Arncott

During ancient times, Arncott (which is comprised of two hamlets known as Upper and Lower Arncott) was part of the parish of Ambrosden, which also included nearby Blackthorn.

The River Ray, which flows close to the edge of the village, was once wide and deep enough for barges to navigate - in 1764, it was recorded that a barge brought coal from Oxford, unloading its cargo next to Arncott Bridge; it returned to the city with a supply of locally-grown corn.

The name of the village is derived from the Old English 'Earnigcote', meaning 'Earn's Cottage' ('Earn' being a personal name, Saxon in origin). It was first recorded as such during the 10th century.

In 983, King Aethelred the Unready granted the manor of Arncott to the Benedictine Abbey at Abingdon, after which it became known as 'Arncot Abbatis'. During the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, Arncott was surrendered to the Crown, who eventually sold Upper Arncott to the Martin family.

In 1086, the Domesday Book recorded that Lower Arncott was held by 'William, son of Mann'. In 1232, Lower Arncott was sold to the Augustinian Priory at Bicester, becoming known as 'Arncot Prioris'. Following the dissolution, it was purchased by Thomas Martin (a member of the same Martin family who acquired Upper Arncott).

Arncott has never had its own church; instead, residents would visit St Mary's in Ambrosden. However, Reverend Charles Bagshawe - vicar of Ambrosden from 1866 to 1884 - did set up a mission room in the village for some time. A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in 1834, but although the original building still remains, it has since been converted into offices.

Arncott had its own school by 1833, but it had ceased operation by 1854. An infant school was opened in Ambrosden in 1876, but the mission room in Arncott was also teaching pupils from that same year, until around 1920.

The National Gazette of Great Britain and Ireland, writing in 1868, described Arncott thusly:

"ARNCOTT, a chapelry in the parish of Ambrosden, hundred of Bullington, but detached and locally in the hundred of Ploughley, in the county of Oxford, 3 miles to the S.E. of Bicester. It is situated on the river Ray. Arncott Wood is on high ground, commanding a good prospect."

The village pub, The Plough, has existed since at least the 1840's (probably much earlier - I cannot find any definitive information, so if you know any of the pub's history, please feel free to let me know!). It was owned by Hall's Brewery, Oxford, at some point during the past. It was also used for conducting post-mortems and inquests. Some previous landlords during the 1800's include Zachariah Deeley, Joseph Reynolds and James Cross.