Swinbrook and Widford

Civil Parish in Oxfordshire West Oxfordshire

England

Swinbrook and Widford

Walls and Trees near Asthall A timeless old style farming landscape in the Windrush valley. — Walls and Trees near Asthall Credit: Des Blenkinsopp

Swinbrook and Widford is a civil parish located in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is situated in the Cotswolds, an area known for its picturesque landscapes and charming villages. The parish encompasses the small villages of Swinbrook and Widford, which are situated approximately two miles apart.

Swinbrook is a quintessential Cotswold village, with its stone cottages and traditional architecture. It is perhaps most famous for its 17th-century pub, The Swan Inn, which has been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The village is also home to the Church of St. Mary, a medieval church known for its historic and architectural significance.

Widford, on the other hand, is a smaller village with a more rural feel. It is surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, offering stunning views of the Oxfordshire countryside. The village is home to a number of traditional thatched cottages, giving it a quaint and idyllic atmosphere.

Both Swinbrook and Widford benefit from their proximity to the River Windrush, which flows through the area. This provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking along the riverbanks.

The civil parish of Swinbrook and Widford offers a peaceful and picturesque setting, making it a popular destination for those seeking a rural escape. Whether exploring the historic architecture, enjoying the natural beauty, or simply soaking in the traditional village atmosphere, visitors are sure to find charm and tranquility in this Oxfordshire gem.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Swinbrook and Widford Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.815132/-1.594867 or Grid Reference SP2813. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Walls and Trees near Asthall A timeless old style farming landscape in the Windrush valley.

Walls and Trees near Asthall

A timeless old style farming landscape in the Windrush valley.

Des Blenkinsopp

Hillside at Kitesbridge Farm Sloping up out of the Windrush Valley.

Hillside at Kitesbridge Farm

Sloping up out of the Windrush Valley.

Des Blenkinsopp

A Stile and a Gate The old gate is long disused and falling to bits. The stone stile is in much better shape.
Footpath north of Asthall Bridge.

A Stile and a Gate

The old gate is long disused and falling to bits. The stone stile is in much better shape. Footpath north of Asthall Bridge.

Des Blenkinsopp

Digger in the Gateway This mechanical arm suddenly appeared as I was about to walk past.

Digger in the Gateway

This mechanical arm suddenly appeared as I was about to walk past.

Des Blenkinsopp

Red Creeper on the Wall Seasonal colour in Asthall Village.

Red Creeper on the Wall

Seasonal colour in Asthall Village.

Des Blenkinsopp

Thatched House, Asthall Houses and sheep in Asthall Village.

Thatched House, Asthall

Houses and sheep in Asthall Village.

Des Blenkinsopp

Width restriction into Asthall At the edge of the village. Smart white fencing to look nice and solid metal posts to stop oversized vehicles.

Width restriction into Asthall

At the edge of the village. Smart white fencing to look nice and solid metal posts to stop oversized vehicles.

Des Blenkinsopp

Old Lantern by the Churchyard One of the ways to Swinbrook Church is up some steps into the churchyard from the road.
This lamp is at the top of the steps.

Old Lantern by the Churchyard

One of the ways to Swinbrook Church is up some steps into the churchyard from the road. This lamp is at the top of the steps.

Des Blenkinsopp

Swinbrook Village Hall In the centre of the village over the road from the church.
The old lamp is by a gate into the churchyard.

Swinbrook Village Hall

In the centre of the village over the road from the church. The old lamp is by a gate into the churchyard.

Des Blenkinsopp

Early Autumn in Swinbrook A mid October day in this pleasant Cotswold village.

Early Autumn in Swinbrook

A mid October day in this pleasant Cotswold village.

Des Blenkinsopp

Stone Tombs in Swinbrook Churchyard There are quite a few of these elaborate stone tombs in the churchyard.

Stone Tombs in Swinbrook Churchyard

There are quite a few of these elaborate stone tombs in the churchyard.

Des Blenkinsopp

Track to Bockett's Corner A continuation of the road up from Asthall which has remained unsurfaced.
A winter picture of the same scene is on <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/327336">SP2912 : Track to Bockett's Corner</a>
According to my map, the track changes status half way along, with the southern part being officially a byway open to all traffic while the north end is just a bridleway.
The change is at the site of a former quarry.

Track to Bockett's Corner

A continuation of the road up from Asthall which has remained unsurfaced. A winter picture of the same scene is on SP2912 : Track to Bockett's Corner According to my map, the track changes status half way along, with the southern part being officially a byway open to all traffic while the north end is just a bridleway. The change is at the site of a former quarry.

Des Blenkinsopp

Crossways near Asthall The road between Swinbrook and Asthall Leigh, with a junction to Asthall on the right and an unsurfaced byway opposite.

Crossways near Asthall

The road between Swinbrook and Asthall Leigh, with a junction to Asthall on the right and an unsurfaced byway opposite.

Des Blenkinsopp

St Oswald's Church, Widford Present day Widford consists of only a handful of properties but in medieval times there was a village here.
Thought to have been a casualty of the 14th century Black Death pandemic, the village never recovered. Remains of the site are still visible in the fields round the church and can be seen in this picture.
The church survived and is still in use.
St Oswald was a 7th century Saxon king of Northumbria who despite involvement in various battles, by the standards of the time was thought to be saintly. A church dedication in this part of the country is unusual. One of Oswald&#039;s relatives founded a priory in Gloucester and dedicated it to him. Widford was part of its estate.
The parish remained an outlying part of Gloucestershire until 1844 when it was incorporated into surrounding Oxfordshire.

St Oswald's Church, Widford

Present day Widford consists of only a handful of properties but in medieval times there was a village here. Thought to have been a casualty of the 14th century Black Death pandemic, the village never recovered. Remains of the site are still visible in the fields round the church and can be seen in this picture. The church survived and is still in use. St Oswald was a 7th century Saxon king of Northumbria who despite involvement in various battles, by the standards of the time was thought to be saintly. A church dedication in this part of the country is unusual. One of Oswald's relatives founded a priory in Gloucester and dedicated it to him. Widford was part of its estate. The parish remained an outlying part of Gloucestershire until 1844 when it was incorporated into surrounding Oxfordshire.

Des Blenkinsopp

Cows at Widford This meadow is the site of the deserted medieval village of Widford, a settlement which never recovered from the Black Death plague in the 14th century. The remains of the village still show up as slight hills and hollows in the grass.

Cows at Widford

This meadow is the site of the deserted medieval village of Widford, a settlement which never recovered from the Black Death plague in the 14th century. The remains of the village still show up as slight hills and hollows in the grass.

Des Blenkinsopp

Between Swinbrook and Fulbrook Fields and old walls along a country lane.

Between Swinbrook and Fulbrook

Fields and old walls along a country lane.

Des Blenkinsopp

Berries on the Wall An assortment of plants scramble over a neglected stone wall along a lane near Swinbrook.

Berries on the Wall

An assortment of plants scramble over a neglected stone wall along a lane near Swinbrook.

Des Blenkinsopp

A Well Fenced Wall Maintaining old dry stone walls is a laborious and expensive business and nowadays is usually only done for cosmetic reasons.
Out in the fields, post and wire fencing is a lot easier. This wall is fenced on both sides.

A Well Fenced Wall

Maintaining old dry stone walls is a laborious and expensive business and nowadays is usually only done for cosmetic reasons. Out in the fields, post and wire fencing is a lot easier. This wall is fenced on both sides.

Des Blenkinsopp

Show me another place!

Swinbrook and Widford is located at Grid Ref: SP2813 (Lat: 51.815132, Lng: -1.594867)

Administrative County: Oxfordshire

District: West Oxfordshire

Police Authority: Thames Valley

What 3 Words

///stems.musician.ants. Near Burford, Oxfordshire

Nearby Locations

Tudhill Bushes East Hill Swinbrook and Widford

Related Wikis

Swinbrook

Swinbrook

Swinbrook is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Swinbrook and Widford, in the West Oxfordshire district, in the county of Oxfordshire...

Swinbrook and Widford

Swinbrook and Widford

Swinbrook and Widford is a civil parish in West Oxfordshire district, in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It comprises the village of Swinbrook and...

Widford, Oxfordshire

Widford, Oxfordshire

Widford is a deserted medieval village on the River Windrush about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Burford in West Oxfordshire. The village was an exclave of...

Asthall Manor

Asthall Manor

Asthall Manor is a gabled Jacobean Cotswold manor house in Asthall, Oxfordshire. It was built in about 1620 and altered and enlarged in about 1916. The...

Asthall

Asthall

Asthall or Asthal is a village and civil parish on the River Windrush in Oxfordshire, about 6 miles (10 km) west of Witney. It includes the hamlets of...

Fulbrook, Oxfordshire

Fulbrook, Oxfordshire

Fulbrook is a village and civil parish immediately northeast of Burford in West Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 437....

Church of St John the Baptist, Burford

Church of St John the Baptist, Burford

The Anglican Church of St John the Baptist in Burford, Oxfordshire, England is a Grade I listed building.The Church of England parish church is dedicated...

Burford Methodist Church

Burford Methodist Church

Burford Methodist Church is a baroque building in the High Street of Burford, Oxfordshire. It was built between about 1715 and 1730 as a private house...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.815132,-1.594867

Fordwell Turn

Naptan AtcoCode: 340000738FT

Naptan Bearing: NW

Naptan BusStopType: CUS

Naptan CommonName: Fordwell Turn

Naptan Indicator: Northbound

Naptan Landmark: Hit or Miss Cottage

Naptan NaptanCode: oxfapatw

Naptan Street: unclassified road

Naptan Verified: no

Source: naptan_import

Lat/Long: 51.8169098/-1.5893963

Fordwell Turn

Naptan AtcoCode: 340000738FTS

Naptan Bearing: SW

Naptan BusStopType: CUS

Naptan CommonName: Fordwell Turn

Naptan Indicator: Southbound

Naptan Landmark: Hit or Miss Cottage

Naptan NaptanCode: oxfgajgd

Naptan Street: unclassified road

Naptan Verified: no

Source: naptan_import

Lat/Long: 51.8168823/-1.589237

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8193436/-1.5962855

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.818765/-1.5942256

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8183954/-1.593253

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8182516/-1.5928125

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8116104/-1.5968988

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8134569/-1.6009166

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8132187/-1.5996746

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8129943/-1.5984307

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8122744/-1.5976182

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 51.8191272/-1.5952481

Post Box

Operator: Royal Mail

Post Box Type: lamp

Ref: OX18 423D

Royal Cypher: EIIR

Lat/Long: 51.8136282/-1.5929747

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Swimbridge Devon

Swinderby Lincolnshire

Have you been to Swinbrook and Widford?

Leave your review of Swinbrook and Widford below (or comments, questions and feedback).