Unique multi-disciplinary study of a key part of the Oxfordshire Chilterns over a thousand years, based on intensive new research and exploring landscape, settlement, farming, and social and religious life. Drawing on intensive new research, this volume covers a dozen ancient parishes straddling the south-west end of the Chiltern hills, set within a large southwards loop of the Thames close to Reading, Wallingford, and Henley-on-Thames. London, connected by river, road, and (later) rail, lies some 40 miles east. The uplands feature the dispersed settlement and wood-pasture typical of the Chilterns, contrasted with nucleated riverside villages such as Whitchurch and Goring. Caversham, formerly "a little hamlet at the bridge", developed from the 19th century into a densely settled suburb of Reading (across the river), while other recent changes have largely obliterated the ancient pattern of "strip" parishes stretching from the river into the hills, which bound vale and upland together and had its origins in 10th-century estate structures. The economy was predominantly agricultural until the 20th century, with woodland playing a significant role alongside rural crafts and industry. Crowmarsh Gifford (near Wallingford) had an early market and fair. Gentrification and tourism gained momentum from the mid 19th century, accelerated by the arrival of the railway from 1840 and especially affecting riverside villages such as Goring and Shiplake, which saw extensive new building by wealthy incomers. Goring was earlier the site of an Augustinian nunnery and (probably) of a small pre-Conquest minster, while Mapledurham and several other places became foci for post-Reformation Roman Catholic recusancy, with Protestant Nonconformity expanding from the 19th century. Major buildings include mansion houses at Hardwick (in Whitchurch) and Mapledurham, alongside timber or brick vernacular structures and some striking modernist additions.

About the Author
SIMON TOWNLEY has been VCH Oxfordshire county editor since 1996 and is closely involved in Oxfordshire local history, serving on the committees of several local societies. His academic interests focus on settlement, landscape, and religion, particularly (but not exclusively) in the medieval period. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Reviews
All in all, this volume brings together in one place a well researched and comprehensively source footnoted history of this part of the Chilterns. It fully delivers the aim of the Victoria County History series to provide an authoritative, encyclopaedic history of the area. * The Oxon Recorder *
Richly illustrated with 23 maps and plans, plus numerous photographs and drawings ranging across landscapes and a range of buildings ancient and modern (some no longer standing), as well as a wealth of original documents, it reveals what is distinctive about these still predominantly rural parishes and how they fit into the mosaic of surrounding parishes covered in other volumes. * MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT RESEARCH *
Well written, based on seemingly exhaustive research in local, national, private and institutional archives as well as on oral testimony, and is enhanced by an excellent range of maps, photographs (some in colour) and other illustrations. A very high-quality publication, indexed and referenced to model standards. * OXONIENSIA *



Book Information
ISBN 9781904356547
Author Simon Townley
Format Hardback
Page Count 546
Imprint Victoria County History
Publisher Victoria County History
Weight(grams) 3g