Monday 25th May, Thrupp.
A cup of tea in bed this morning; as we were remaining here for the next two nights.
When the few spots of rain had stopped, we lounged about and decided to have a walk after lunch. We headed for the redundant church of St. Giles at Hampton Gay, a pleasant stroll across fields and alongside the River Cherwell. The Manor took its name from the early holders of the land, Robert De Gay.
The church was first recorded in 1074; by 1535 the chancel and nave had become dilapidated. It was rebuilt between 1767 and 1772 on the original foundations and has been described as ‘a very bad example of the meeting house style of gothic architecture’. I liked it.
We wandered around the churchyard and saw the ruins of the manor house close by.
an exploration was indicated and we did just that.
The manor house was built by the Barry family in the 16th century in the shape of a letter ‘E’; the central section was crenulated. The two outer wings had fine windows and the whole building very well proportioned. There was a major fire in 1877 when the roof collapsed and the hose has remains in a ruined state.
Local legend has it that a curse was placed on the owner of the manor after his refusal to allow into his house, the injured and dying from a train crash on the bridge over the Cherwell at nearby Shipton on Christmas Eve 1874. Carriages had fallen from the bridge into the river below; 34 people died and 69 were injured. It has remained one of the worst losses of life in an accident on the Great Western Railway. The attitude of the Lord of the manor was in sharp contrast to the villagers who did all that they were able to assist.
2009 Totals – Locks 192; Miles 356; Bus pass uses 4.
