Bicester in 1791

“… and the air is esteemed very salubrious, the inhabitants in general living to a good old age.” – being
a description of Bicester from 1791 together with a list of the gentry, clergy, professional gentlemen,
and tradesmen therein.

By Mark [Guest Contributor to The Bicestorian]

Bicester, Bisseter, or Burcester, near a rivulet that runs into the Cherwell at Islip, is distant 55 miles from London, lat. 51 54 N. and long. 1 8 W. It once had a monastery, and is now much noted for its excellent malt-liquor. It is a place of antiquity, as appears from some Danish monuments dug up here. It is also remarkable for having had once a famous city
in its neighbourhood, called Alcester, long since passed over by the plough, and where many Roman coins, stones, and other antiquities, are found.

On the adjacent plain are frequent horse-races.
Bicester is a large, handsome, and well-built town,
in the hundred of Ploughley; and where magistrates meet to transact the business of the hundred. It is a Vicarage of about 160 pounds a year value, and in the gift of Sir Gregory Page Turner, bart.

Here is a daily post to and from London, which is
open from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening. The bag is conveyed by a horse to Wheatly, 15 miles, where it meets the Oxford mail-coach at the Crown Inn. Here is also a daily cross-post to and from Oxford, for the convenience of letters to and from the north and West of England.

This place also derives great advantages from the
Oxford canal, which passes through Lower Keyford [sic] at the distance of six miles only.

It has a large market on Friday, and several fairs annually, viz. Friday in Easter Week, a very
large fair for cattle; the first Friday in June, for cattle; August 5, a large fair in King’s End part of the
town, for leather, cattle, toys &c. three other fairs in that part called Market End, for hiring servants,
viz. the first and second Fridays next after new Michaelmas-day, and the Friday then next following;
and one of the fair, on the next Friday following the 15th of December, for cattle. The spring and
autumn markets for the sale of sheep are very large, and much resulted to by the graziers, even at 20
miles distance.

There is a good turnpike-road from Aylesbury to this town, (16 miles,) and another Turnpike to Banbury (14 miles,) which opens the nearest distance of communication between Birmingham and London; and on which road Mr. W. Phillips, of Bicester, travels once a week from hence to Birmingham with a broad-wheel waggon, on Sunday evening, and arrives at the Red-Lion, Digbeth, on Tuesday morning, sets out on Wednesday morning, and get into Bicester on Friday morning. Stage-coaches are soon expected to and from London on this road. Kirby's waggon leaves Bicester every Saturday noon, and arrives at the Oxford Arms Inn, Warwick-lane, London, on Monday morning, at 3 o'clock; returns the same evening at 8, and gets to Bicester on Wednesday afternoon.

Another waggon leaves Bicester every Thursday noon, arrives at the Oxford Arms Inn, Warwick-lane,
London, on Saturday morning, at 3 o'clock; returns the same day at 12, and reaches Bicester on
Monday noon; passes through Watford, Berkhamsted, Tring, Aylesbury, and Waddesdon. Philips’s
waggon sets out from Bicester every Friday evening, and arrives at the George, Snow-hill, London, at
3 o'clock every Monday morning; returns on Tuesday morning and arrives at Bicester on Thursday
morning. Another leaves Bicester on Tuesday morning at 3 o'clock, and arrives at the above inn in
London every Thursday; passes through Uxbridge, High Wycombe, Oxford, and Islip. Phillips’s
Birmingham waggon passes through Banbury, Kineton, and Warwick. Bowden’s waggon sets out from Bicester, to the Roebuck, Oxford, and returns the same evening. Richardson's cart, from Northampton to Oxford, passes through Bicester every Wednesday.

This place is situated in the direct road from Oxford to Buckingham, and distance from each
about 12 miles, the greatest part turnpike, and always a tolerable road. There are two capital Inns, the
King’s Arms in the Market-place, kept by Mr Thomas Potter, and the Crown Inn Sheep-street, by Mr
Wm. Clark. There are also 19 other public houses.
The parish is in two divisions called Market End, (inclosed,), and King’s End, (open field,) each
maintaining their own poor, and repairing the roads separately, but the latter paying in proportion of
one fifth to the church rates in common with Market End. The property of this manor and bailiwick
including therein the right of tolls of markets and fairs, belong in different shares to Sir Gregory Page
Turner, Bart. John Coker, Esq. Mrs Mary Metcalfe, Mr Henry Churchill, and others; and the manor, as
well as the greatest part of the open field lands in King's End, is the estate of John Coker, Esq. Barrister
at Law, subject to the tythes impropriate of Sir Gregory Page Turner, Bart.
In this town is a charity school established, for the clothing and education of 30 poor boys, which is
now supported by the voluntary subscription of the inhabitants alone, and to which the late Sir Edward
Turner, of Ambrosden, near Bicester, has for many years, and to the time of his decease, a generous
benefactor.
There is instituted, among other charities of longstanding, one, called the feoffiees; it is the
net-produce of certain lands of about 120 pounds, a year value, to be applied in relieving decayed
tradesman. The only manufactory worthy of note carried on here chroma is that of the common leather
slippers, where it is supported more and made than any other place in the kingdom. The manufactory
of sack-cloth, and the combing of Jersey, which have been carried on to a great extent, have of late
years been much in the decline; the poor now for some time past having been employed in the lace
trade. Most of the houses and some of the lands in Market-end were formerly sold by the Earl of
Derby, (and are now known by the name of Derbyholding,) for the term of 8000 years, all of which are subject to a quit-rent, payable to the bailiwick, and to which tenure is annexed a privilege of digging stones and mortar in certain grounds, called the stone-pits and mortar-pits, for the building and repairing of such Derbyhold premises. There is also a piece of ground, about four acres, settled upon
the tythingman of Bicester forever, subject to the payment of twenty shillings annually to the bailiwick.
The church, which is neat, large, and commodious, has belonging to it a handsome and lofty
tower; with a remarkable fine turned organ, and a good ring of bells. In the church and chancel are
many curious and expensive monuments, particularly one lately erected in the chancel to the memory
of the late Sir Edward Turner and his lady.
There is also a handsome meeting house for the Dissenters, which are but few in number, the
inhabitants being chiefly of the established church.
Bicester, surrounded as it is in part by hills, is by no means a low situation, but is built on a
small eminence, which appears on approaching all parts of the town and the air is esteemed very
salubrious, the inhabitants in general living to a good old age.

The following are the principal inhabitants:
Gentry.
Cooper, Mrs. widow
Hewlett, George, Gent.
Hartin, Robert, Gent. (F.)
Jessop, Richard, Gent.
King, Daniel, Gent. (F.)
King, Richard, Gent.
King, Mrs. widow
Smith Mrs. widow
Clergy.
Eyre, Rev. Joseph, Vicar, Ambrosden and
Bicester
Miller, Rev. Wm. Dissenting Minister
Turner, Rev. Edward, Curate
Physic.
Davis, Thomas, Surgeon and Apothecary
Heather, Matthew, Surgeon & Apothecary
Penrose, Francis, Surgeon & Apothecary
Law.
Coker, John, Esq. Barrister
Churchill, Henry, Attorney & Solicitor, and
Master in Chancery
Moore, James, Attorney, and Master in
Chancery
Walford, Henry, Attorney
Traders, &c.
Abraham, John, Taylor
Adams, John, Farmer
Allen, William, Breeches-maker
Alley, John, Blacksmith and Farrier.
Baker, Samuel, (F.) Taylor
Baker, Thomas, Taylor
Baldwin, Thomas, Horse-dealer
Ball, William (F.) Whitesmith
Barker, Daniel, (F.) Laceman & Draper
Bathe, John, (F.) Maltser
Blunt, William, Grocer
Blunt, William, Baker
Blowfield, Thomas, Victualler (Bell)
Boffin, John, Shoemaker and Victualler (Red
Lion)
Bowen, Thomas, Brazier
Bowerman, Solomon, Plasterer
Burrows, John (F.) Schoolmaster
Burrows – , Mantua-maker
Brom, John, Victualler (8 Bells)
Busby, George, (F.) Hosier
Busby, James, (F.) Plumber and Glazier
Burnard, Jonathan, Mason
Burnard, Vincent, Mason
Butler, Clement, (F.) Butcher
Carter, Henry, Cooper
Clark, Isaac, (F.) Land-surveyor and Victualler
(Mitre)
Clark, William, Victualler (Crown)
Clark, Samuel, Taylor
Clark, William, Taylor
Coleman –, (F.) Victualler (King’s Head)
Cook, Edward, Soap-boiler
Crump, William, Baker
Coleman, John, Farmer & Horse-dealer
Chappel, Samuel, Butcher
Cleaver, John, Grocer and Hosier
Dagley, John, (F.) Cooper
Egerton, Thomas, (F.) Carpenter and Joiner
Ensor, John, (F.) Victualler (Blue Boar)
East, Aaron, Victualler, Fleur-de-Luce
Ellard, John, Farmer
Foster, John, Grocer and Dealer in Spiritous
Liquors
Foster, George, Butcher
Foster, George, (F.) Grocer
Faddery, John, Stay-maker
Field, Richard, Maltser and Victualler (Crown)
Ganden, Richard, Slipper-maker
Gough, Thomas, (F.) Baker
Gurden, James, Shoe & Slipper-maker
Grimsley, Thomas, Butcher
Groves, Richard, Gardener
Gurden, George, Slipper-maker
Gardner, Robert, Farmer
Harbert – , Shoe-maker
Humphry, William, (F.) Wheelwright
Harris, Thomas, Baker, Auctioneer, and Wool-
stapler
Howse, Widow, Victualler (White Lion)
Hamilton, Wm. Painter and Glazier
Hatwell, Miss, Schoolmistress
Hawkins, Thomas, (F.) Breeches-maker
Hicks, Henry, Butcher
Harris, Thomas, (F.) Stone-engraver
Hicks, Thomas. Taylor and Parish-clerk
Howse, William, Butcher
Humphry, Thomas, (F.) Wheelwright
Heritage, Tho. Victualler (Wheatsheaf)
Hawkins, John, (F.) Baker
Harwood, William, Gardener
Hadland, Charles, Baker and Farmer
Harwood – , Stay-maker
Humphry, Joseph, Shoemaker
Hunt, John, Gardener
Hunt, William, Shopkeeper
Harvey, John, Shoe-maker
Jackson, Joseph, Turner
Jones, James, Schoolmaster
Jones, John, (F.) Victualler (Cross Keys) and
Sheriff’s Officer for the Counties of Oxford and
Bucks
Jagger, James, Peruke-maker
Jagger, James, Slipper-maker
Jennings, Francis, (F.) Carpenter
Jessop, John, Sack-cloth-maker & Hemp-
dresser
Jackson, John, Victualler (Blue Man)
Kirby, John, Tanner
King, Widow, Soap-boiler
Kirby, Richard, (F.) London Carrier & Maltser
Kinman, Widow, Sadler
Kent, John, Draper
Kendall, Richard, (F.) Carpenter, Joiner and
Auctioneer
King, Thomas, (F.) Bacon-seller, Tin-man, and
Brazier
King, Richard, Laceman
Lymes, Henry, Victualler (George)
Lock, William, (F.) Farmer
Lord, John, (F.) Currier
Musselwhite, William, Watch and Clock-maker
Miller, Timothy, Victualler (Dog)
Maynard, John, Baker
Maynard, Gabriel, Hosier
Maynard, Wm. (F.) Sack-cloth-maker and
Hemp-dresser
Mortimore, Widow, Victualler (Rising Sun)
Mewkill, Josiah, Breeches-maker
Nevill, William, Grocer
Nevill, John, Peruke-maker, &c.
Neale, Thomas, Breeches-maker
Osmond, George, (F.) Draper
Parkins, John, (F.) Hemp-dresser
Prior and Co. (F.) Shoe-makers
Painter, William, (F.) Fellmonger
Phillips, Wm. (F.) London & Birmingham
Carrier, Farmer and Maltser
Potter, Thomas and William, Brewers
Pavior, Wm. Shopkeeper and Maltser
Potter, Thomas, (F.) Innholder and Maltser
Pates, John, (F.) Miller
Pates, Richard, Baker and Mealman
Painter, Timothy, Farmer
Potter, William, Farmer
Richardson, John, Farmer
Rush, William, (F.) Bacon-man
Reading, Tho. (F.) Ironmonger, Postmaster, and
Sub-distributor of Stamps
Rolls, William and Sons, Curriers
Reynolds, John, Farmer
Stephens, Thomas, Shoe-maker and Victualler
(6 Bells)
Saunders, Widow, Victualler (Rose and Crown)
Shirley, Robert, (F.) Butcher & Farmer
Syrett, Tho. & John, (F.) Blacksmiths and
Farriers
Shepard, Thomas, Shopkeeper
Stevens, John, Grocer, and Dealer in Wine and
Spirits
Stratton, John & Tho. (F.) Gardeners,
Seedsmen, and Farmers
Sirett, Joseph, Blacksmith & Victualler (Nag’s
Head)
Slaney, Robert, Grocer
Stratton, James, Gardener
Shellingford, William, Farmer
Smith, Richard, (F.) Surveyor of Windows,
Oxfordshire, 3d Division
Tanner, Thomas, (F.) Victualler
Tanner, John, (F.) Farmer
Thomas, Jacob and Isaac, Ironmongers
Tooley, Henry, Gardener
Thurland, Widow, Milliner
Trendall, Thomas, Corn-dealer
Thonger, John, (F.) Sadler
Thonger, Rob. (F.) Sadler and Collar-maker
Telford, George, (F.) Cutler
Walford, Thomas, Excise-officer
Wall, Thomas, (F.) Schoolmaster
Wells, - , Collar-maker
Westcot, William, (F.) Wollen-draper and
Mercer
Woodcock, William, Maltser
Wright, - , Joiner & Cabinet-maker
Wright, - , Excise-officer

The following the principal villages and seats in the neighbourhood of Bicester: - Bainton, 2
miles, the hunting seat of John Ward, Esq., Chesterton, 1 mile, the seat of John Haley, Esq., Caversfield, Bucks, 1 mile, the seat of Joseph Bullock, Esq., Bucknell, 2 miles, the seat of Phineas Trotman, Esq., Middleton Stoney, 3 miles, a manor belonging to the Earl of Jersey, abounding with game, hares in
particular. Kirtlington, 5 miles, the seat of Sir Henry Dashwood Bart. M.P. for Woodstock. Turmore, 5
miles, the seat of William Fermor, Esq., Blechingdon, 6 miles, the seat of Arthur Annesley, Esq., M.P.
for the city of Oxford; and near which is the hunting-seat of Sir Clement Cottrell, Bart.
At Ambrosden, a small village, 2 miles from Bicester, literally stood a magnificent edifice, (in
the centre of an estate of 5000 pounds per year,) the seat of, and built by, the late Sir Edward Turner,
Bart., deceased, at 100,000 pounds expense, but has lately been wholly taken down, and the materials
sold by public auction, by his eldest son, Sir Gregory Page Turner, Bart., M.P. for Thirsk, Yorkshire.