History of Avon Dassett, Warwickshire
Ancient Origins and Etymology
The village of Avon Dassett lies nestled among the Burton Dassett Hills on the south-western slopes, approximately four miles east of Kineton and seven miles north of Banbury in Oxfordshire. The name “Dassett” has ancient Celtic origins, first appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Derceto” and in 1173 as “Derchet”. This name derives from Common Brittonic words that survive in modern Welsh as “derw” (oaks) and “coed” (woodland), referring to the adjacent wolds. The extended name, specifying the settlement’s location on the River Avon, first appears in 1185 as “Afnederceth”.
Medieval Period (1066-1539)
Domesday Book Record
Avon Dassett first appears in historical records in the Domesday Book of 1086. Before the Norman Conquest, the manor was held by three thegns or retainers of the King, but by 1086, ownership had transferred to the Count of Meulan. The entry records: “in (Avon) Dassett 10 hides. 3 thanes held it; they were free. Land for 12 ploughs. In lordship 3 ploughs; 10 slaves. 12 villagers with a priest and 5 smallholders have 7 ploughs. Meadow 50 acres. Value now £8”.
Medieval Settlement and Agriculture
The village was relatively wealthy by medieval standards, with the manor rated at 10 hides (approximately 1,200 acres). Archaeological evidence suggests extensive medieval settlement, with ridge and furrow earthworks visible throughout the parish, particularly to the south and west. The landscape still bears evidence of the medieval strip farming system that characterized agricultural life around the village.
The medieval church of St John the Baptist dated back to the Norman period. A unique survival from this era is the effigy of an early thirteenth-century deacon, probably Hugh, Rector of the church who died around 1240. This remarkable stone carving depicts the deacon in his ecclesiastical vestments, carrying a scroll, with a tortoise nibbling foliage at his feet.
Early Modern Period (1540-1750)
Manorial History
The Lords of the Manor were typically non-resident, and ownership passed through numerous hands between 1086 and 1937. Notably, the manor was often held by women who were widows or daughters of landowners. From 1551-1744, the influential Woodward family held the title of Lord of the Manor before selling it to the Holbech family of Farnborough, who retain it today.
Village Society and Charities
Despite the profitable manor and church lands, many villagers lived on the margins of subsistence. The 1639 Poor Law Returns record £6 13s 4d received by levy for poor relief. Several village charities were established during this period, some of which survive today:
In 1617, Reverend John James left 20 shillings annually for the poor
In 1754, John Freckleton left land for a school, though this was declared void and instead provided places at Farnborough free school
In 1768, Reverend Thomas Hindes left £50 for distribution to “industrious” poor parishioners
The Civil War (1642-1651)
Avon Dassett was dramatically affected by the English Civil War, particularly the Battle of Edgehill on October 23, 1642, fought just a few miles away. This first major battle of the Civil War involved approximately 13,000 Royalist troops under King Charles I facing 12,000 Parliamentarians under the Earl of Essex.
The area was swarming with both armies before the battle. The young princes Charles and James reportedly spent the night before the battle at nearby Arlescote Manor, while Parliamentary forces were quartered in Kineton. It seems inconceivable that Avon Dassett itself was untouched by these events, and cannon balls and lead shot from the battle are still discovered in the village today.
Enclosure and Agricultural Change (1779)
Avon Dassett was enclosed in 1779, which consolidated much of the landownership and transferred common land to village charities. Two allotments of land around Church Hill were awarded in trust for the poor to replace their traditional rights to cut furze, which were removed by the Enclosure Act. From the enclosure map, we get the first documentary details of buildings on the site that would later become Bitham Hall.
Victorian Era (1800-1900)
Demographics and Social Change
The 19th-century censuses provide the first detailed insights into village life. The population remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 170 and 306 inhabitants. However, there were significant social changes: in 1841, around 60% of the population was engaged in agriculture, but this figure had halved by 1901. The sector showing the largest rise was the “Landed or Professional” category, demonstrating a move away from farming toward providing residences for the leisured classes.
The Catholic Presence
Perhaps the most significant change in the village’s character was the arrival of the Catholic Church, Presbytery, and Convent in the 1850s. These institutions were financed by Joseph Knight, a nurseryman from Lancashire who had made his fortune in Chelsea. The Catholic church of St Joseph, built in 1854 using local ironstone, remains a charming example of early Victorian Gothic architecture.
Knight also established the Italian-influenced Bitham House and planted the surrounding parkland with exotic trees, including early specimens of monkey puzzles and giant redwoods. The convent provided education for fifteen children ranging in age from 3-19 in 1901.
New Church Construction
The present Anglican church was built in 1868 by architect Charles Buckeridge to replace the dilapidated medieval church. Constructed in golden Hornton sandstone in fourteenth-century Gothic style, it incorporates some elements from its predecessor, including a medieval east window reset in the west wall of the tower.
Twentieth Century Scandals and Changes
The Peel Fraud Case (1922)
In 1922, Avon Dassett was embroiled in a betting fraud scandal involving Captain Owen Peel and his wife Violet. They submitted 45 forged telegrams to bookmakers from the village post office, asking clerks to record an earlier time than when they were actually sent. Peel was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment under the Forgery Act of 1913 and the Post Office Protection Act of 1884.
The Profumo Affair (1963)
The village gained national notoriety during the Profumo Affair of 1963. John Profumo, Conservative Secretary of State for War and MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, owned Avon Carrow, a substantial house in the village. When his affair with 19-year-old model Christine Keeler became public, leading to his resignation from government, journalists besieged the village, offering locals £100 to reveal his whereabouts. Profumo had actually escaped via The Limes and spent thirteen days hiding at a friend’s home in nearby Radway.
War Impact
Despite its small size, Avon Dassett was significantly affected by twentieth-century conflicts. The village war memorial records four men who died in the two World Wars: Ernest Bloxham, Herbert Cooper, and Thomas Weld MC in World War I, and James Worrall in World War II. In 1901, two families were headed by wives of soldiers fighting in the Boer War.
Modern Transformations
Social and Economic Changes
The twentieth century brought profound changes to the village’s social and economic structure. Household size decreased dramatically while the number of households increased, partly due to the division of large residences into multiple dwelling units. Large houses like Avon Carrow and Bitham Hall were converted into separate dwellings in the mid-to-late twentieth century.
Decline of Traditional Institutions
The church suffered a significant decline in status. The rectorship was first shared with Farnborough, then with Fenny Compton. On May 11, 1983, the Church Commissioners declared the parish church of Avon Dassett redundant. Today it remains empty, used only occasionally for concerts or village Christmas gatherings.
Contemporary Character
Modern Avon Dassett is dominated by residents born outside the area, contrasting sharply with the nineteenth century when 50-60% of the population was born in the village. Despite extensive changes, the village maintains a strong sense of community with institutions like the Men’s Club, Gardening Club, Fete Committee, pub, playground, and Reading Room.
The village’s population has stabilized at around 210 people according to both the 2001 and 2011 censuses, continuing the remarkable demographic continuity that has characterized Avon Dassett for over two centuries. This small Warwickshire community represents a fascinating microcosm of English rural history, demonstrating how national events and social changes have shaped local communities while certain fundamental characteristics have endured across the centuries
