Kiddington

Manor

The toponym is Old English, recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Chidintone, meaning "estate of a man named Cydda". Historically Cuddington has been an alternative form. It has also been known as Nether Kiddington to distinguish it from the hamlet of Over Kiddington 0.5 mi south of the village.

Offa of Mercia gave Kiddington, with Heythrop, to Worcester Priory in about 780. After the Norman conquest of England the manor was held successively by the De Salcey, Willescote or Williamscote, Babington, Browne and Browne-Mostyn families. After the English Reformation the Browne family were recusants with their own Roman Catholic chapel and priest, and they ensured the survival of Catholicism in this part of Oxfordshire. Kiddington Hall was built in 1673, and in the 18th century "Capability" Brown laid out the gardens. In 1850 the architect Charles Barry rebuilt the house so completely that no external trace of the original building is visible, added a new stable block and remodelled the gardens.

In 1950 Lawrence Robson, founder of accountancy company Robson Rhodes, bought Kiddington Hall, and on his death in 1982 his son Maurice Robson inherited the house. In September 2009 Maurice placed Kiddington Estate (including Kiddington Hall) on the market for £42 million, his divorce seemingly being the reason for the sale. Jemima Khan bought the property in Autumn 2010 for a reported £15 million.

Parish church

The Church of England parish church of Saint Nicholas was Norman, and the original chancel arch survives from this time. The rest of the church was rebuilt about 1400 in the Decorated Gothic style. The rest of the 14th century rebuilding comprises the nave, a south chapel, south porch and west tower. Later in the Middle Ages a Perpendicular Gothic east window was inserted in the chancel. In 1845 the chancel was rebuilt in its present apsidal form on the original Norman foundations to designs by George Gilbert Scott. In 1848 the Perpendicular Gothic east window was removed and re-used to form sedilia. In 1879 a vestry and organ chamber were added.

The tower has three bells. James Keene of Woodstock cast the tenor bell in 1629. Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry

School

Kiddington parish school was built in 1856. It is now a private kindergarten.

References

Sources

References

1. "Area selected: West Oxfordshire (Non-Metropolitan District)". [[Office for National Statistics]].
2. "Population statistics Kiddington CP/AP through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
3. "Woodstock Registration District". UKBMD.
4. {{harvnb. Mills. Room. 2003
5. "St Teresa's in the Past". CommuniGate.
6. {{harvnb. Sherwood. Pevsner. 1974
7. (6 September 2009). "Broken home, yours for £42M". [[News International]].
8. Irvine, Chris. (6 September 2009). "Property magnate puts country estate up for sale for £42 million". Telegraph.co.uk.
9. {{harvnb. Sherwood. Pevsner. 1974
10. "Oxfordshire Churches & Chapels website: Kiddington".
11. Dovemaster. (31 October 2012). "Bell Founders". [[Central Council for Church Bell Ringers]].
12. Davies, Peter. (8 December 2011). "Kiddington S Nicholas". [[Central Council for Church Bell Ringers]].
13. Archbishops' Council. (2010). "Benefice of Wootton with Glympton and Kiddington". [[Church of England]].