
Blankets while you wait, Illustrated. From Sheep's back to Ducal
bedclothes in a day. (prose)
Merrie England and its Festivities, ( prose ) descriptive of many
scenes in English Country Life, mostly instantaneous photographs
by Henry W. Taunt.
The Sets of beautiful Slides for these Readings are all manufactured
and published by Henry W. Taunt & Co., Oxford.
Other Readings in Preparation.

Ol

with the
w^ OXY-HYDRCGEN LANTERN
PP AND CINEMATOGRAPH,
Suitable for all
Classes.
Over
1200 LECTURES
AND ENTERTAINMENTS
HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY GIVEN-
BY
Mr HENRY W. TAUNT, F.R.G.S., £c.

Mr. TAUNT'S Lecture on the THAMES ran at the
London Polytechnic over 200 Nights.
Lantern Slides of Oxford, The River Thames,
ENGLISH SCENERY, LIFE SCENES, &c.
THOUSANDS OF SLIDES IN STOCK. ON SALE OR HIRE.
Slides made and Painted.
Full Particulars on Application.

gentry |J^ gfamtt & ©<*?, ©sfarfr*

Old Castle Tower.

New Book in preparation,
Profusely Illustrated.

OxfoFd,

Past and present,

its Story for a Thousand Years.
by ¦'¦
Henry W. Taunt, f.r.g.s. &c-
Photographer for many years to the Oxford Architectural ar.d
Historical Society, and Author of the well-known Guides
to the Thames &c, &c.
This book will embody all the best of a number of large
collections of Oxford, into Demy 4to volumes of some 230 pages
each, ranging from A.D. 912 to the present time, and Illustrated
by 500 to 600 Photographic Illustrations, including a number of
full size plates, as well as maps and plans &Ci They will be
ornamentally bound so as to form a charming gift book and the
price to Subscribers will be One Guinea per vol.

Prospectus Free.
May we be favoured with your name as a Patron and Subscriber.
Henry W. Taunt * Co., Oxford.

"The first and foremost of Table Delicacies"
FRANK COOPER'S
"OXFORD MARMALADE"
Made (not manufactured) in the famous
University City,

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, April 30. 1908, says :—
" From time immemorial Oxford has been renowned for its table
delicacies. To the list Messrs Cooper have added Oxford Marmalade
which the firm claim is not merely an appetising dainty, but an
invigorating tonic/'
THE STANDARD, April 10. 1908, says:—
" Mr. Guy Nickalls spoke to the advantage of training on such
wholesome diet as Cooper's Marmalade."
THE SPORTING TIMES, April 18. 1908 says:—
"While sweets of an inferior kind are strictly forbidden during
training, the athlete not only consumes Oxford Marmalade with
impunity, but feels all the better and all the stronger for so doing."
Of all High-Class Grocers and Stores.
Telephone No. 142.
FACTORY, OFFICES jVICTORIA BUILDINGS,
& EXPORT WAREHOUSE,! OXFORD.