Breach Wood

Wood, Forest in Oxfordshire South Oxfordshire

England

Breach Wood

Woodland, Checkendon Beeches to the west of Checkendon Court. — Woodland, Checkendon Credit: Andrew Smith

Breach Wood is a picturesque woodland located in Oxfordshire, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, it is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor lovers alike. The wood is nestled within the larger Wychwood Forest, renowned for its beauty and biodiversity.

The woodland is characterized by its dense canopy of mature trees, predominantly consisting of oak, beech, and birch. These towering trees provide a tranquil and shady environment, making it an ideal spot for visitors to seek refuge from the summer heat or simply enjoy a peaceful walk. The forest floor is carpeted with a diverse range of flora, including bluebells, wild garlic, and wood anemones, creating a stunning display of colors during the spring months.

Breach Wood is home to a variety of wildlife, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers. It is not uncommon to spot species such as red kites, buzzards, and woodpeckers while exploring the woodland. Additionally, the wood provides habitat for mammals like deer, foxes, and badgers, which can sometimes be spotted at dawn or dusk.

The wood is crisscrossed by a network of well-maintained footpaths and trails, allowing visitors to explore its beauty at their own pace. These paths lead visitors through a diverse range of habitats, including open meadows, babbling brooks, and secluded ponds. There are also picnic areas dotted throughout the woodland, providing an opportunity for visitors to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings.

In summary, Breach Wood is a captivating woodland in Oxfordshire, offering a peaceful and scenic retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its rich biodiversity, well-maintained trails, and stunning natural beauty make it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a connection with the great outdoors.

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Breach Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.552184/-1.0367981 or Grid Reference SU6684. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Woodland, Checkendon

Beeches to the west of Checkendon Court.

Andrew Smith

Remains of the Polish Village

After WW2 there were a lot of displaced Polish people who needed somewhere to live. Old military buildings provided accommodation for a Polish community here up until the 1960s. Abandoned buildings from that time can still be seen in the woods. History on Link

Des Blenkinsopp

Another Hut in the Woods

Another one of the derelict buildings left over from WW2 which can still be seen in the woods round here. These were lived in up until the 1960s by community of Polish people displaced by the war. History on Link

Des Blenkinsopp

Stoke Row

The road becomes Kit Lane but the maps don't give a name till beyond the end of the village.

David Howard

Stoke Row Green

David Howard

Stoke Row

David Howard

Houses in Stoke Row

Looking towards Church View.

David Howard

Church View, Stoke Row

David Howard

Kit Lane, Stoke Row

David Howard

Pasture, Ipsden

Paddocks at Well Place with Rowan Atkinson's house at Handsmooth not looking particularly attractive, but debatably not much worse than the one it replaced, in the background.

Andrew Smith

Basset Wood

Dani

Woods north east of Stoke Row

Dani

The Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row

This is an unlikely looking structure to find in an Oxfordshire village. Its origins lie in the friendship that developed between Edward Anderton Reade, the son of a local squire who spent his working life in India, and the Maharajah of Benares. In Victorian times the villages of this part of Oxfordshire had only limited access to clean water bringing considerable hardship to the poor of the area. Learning of these difficulties, the Maharajah - who had remained loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 - determined that a charity should be set up to relieve the problem. The result was a well dug to a depth of 368 feet, a considerable engineering achievement. To honour the Maharajah, who never visited Britain, a splendid well canopy was built incorporating a gold elephant representing the Hindu god Ganesh. The well was used until the beginning of the Second World War although by that time most houses in the village had a mains connection. Today the well has been renovated and preserved and is maintained by the Maharajah's Well Trust. The octagonal cottage to the right was built to house the well warden. The last warden died in 1979 since when it has been rented out to supplement the charity's income.

Stephen McKay

The Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row

This is looking under the canopy of the well where the gold elephant takes pride of place. See SU6784 : The Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row for a wider view and some historical notes.

Stephen McKay

1 Langtree Cottages, Checkendon, Oxfordshire

1906 by Maxwell Ayrton in Arts and Crafts style. (Source:Historic England)

Oswald Bertram

Foundry Cottage, Checkendon, Oxfordshire

C17 with C20 windows. Brick ground floor with areas of flint; timber frame to first floor, rendered panels to left, brick infill to right. Old plain tile roof; brick stacks. 2-unit plan. 2-storey, 3-window range. Central 2-panel door with C20 gabled tile porch. 2-light casement to left. 2 single-light casements to right. Three 2-light casements to first floor. Roof hipped to right. Ridge stack to right and end stack to left. (Source:Historic England)

Oswald Bertram