Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

Nearby, close to Upper Grove Mill, is an unexcavated and undated
earthwork referred to as a 'Castle' by the 0.S. (PRN. 5425), which
may be an alternative site for the 16th century Lodge, or may represent
the dwel1ing of Osbert de la Grave who owned a mill in Bloxham in 1238.
All other isolated farms and hoûses in the parish post-date the
enclosure of 1802.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
The place-naine 'Blochesham' is first recorded in the Domeaday Book
in 1086, and is interpreted as meaning the 'village or estate belonging
to Blocc', a personal name also occurring 16 miles (26 km). to the W.
at Blockley, Clos. The Domesday entry for Bloxham excludes Milcombe,
but is linked with the entry for an estate in Adderbuiy, and it is
therefore impossible to separate out any statistics for Bloxham
itself. The description does, however, imply that it was a place
of gonsiderable importance. It was in the hands of the king in 1086,
having previously belonged to Earl Edwin of Mercia, and, before hii,
to Earl Tostig of Northumbria. A mural mansion in Oxford pertained
to the manor. The soke of two hundreds belonged to it, and Bloxham
remained the centre of a hundred in subsequent centuries. A large
population of 72 villeins, 16 bordars and 27 serfs is recorded on the
dual estate.
Apart from a brief intermission in the mid-12th'century,' BioxhaM
remained in royal hands until 1156, when it was divided into two
manors. The mnaller part, described:as a third of Bloxhamin 1285,
descended with the Verdun family and-their sUccéssors,, the St. Amanda,
along,with Bloxham'Hundred'and one of the Addérbury manors. This waa
sold in 1418 to Sir Thomas. Wykeham and from him came to the barony
of Saye and Sele. The larger part, after passing through possession
of several owners, returned to royal hands between 1269 and 1319, and
then in 1343 came. to the BeAuchamps of Ditchley. In 1545 this manOr
was purchased by Richard Fiennés, Lord Saya:and Sele, and thé two
parts of Bloxham were reunited. The lordship'of the mandr'has'remained
*
with the Same family ever since.
Smaller properties in Bloxham held.under a variety of tenures
belonged tà Cirencester Abbey, Eynsham Abbey and the Hospital of St.
John the Baptist in Oxford. The Rectory astate was grantéd first in
1067-to Westminster Abbey and then, c.1180, to-Godstow'Abbey, passing
after the Dissolution to Eton College. .From the 17th..century onwards
much land in Blokham was sold off or leased to the Cartwrights of
.
Aynho and other families.. There were no long-standing resident
landowners, and the community.became dûminatad by yeomen freeholdet
.
and copyhold tenants.
Medieval population figures are difficult to establish. in 1285-6
there were at least 33 tenants on the St. Amand astate alOna, and in
1316 on the same manor 23 tenants were assessed for tax. The first'
complete medieval tax list covering the wholé village is the Lay
Subsidy return of 1327, which records' 70 cûntributori. -In 1377 325
people in Bloxham were assessed for the Poll Tax.
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