Nestled between the Chiltern Hills and the Cotswolds in southeast England, the county of Oxfordshire has comely villages, wilderness, and spires galore. The county is a slice of the quintessential English countryside, bearing an air of quiet dignity and welcoming serenity. The epitome of British pastoral charm, there’s no better place to escape to this summer. Read on to learn about Oxfordshire, England’s very own rustic paradise.
Oxfordshire’s History
The origins of Oxfordshire are unclear. However, it was part of the Mercian Kingdom in the diocese of Lincoln and was later overrun by the Danes and then the Normans.
However, at the time of the Danes conquest in the 10th century, Oxfordshire had already risen to become a pivotal district. An affluent stronghold in the southeast, the Bishop of Lincoln established several abbeys in the county, and many aristocrats and tenants-in-chief built distinguished manors and country houses. According to the Domesday Book (a recorded survey of England), the county was well populated by 1086, the year the survey was completed.
Oxfordshire’s agricultural bounties contributed to its significance, with wool being its chief commodity. Fruit, ironstone, and paper are other key industries that led to Oxfordshire thriving. While the county was relatively wealthy by the end of the 11th century, its significance grew with the establishment of the University of Oxford in 1096.
In spite of its wealth dwindling after the English Civil War, the county’s agricultural capital remained robust. Eventually, with the establishment of the motor vehicle and light engineering industries after the industrial revolution, Oxfordshire was able to reclaim its heyday glory.
Things to do in Oxfordshire
1. Architectural Marvels: manors, castles, and the like
With its mediaeval affluence and historical legacy, the county is peppered with magnificent old structures.
The best-known castle in Oxfordshire is Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The 17th-century estate is the epitome of English Baroque architecture and is lavished with ornate carvings, tasteful paintings, and exquisite gardens.
Another notable building is Broughton Castle, a mediaeval fortified manor house that is the ancestral home of the Fiennes family. An elegant mansion with Tudor and Jacobean elements seamlessly woven into its aesthetic, it is outfitted with a gatehouse, a large courtyard, verdant greenscapes, and crenellated walls.
There’s also the Chastleton House, a 400-year-old Jacobean country house that has remained unchanged for 400 years.
Upon venturing further into the depths of Oxfordshire's history, there’s the 1000-year-old Oxford Castle and Prison. Besides uncovering the county’s whole history, the structure offers panoramic views of the city as well as mystique-filled tours of the underground crypt.
2. Nature Getaways
Fringed by the Cotswolds and abloom with green pastures, untamed wilderness, and gardens, Oxfordshire is the ultimate nature retreat. There’s an abundance of greenscapes in the county for hiking, camping, and picnicking.
The Cotswold Wildlife Park, one of England’s best safari parks, is a 160-acre enclave filled with endangered animals visitors can interact with. From walking with elephants to feeding penguins and strolling in the blossom-peppered gardens, one is deeply intimate with nature.
The Wychwood Wild Gardens, a 12-acre woodland; the Warburg Nature Reserve, a forested alcove near Chiltern Hills; and the Batsford Arboretum, a Victorian garden housing thousands of East Asian foliage species, are other reserves worth exploring.
3. Countryside Markets
From fresh produce to designer labels and vintage finds, Oxfordshire has plenty to offer.
The county has many village markets that present artisanal goods and produce, such as quality cuts of meat, flavourful oils and sauces, freshly baked goods, and other groceries. Abingdon, Banbury, and Chipping Norton flaunt some of the county’s best farmers’ markets.
For indulgent shopping sprees, visitors may head to Bicester Village, a shopping district hosting over 160 designer brands as well as upscale restaurants. Oxford, the county’s main city, also boasts exclusive designer labels, in addition to independent stores, thrift haunts, and vintage boutiques.
4. Historic Churches
Oxfordshire is abounding with resplendent mediaeval abbeys steeped in history and local lore.
One of the finest parish churches in Oxfordshire is St. Mary's Church at Adderbury. It dates back to the 13th century and is a shining example of English Gothic architecture. Its vivid carvings have captured the fancy of many – from flora and fauna to grotesque beings, mythical creatures, and fantastical elements, the church’s walls are inscribed with immense character.
St. Mary’s Church in Ashbury is another mystical structure dating to the 13th century, known for being the custodian of a Bible dating to 1634.
Banbury’s St. Mary’s Church is one of the county’s largest and most opulent churches. Built in the 1700s, the church is adorned with gilded pillars, luxuriantly painted walls, and an intricately panelled nave.
St. Margaret's Church, St. Peter, and St. Paul Church at Aston Rowant are other mediaeval churches in Oxfordshire that have remained largely untouched since the 13th century, affording unparalleled glimpses into the county’s religious past.
5. A Literary Haven
Residing at Oxford University, the Bodleian Old Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
The library (which is an assemblage of several buildings) traces its roots to 1320 when it was a small reading room in the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. It soon blossomed into a knowledge receptacle, assimilating more literature and manuscripts through the years. Over the centuries, additional wings and buildings were added to the library. Many of the rooms and buildings in the library complex have been in continuous use for 400 years.
Today, the Bodleian Old Library (colloquially known as the Bod) hosts over 13 million printed items.
Decked out in immodest woodlands, steeped in history, and studded with charming hamlets, Oxfordshire’s bucolic beauty is a class apart. Brimming with flavourful character and old-world mystique, the county is indeed a heartwarming embrace in the thronged country. It’s time to take off to Oxfordshire, England’s very own country sanctuary.
