History
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The Thames-Side village of Sutton Courtenay (pop 2300) due south of Abingdon (5k) and Oxford (19k), is situated at the confluence of the Thames and Ginge Brook. In Saxon times ‘Sutton’ meant ‘south farm’ due to its relative position to Abingdon and ‘Courtenay’ was added when Reginald de Courtenay was granted The Manor by Henry II in the 12th century.
Archaeological finds in the area of flint waste and tools date back to 6000 BC. When the English Channel was formed in 6500 BC the hunter-gathers (Mesolithic-Neolithic) of the Eurasian continent who were stranded on the newly found island became the first Britons. Sutton Courtenay was settled in about 4000 BC having the advantages of good drainage (gravel terraces), water available at a depth of 6-10 ft. and alluvial soil.
For more than a thousand years the Green has been the centre of the village with the rectory house of the priest, now known as the Abbey (14th century), on the south side and the courtyards of the king’s establishment, over time becoming two properties - the northern being Sutton Farm, now Norman Hall (12th century) and the southern being Brunce’s Court, now the Manor House (11th-16th century) - to the west of the Green. The Church has a 12th century tower while the rest of the building dates from 13th-16th century. In the churchyard is the grave of author ‘George Orwell’ (buried here in 1950 due to the intercession of his friend from Sutton Courtenay David Astor) who wrote that the only words on his gravestone were to be ‘Here lies Eric Arthur Blair, born 1904 died ....
The Abbey now houses The New Era Centre. Beyond the Abbey to the south the High Street has a mix of lovely old houses (Buckridges and Southfield Farm amongst many others) and new developments including The Nursery. The recreation ground and Village Hall are further along the High Street to the east. The 1950s estate was built on land between the Milton and Harwell roads where All Saints CE Primary School is situated. There are some beautiful walks in the surrounding countryside, especially the area around The Pools and along the Thames bank (reached via the path between Mill House and The Wharf).
*The statesman, Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, is buried in the churchyard, as are his second wife Margot (1864-45), and their son Anthony (1908-68). H.H.Asquith, a classical scholar and President of the Oxford Union, was a Gladstonian Liberal. Respected for his integrity, he was a successful Chancellor and Prime Minister, whose achievements included the introduction of the old age pension, and bringing Irish Home Rule into law in 1914. This was suspended for the duration of the war, in which the four sons of his first marriage served with distinction. The eldest son, Raymond, who had repeated his father's academic success at Oxford, was killed in action in France in 1916. H.H.Asquith was forced to resign later in that year, and was succeeded by Lloyd George. Asquith was prominent in Liberal politics until 1925, when he became the first Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
Margot Tennant, daughter of a millionaire Scottish industrialist, had become Asquith's second wife in 1894. It was she who brought the family to Sutton Courtenay, buying the Wharf in 1912 and converting its barn. Margot was a famous political hostess and giver of parties. The Wharf became the weekend retreat of the Prime Minister, and Margot's permanent home. Their son Anthony became a leading figure in the British film industry and a distinguished director. Among his films are 'The Winslow Boy' and 'The Browning Version.'
*Contributed by Professor Michael Alexander
Many thanks to Delle Fletcher for giving us permission to use data and pics from her husband John’s excellent book “Sutton Courtenay, the History of a Thames-side Village” (published 1990) which has proved invaluable - proceeds from sale of which will be given towards the maintenance of All Saints Church.
Archaeological finds in the area of flint waste and tools date back to 6000 BC. When the English Channel was formed in 6500 BC the hunter-gathers (Mesolithic-Neolithic) of the Eurasian continent who were stranded on the newly found island became the first Britons. Sutton Courtenay was settled in about 4000 BC having the advantages of good drainage (gravel terraces), water available at a depth of 6-10 ft. and alluvial soil.
For more than a thousand years the Green has been the centre of the village with the rectory house of the priest, now known as the Abbey (14th century), on the south side and the courtyards of the king’s establishment, over time becoming two properties - the northern being Sutton Farm, now Norman Hall (12th century) and the southern being Brunce’s Court, now the Manor House (11th-16th century) - to the west of the Green. The Church has a 12th century tower while the rest of the building dates from 13th-16th century. In the churchyard is the grave of author ‘George Orwell’ (buried here in 1950 due to the intercession of his friend from Sutton Courtenay David Astor) who wrote that the only words on his gravestone were to be ‘Here lies Eric Arthur Blair, born 1904 died ....
The Abbey now houses The New Era Centre. Beyond the Abbey to the south the High Street has a mix of lovely old houses (Buckridges and Southfield Farm amongst many others) and new developments including The Nursery. The recreation ground and Village Hall are further along the High Street to the east. The 1950s estate was built on land between the Milton and Harwell roads where All Saints CE Primary School is situated. There are some beautiful walks in the surrounding countryside, especially the area around The Pools and along the Thames bank (reached via the path between Mill House and The Wharf).
*The statesman, Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, is buried in the churchyard, as are his second wife Margot (1864-45), and their son Anthony (1908-68). H.H.Asquith, a classical scholar and President of the Oxford Union, was a Gladstonian Liberal. Respected for his integrity, he was a successful Chancellor and Prime Minister, whose achievements included the introduction of the old age pension, and bringing Irish Home Rule into law in 1914. This was suspended for the duration of the war, in which the four sons of his first marriage served with distinction. The eldest son, Raymond, who had repeated his father's academic success at Oxford, was killed in action in France in 1916. H.H.Asquith was forced to resign later in that year, and was succeeded by Lloyd George. Asquith was prominent in Liberal politics until 1925, when he became the first Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
Margot Tennant, daughter of a millionaire Scottish industrialist, had become Asquith's second wife in 1894. It was she who brought the family to Sutton Courtenay, buying the Wharf in 1912 and converting its barn. Margot was a famous political hostess and giver of parties. The Wharf became the weekend retreat of the Prime Minister, and Margot's permanent home. Their son Anthony became a leading figure in the British film industry and a distinguished director. Among his films are 'The Winslow Boy' and 'The Browning Version.'
*Contributed by Professor Michael Alexander
Many thanks to Delle Fletcher for giving us permission to use data and pics from her husband John’s excellent book “Sutton Courtenay, the History of a Thames-side Village” (published 1990) which has proved invaluable - proceeds from sale of which will be given towards the maintenance of All Saints Church.
Sutton Courtenay