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Cherwell (district)
Encyclopedia
Cherwell is a local government district
in northern Oxfordshire
, England
. The district takes its name from the River Cherwell
, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames
at Oxford
.
Towns in Cherwell include Banbury
and Bicester
. Kidlington
is a contender for largest village in England
.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
, by a merger of the municipal borough
of Banbury, Bicester urban district
, Banbury Rural District
and Ploughley Rural District
.
The Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury and Bicester Village Outlet Centre make the Cherwell District an attractive place to shop for those in South northamptonshire, West Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire where facilities are more limited.
Recycling in Cherwell
Cherwell district has one of the country's highest recycling
rates at over 40% (2005). The district used to have a recycling rate of just 9%. This changed with the introduction of the blue box scheme for recycling paper, which has since grown to include plastic, cardboard and cans. Kidlington has its own freecycling group.
, however the southern half of the district around Bicester
is much flatter.
Much of the district is soft rolling hills with the northwest of the district lying at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.
, Birmingham
, Oxford
and the South.
Settlements
in Cherwell district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in northern Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The district takes its name from the River Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Towns in Cherwell include Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
and Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
. Kidlington
Kidlington
Kidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...
is a contender for largest village in England
Largest village in England
Several places claim to be the largest village in England. This title is disputed as there is no standard definition of a village and size might be determined by population or area....
.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, by a merger of the municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Banbury, Bicester urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
, Banbury Rural District
Banbury Rural District
Banbury was a rural district in Oxfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974. It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 from the bulk of the Banbury rural sanitary district, which had been divided between three counties...
and Ploughley Rural District
Ploughley Rural District
Ploughley was a rural district in Oxfordshire, England, from 1932 to 1974. It entirely surrounded Bicester but did not include it.It was created in 1932 from parts of the abolished Bicester Rural District, Headington Rural District and Woodstock Rural District, along with a couple of non-urban...
.
The Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury and Bicester Village Outlet Centre make the Cherwell District an attractive place to shop for those in South northamptonshire, West Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire where facilities are more limited.
Recycling in Cherwell
Cherwell district has one of the country's highest recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
rates at over 40% (2005). The district used to have a recycling rate of just 9%. This changed with the introduction of the blue box scheme for recycling paper, which has since grown to include plastic, cardboard and cans. Kidlington has its own freecycling group.
Geography
The Northern half of the Cherwell district consists mainly of soft rolling hills vallying down towards to River CherwellRiver Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
, however the southern half of the district around Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
is much flatter.
Much of the district is soft rolling hills with the northwest of the district lying at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.
Transport
Much of the district is within easy reach of the M40, with junctions 9, 10 and 11 in the district. It also has good rail links with LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and the South.
Settlements
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Cherwell district
- AdderburyAdderburyAdderbury is a large village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire, England. It is about south of Banbury and from Junction 10 of the M40 motorway. The village is divided in two by the Sor Brook. The village consists of two neighbourhoods: West Adderbury and East Adderbury...
, AmbrosdenAmbrosdenAmbrosden is a village and civil parish in Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England, southwest of Bicester to which it is linked by the A41 road, and from Oxford. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 1,749 people. The parish is bounded by the River Ray to the south, its tributary the River Bure...
, ArdleyArdleyArdley is a village in Ardley with Fewcott civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, about northwest of Bicester. The parish includes the village of Fewcott that is now contiguous with Ardley.-History:...
, ArncottArncottArncott or Arncot is a village and civil parish about southeast of Bicester in Oxfordshire. It consists of two neighbourhoods: Lower and Upper Arncott.... - BanburyBanburyBanbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Barford St. John and St. Michael, BegbrokeBegbrokeBegbroke is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Kidlington and northwest of Oxford.The toponym "Begbroke" is Old English for "Little Brook". This refers to Rowel Brook which runs through the village and was the reason for its early settlement...
, BicesterBicesterBicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and... - BlackthornBlackthorn, OxfordshireBlackthorn is a village and civil parish in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire about southeast of Bicester. The parish is bounded by the River Ray to the south, tributaries of the Ray to the east and north and field boundaries to the west...
- BletchingdonBletchingdonBletchingdon is a village and civil parish north of Kidlington and southwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England.-Manor and estates:...
, BloxhamBloxhamBloxham is a village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds, southwest of Banbury.-Early settlement:Under Roman rule between the 1st and 5th centuries there were several farms and a burial site in the Bloxham area....
, BodicoteBodicoteBodicote is a village and civil parish south of the centre of Banbury in Oxfordshire.-History:A windmill that stood next to the grove at the top of Bodicote is mentioned in the Domesday Book of AD 1086...
, BourtonBourton, CherwellBourton is a civil parish in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England, including Great Bourton and Little Bourton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 604. The villages are about three miles north of Banbury.-External links:... - BroughtonBroughton, OxfordshireBroughton is a village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire, England, about southwest of Banbury.Broughton's Church of England Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin was built in about 1300 in a style that is transitional from Early English to Decorated Gothic...
- BucknellBucknell, OxfordshireBucknell is a village and civil parish northwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England.-History:After the Norman Conquest of England, William the Conqueror granted the Manor of Bucknell to Robert D'Oyly. In 1300 the Lord of the Manor of Bucknell was Sir Robert d'Amory, father of Roger d'Amory...
- Charlton-on-OtmoorCharlton-on-OtmoorCharlton-on-Otmoor is a village and civil parish about south of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The village is close to the River Ray on the northern edge of Otmoor.-Church of England:Charlton had a parish church by the 11th century...
, ClaydonClaydon, OxfordshireClaydon is a village in Claydon with Clattercot civil parish, about north of Banbury in Oxfordshire. The village is about above sea level on a hill of Early Jurassic Middle Lias clay. Claydon is the northernmost village in Oxfordshire...
, CropredyCropredyCropredy is a village and civil parish on the River Cherwell, north of Banbury in Oxfordshire.-Early history:The village has Anglo-Saxon origins and is recorded in the Domesday Book... - DeddingtonDeddingtonDeddington is a civil parish in Oxfordshire about south of Banbury. In scale Deddington is a village, but it has a town centre with a market place and the local football team is called Deddington Town FC.-History:...
, DraytonDrayton, CherwellDrayton is a village and civil parish in the valley of the Sor Brook in Oxfordshire, about northwest of Banbury.-Early history:Tesselated tiles and Roman coins found near the parish church indicate that there was a Roman villa in the area of what later became Drayton village.Drayton village is...
, Duns TewDuns TewDuns Tew is a village and civil parish about south of Banbury in Oxfordshire. With nearby Great Tew and Little Tew, Duns Tew is one of the three villages known locally as "The Tews".-Origin of the name:... - Epwell
- Fencott and MurcottFencott and MurcottFencott and Murcott is a civil parish about south of Bicester in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England.The parish is bounded on the north and west by the River Ray and has an area of about . It includes the villages of Fencott and Murcott and has a population of about 250 residents. There...
, FinmereFinmereFinmere is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, south of the River Great Ouse. It is almost west of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire and just over east of Brackley in Northamptonshire.-Archaeology:...
, FringfordFringfordFringford is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about northeast of Bicester. The parish is bounded to the east by the Roman road that linked Alchester Roman Town with Roman Towcester, to the south by a brook that joins the River Bure, to the north mostly by a brook that is a tributary of...
, Fritwell - Godington, GosfordGosford, OxfordshireGosford is a hamlet immediately southeast of Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England. It is in the civil parish of Gosford and Water Eaton.-History:...
- Hampton PoyleHampton PoyleHampton Poyle is a village beside the River Cherwell, about northeast of Kidlington in Oxfordshire.-History:In the 13th century Hampton Poyle was granted to Walter de la Poyle. Its toponym combines his surname with the Old English for a village or farm....
, HanwellHanwell, OxfordshireHanwell is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, northwest of Banbury.-Early history:Remains of a substantial Roman villa have been found just west of the B4100 main road....
, HardwickHardwick, OxfordshireHardwick is the name of two villages in Oxfordshire, England:*Hardwick, West Oxfordshire near Witney,*Hardwick, Cherwell near Bicester....
, Hethe - Hook NortonHook NortonHook Norton is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England. It is northeast of Chipping Norton.-Toponym and early history:...
, HorleyHorley, OxfordshireHorley is a village and civil parish in the north of Oxfordshire about north-west of Banbury.-Parish church:The Church of England parish church of Saint Etheldreda was built in the 12th century. It was remodelled in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries and thus incorporates a mixture of Norman,... - IslipIslip, OxfordshireIslip is a village and civil parish on the River Ray, just above its confluence with the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. It is about east of Kidlington and about north of Oxford. This village in Oxfordshire is not related to Islip, New York...
- KidlingtonKidlingtonKidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...
, KirtlingtonKirtlingtonKirtlington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Bicester.-Archaeology:The Portway is a pre-Roman road running parallel with the River Cherwell on high ground about east of the river. It bisects Kirtlington parish and passes through the village. A short stretch of it is now... - LauntonLauntonLaunton is a village and civil parish on the eastern outskirts of Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. Launton is twinned with the village of Gavray in France.-History:King Edward the Confessor gave the manor of Launton to Westminster Abbey in 1065...
, Lower HeyfordLower HeyfordLower Heyford is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, beside the River Cherwell about west of Bicester.-Prehistory:Aves ditch is pre-Anglo-Saxon and may have been dug as a boundary ditch... - MertonMerton, OxfordshireMerton is a village and civil parish near the River Ray, about south of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England.-Archaeology:In 1978 a Middle Bronze Age spearhead was found at West End Farm on the northwestern side of the village.-Manor:...
, Middle Aston, Middleton StoneyMiddleton StoneyMiddleton Stoney is a village and civil parish about west of Bicester, Oxfordshire.-History:Aves ditch is pre-Saxon and may have been dug as a boundary ditch... - Milcombe, MiltonMilton, CherwellMilton is a village and civil parish south of Banbury in Oxfordshire.The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary was built in 1856 by the Gothic Revival architect William Butterfield....
, Mixbury, Mollington - NokeNoke, OxfordshireNoke is a small village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about northeast of Oxford. It is on the southeast edge of Otmoor and is one of the "Seven Towns of Otmoor".The toponym is derived from Old English and means "at the oak trees"...
, North Aston, North NewingtonNorth NewingtonNorth Newington is a village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire, England, about west of Banbury.North Newington is in the Church of England parish of St Mary the Virgin, Broughton With North Newington... - OddingtonOddington, OxfordshireOddington is a village and civil parish about south of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The village is close to the River Ray on the northern edge of Otmoor.-History:...
- Prescote
- SheningtonSheningtonShenington is a village about west of Banbury. It was an exclave of Gloucestershire until the Counties Act 1844 transferred it to Oxfordshire. Shenington is on Oxfordshire's boundary with Warwickshire.-Manor:...
, Shipton-on-CherwellShipton-on-CherwellShipton-on-Cherwell is a village on the River Cherwell north of Kidlington in Oxfordshire, England. The village is part of the civil parish of Shipton-on-Cherwell and Thrupp.-Manor:...
, ShutfordShutfordShutford is a village and civil parish about west of Banbury in Oxfordshire. The village is about above sea level.-History:The manor house was built in the last quarter of the 16th century. In 1928 the architect Walter Tapper added a western extension and northwest wing... - Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, SomertonSomerton, OxfordshireSomerton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, in the Cherwell valley about northwest of Bicester.-Early history:More than a dozen Saxon or early Mediaeval graves have been discovered in the yard of Somerton's former Free School....
- Souldern, South NewingtonSouth NewingtonSouth Newington is a village and civil parish on the south bank of the River Swere in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England, about southwest of Banbury.-Manors:...
, Steeple AstonSteeple AstonSteeple Aston is a village and civil parish on the edge of the Cherwell Valley in Oxfordshire, England, about west of Bicester and south of Banbury...
, Stoke Lyne, SwalcliffeSwalcliffeSwalcliffe is a village and civil parish about west of Banbury, Oxfordshire.-History:North of the village are the site of an Iron Age hill fort on Madmarston Hill, the site of a Roman villa at Swalcliffe Lea, and course of a former Roman Road... - Tadmarton, ThruppThruppThrupp is the name of two places in the United Kingdom:*Thrupp, Gloucestershire – a village and civil parish in Stroud District*Thrupp, Oxfordshire – a hamlet near Kidlington in Cherwell District...
- Upper HeyfordUpper Heyford, OxfordshireUpper Heyford is a village and civil parish about northwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England.-Location:Upper Heyford is on the east bank of the River Cherwell. "Upper" distinguishes it from Lower Heyford which is about "lower", downstream along the Cherwell valley...
- WardingtonWardingtonWardington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about northeast of Banbury. The village consists of two parts, Lower Wardington and Upper Wardington...
, Water EatonWater Eaton, OxfordshireWater Eaton is a hamlet in the civil parish of Gosford and Water Eaton, between Oxford and Kidlington in Oxfordshire.-History:The toponym Eaton is Anglo-Saxon, and "Water Eaton" means "farm by a river", referring to the manor's site beside the River Cherwell. Water Eaton manor house was built for...
, Weston-on-the-GreenWeston-on-the-GreenWeston-on-the-Green is a village and civil parish about southwest of Bicester.-Manor:Wigod of Wallingford held the manor of Weston at the time of the Norman conquest of England. Wigod died shortly after the conquest, leaving his estates including Weston to his son-in-law, the Norman baron Robert...
, WroxtonWroxtonWroxton is a village and civil parish in the north of Oxfordshire about west of Banbury.-History:Wroxton is recorded as having a church in 1217, but the present Church of England parish church of All Saints is early 14th century. A Perpendicular Gothic clerestory and porch were added early in the... - YarntonYarntonYarnton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about southwest of Kidlington and northwest of Oxford and southeast of Woodstock.-Archaeology:Early Bronze Age decorated beakers have been found in the parish...
See also
- Cherwell local electionsCherwell local electionsOne third of Cherwell District Council in Oxfordshire, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 50 councillors have been elected from 28 wards.-Political control:...
- History of Banbury, Oxfordshire