Littlemore
Encyclopedia
Littlemore is a district of Oxford
, England
. It has a parish council that also represents parts of Rose Hill. It is about 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of the city centre of Oxford, between Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys
, Cowley
, and Sandford-on-Thames
.
in Oxford. Other parts of the township were in the parish of Iffley
. Littlemore did not become a separate ecclesiastical parish until 1847. It became a civil parish
in 1866.
Until the early 20th century Littlemore was a rural area. Extensive development started in the 1920s and continued in the 1950s.
of Saint Mary
and Saint Nicholas
, designed by the architect H.J. Underwood
, was consecrated in 1836. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style
and became a model for smaller churches of the time.
Across the road is the former Littlemore Asylum building, founded in 1846, which has been converted to private dwellings and renamed "St George's Manor", along with several newbuild blocks named "Surman House" and "Radcliffe House". Mandelbrote Drive, which services the estate, is named for the association with Bertram Mandelbrote, whose pioneering work in the area of the therapeutic community ultimately led to the move to new accommodation and sale of the building to private developers.
moved their headquarters in 2008 to the former Yamanouchi building, itself using a building from the former hospital. The building was acquired by RO Developments Limited in 2005 from Yamanouchi (more latterly Astellas Pharma). RO Developments then converted the former hospital and extensively refurbished the building prior to selling to SAE Institute in 2008.
opened Littlemore railway station
in 1864 as part of its extension from to .
In 1963 British Rail
ways withdrew passenger services between and Oxford and closed all intermediate stations including Littlemore. The line through Littlemore remains open for freight traffic between the Oxford main line at Kennington Junction and the BMW Mini
factory at .
(a sensation at the time), and was accepted into the faith by Father Dominic Barberi
, a prominent Passionist
active in England at the time. The Birmingham Oratory
bought the property in 1951, and members of an International Religious Order are residents and custodians of "The College."
(1840–1911) was born in the village, the son of a local stonemason.
The local historian Edmund Arnold Greening Lamborn lived at 34 Oxford Road, Littlemore from 1911 to 1950.
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...
, 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...
. It has a parish council that also represents parts of Rose Hill. It is about 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of the city centre of Oxford, between Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys
Blackbird Leys
Blackbird Leys is a civil parish and ward in Oxford, England, and is one of the largest council estates in Europe. According to the 2001 census, the ward had a population of 5,803. Unlike most parts of the City of Oxford, the area has a civil parish. The parish was created in 1990. Its 2001 parish...
, Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
, and Sandford-on-Thames
Sandford-on-Thames
Sandford-on-Thames is a village and Parish Council beside the River Thames in Oxfordshire just south of Oxford. The village is just west of the A4074 road between Oxford and Henley.-Early history:...
.
History
In the Middle Ages, and perhaps earlier, most of Littlemore was a detached part of the parish of St Mary the VirginUniversity Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew...
in Oxford. Other parts of the township were in the parish of Iffley
Iffley
Iffley is a village in Oxfordshire, England, within the boundaries of the city of Oxford, between Cowley and the estates of Rose Hill and Donnington, and in proximity to the River Thames . Its most notable feature is its original and largely unchanged Norman church, St Mary the Virgin, which has a...
. Littlemore did not become a separate ecclesiastical parish until 1847. It became a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in 1866.
Until the early 20th century Littlemore was a rural area. Extensive development started in the 1920s and continued in the 1950s.
Parish church
Until the 19th century Littlemore had no church. In 1828 John Henry Newman was appointed vicar of St. Mary's and he started agitating for a separate church at Littlemore. The new parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Saint Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
and Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
, designed by the architect H.J. Underwood
Henry Jones Underwood
Henry Jones Underwood was an English architect who spent most of his career in Oxford. He was the brother of the architects Charles Underwood and George Allen Underwood ....
, was consecrated in 1836. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
and became a model for smaller churches of the time.
Littlemore Hospital
Dominating the southeast side of Littlemore on Sandford Road is the Littlemore Mental Health Centre, which includes Ashurst Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).Across the road is the former Littlemore Asylum building, founded in 1846, which has been converted to private dwellings and renamed "St George's Manor", along with several newbuild blocks named "Surman House" and "Radcliffe House". Mandelbrote Drive, which services the estate, is named for the association with Bertram Mandelbrote, whose pioneering work in the area of the therapeutic community ultimately led to the move to new accommodation and sale of the building to private developers.
Littlemore Park & SAE Institute
The SAE InstituteSAE Institute
The SAE Institute is a private college founded in 1976 by Sound Engineer, Record Producer and businessman Tom Misner. The first school was opened 1977 in Sydney,...
moved their headquarters in 2008 to the former Yamanouchi building, itself using a building from the former hospital. The building was acquired by RO Developments Limited in 2005 from Yamanouchi (more latterly Astellas Pharma). RO Developments then converted the former hospital and extensively refurbished the building prior to selling to SAE Institute in 2008.
Railway
The Wycombe RailwayWycombe Railway
The Wycombe Railway was a British railway between and that connected with the Great Western Railway at both ends; there was one branch, to .-History:The Wycombe Railway Company was incorporated by an act of Parliament passed in 1846...
opened Littlemore railway station
Littlemore railway station
Littlemore railway station was on the Wycombe Railway and served Littlemore in Oxfordshire. Littlemore was then a village but is now a suburb of Oxford.The Wycombe Railway opened the station in 1864 as part of its extension from Thame to Oxford....
in 1864 as part of its extension from to .
In 1963 British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways withdrew passenger services between and Oxford and closed all intermediate stations including Littlemore. The line through Littlemore remains open for freight traffic between the Oxford main line at Kennington Junction and the BMW Mini
MINI (BMW)
Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of...
factory at .
John Henry Newman
Littlemore is now probably best known for the work of Cardinal Newman, whose connection with the village began in 1828, when he was appointed vicar of St Mary the Virgin and soon began holding classes for the residents of Littlemore. He organised a successful petition to have a new church built. From 1842 to 1846 Newman lived at Littlemore, in a house in College Lane, under a rule of strict monastic discipline. There he took up orders with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
(a sensation at the time), and was accepted into the faith by Father Dominic Barberi
Dominic Barberi
Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, born Dominic Barberi was an Italian theologian and a member of the Passionist Congregation...
, a prominent Passionist
Passionist
The Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross . Professed members use the initials C.P. after their names.-History:St...
active in England at the time. The Birmingham Oratory
Birmingham Oratory
The Birmingham Oratory is a Catholic oratory and church, on the Hagley Road, in the Birmingham suburb of Edgbaston in England.-History:The church was constructed between 1907 and 1910 in the Baroque style as a memorial to Cardinal Newman, founder of the English Oratory...
bought the property in 1951, and members of an International Religious Order are residents and custodians of "The College."
Other inhabitants
The trade unionist Henry BroadhurstHenry Broadhurst
Henry Broadhurst was a leading early British trade unionist and a Lib-Lab politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1885 and 1906....
(1840–1911) was born in the village, the son of a local stonemason.
The local historian Edmund Arnold Greening Lamborn lived at 34 Oxford Road, Littlemore from 1911 to 1950.