Ducklington

Ducklington is a village and civil parish on the River Windrush 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Witney in West Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,581.[1]

Ducklington

Ducklington pond, parish church
and former school
Ducklington
Location within Oxfordshire
Population1,581 (2011 Census)
OS grid referenceSP3507
Civil parish
  • Ducklington
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWitney
Postcode districtOX29
Dialling code01993
PoliceThames Valley
FireOxfordshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament
WebsiteDucklington Parish Council

History

Ducklington is one of the earliest Saxon parishes to be recorded in Oxfordshire. In a charter of AD 958 King Edgar the Peaceful granted at Ducklington to his Minister, Eanulf. The toponym "Ducklington" may originate from "Ducel's Farm" or "the farm of the sons of Docca", but it is locally thought to have originated from the central duck pond, where many ducks and ducklings have lived for centuries. After the Norman Conquest Ducklington was held by Robert D'Oyly, a Norman nobleman who took part in William I's conquest of England. The Dyve family then held the Lordship of Ducklington throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, living there until early in the reign of Edward III.

The Church of England parish church of Saint Bartholomew[2] is 12th century.[3] The Gothic Revival architect E.G. Bruton restored the building in 1871.[3] The bell tower has a ring of six bells[4] including one cast by Henry Bagley of Chacombe in 1732.[5]

The village had a Baptist Chapel until 2016, when it was converted into a private residence.[6]

The former village schoolhouse was built in 1858.[3] The modern Ducklington Church of England Primary School is across the village green from the original site.[7][8]

St Bartholomew's parish church

Today, Ducklington is notable for the rare fritillary flower (mainly of the snake's head variety), many of which grow in a specially designated meadow just outside the village. Before the Second World War, many fritillaries had grown on fields all over the Windrush Valley. However, the national drive for food production during the war meant that most meadows were intensively ploughed, the rivers dredged, and consequently the fritillaries were lost. Only the current fritillary field was left coincidentally unploughed. The flowers have survived with help from both locals and farmers. Once a year, the local community celebrates Fritillary Sunday when the field, church and hall are opened so that the public may walk amongst and enjoy the flowers. The celebration has been featured in Country Life magazine.

Amenities

Ducklington has a Morris dancing side[9] and Mummers performances. It also has its own Morris Dance tradition; its own style of dance that was collected around the beginning of the 19th century. The Ducklington tradition is danced by many sides throughout Britain and the United States.

Ducklington has one public house: The Bell, and a sports and social club. Recently Ducklington has hosted several flower and garden shows.

The former tithe barn is now the village hall, which has been renovated in the last few years.[10] It is used by village groups including the Parish Council and is the parish polling station in local and national elections. Ducklington has a Women's Institute.[11]

Sports

Ducklington Sports and Social Club has several cricket and football teams. They include three men's football teams that compete in the Witney and District League. Ducklington's football first XI is in the Witney and District Premier Division.[12] The club has nine boys' teams. The cricket section has one adult teams and three youth teams.

References
  1. "Area selected: Ducklington (parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew
  3. Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 589.
  4. Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, Witney & Woodstock Branch: Witney & Woodstock Bell Towers Archived 25 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Crossley & Currie 1996, pp. 140–148.
  6. "Sold property in Witney Road". John D. Wood and Co. John D. Wood and Co. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. Ducklington CE Primary School Archived 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Ducklington Pre-School Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Ducklington Morris Archived 9 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  10. District Council Grant Scheme
  11. Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes
  12. Witney & District Football Association. "Premier Division". Pitchero. Retrieved 19 April 2016.

Sources
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