3rd May – Village Tea Party, 8th May – a compelling talk about VE Day. 8th May – 6.30pm nationwide bell binging. 10th May, the Rock & Roll Choir. Click on this link for more details.
About Somerton Village
Somerton is a village and civil parish in north Oxfordshire, England, in the Cherwell valley about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Bicester.
It’s situation in North Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds and close to good road and rail connections, at Lower Heyford and two mainline stations in Bicester, help give it an enviable reputation as a desirable place to live. The 2011 Census recorded the parish’s population as 305.
The village has an active social life with regular events organised by the Social Club, an active History group, Bell ringing, Film Club and Quilters.
The Village Produce show is held in the Barnes Memorial village hall each September.
Somerton Brief History
Somerton is listed in the Doomsday Book completed in 1086.
In 1230 the manor of Somerton was divided between two heiresses. In 1245 Walter de Grey, Archbishop of York, granted one of the halves to his nephew, also called Walter de Grey. The de Grey manor house seems to have been on low-lying land near the Cherwell. By 1295 it had a court, dovecote and fishponds. By 1300 Somerton had a watermill.
Remains of the fishponds survive today. The manor was passed down through the de Grey family, and then to their descendants the Deincourts and then the Lovells of Minster Lovell. In 1485 Francis Lovell was created 1st Viscount Lovell. Francis is believed to have been killed in 1487 in the Battle of Stoke Field at the end of the Wars of the Roses. Thereafter the Crown held the manor for the next 25 years.
Shopping
The fast-expanding town of Bicester is only fifteen minutes away (about 7.2 miles) and provides a full range of shopping, educational and sporting facilities and a 7 screen Multiplex Vue cinema as well as the world renowned retail outlet; Bicester Village. There are excellent road connections at Bicester with junction 10 of the M40 and the A34.
The village of Somerton itself is protected from new development. Its tranquil setting takes you back into a bygone world and it has always been very rural in character being bordered by several farms.
Bicester Heritage
Just 15 Minutes’ drive away is Bicester Heritage, the UK’s first park for the restoration, storage and enjoyment of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and aircraft. Situated on the old RAF Bicester Airfield, the buildings have various preservation orders on them and the airfield itself is a World Heritage Site that also helps to protect the surrounding green belt.
Somerton
Oxford Canal
Somerton Spring
Troy Farm
Somerton ancient abbey site
View across water meadows
Somerton Village Road Map
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