Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
Church of St Peter, Hook Norton Oxfordshire was first registered in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 922 AD. After 1066 the manor was given to a Saxon ruler Wigod whose daughter married Robert d’Oilly d1101 an important Norman knight who acquired large estates in the area and who built Oxford Castle in the 1070s . He was probably responsible for the early Norman church of cruciform design from which the impressive chancel survives. In 1129 his son / nephew founded the Augustinian Osney Abbey (prompted by his wife Edith Forne, who, to expiate the sins of her former life as the mistress of Henry I) . and endowed it with all the churches of his demesne manors, including Hook Norton church and land accompanying it.
The south nave arcades, with tall octagonal piers, and the south aisle, were built later in late 12c in the Decorated style, the south transept being rebuilt at the same time, and the chancel acquired a Decorated east window. The north transept was not rebuilt, but a north nave arcade of 4 bays with short octagonal piers, was built c.1300, with a later fifth bay
The nave & north aisle were rebuilt in 14c and the nave was heightened in 15c with clerestory windows and a five-light window over a new chancel arch, together with a Perpendicular west tower
The porch was rebuilt in 1825.
The treasure of the church is the early c1100 Norman bucket font with figures of Adam and Eve, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and signs of the Zodiac (Sagittarius , Aquarius & Aries) flic.kr/p/Q8mgx4
There is also the village's original fire engine (the Sentinel) last used in 1896. flic.kr/p/2b5FZBh
Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
Church of St Peter, Hook Norton Oxfordshire was first registered in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 922 AD. After 1066 the manor was given to a Saxon ruler Wigod whose daughter married Robert d’Oilly d1101 an important Norman knight who acquired large estates in the area and who built Oxford Castle in the 1070s . He was probably responsible for the early Norman church of cruciform design from which the impressive chancel survives. In 1129 his son / nephew founded the Augustinian Osney Abbey (prompted by his wife Edith Forne, who, to expiate the sins of her former life as the mistress of Henry I) . and endowed it with all the churches of his demesne manors, including Hook Norton church and land accompanying it.
The south nave arcades, with tall octagonal piers, and the south aisle, were built later in late 12c in the Decorated style, the south transept being rebuilt at the same time, and the chancel acquired a Decorated east window. The north transept was not rebuilt, but a north nave arcade of 4 bays with short octagonal piers, was built c.1300, with a later fifth bay
The nave & north aisle were rebuilt in 14c and the nave was heightened in 15c with clerestory windows and a five-light window over a new chancel arch, together with a Perpendicular west tower
The porch was rebuilt in 1825.
The treasure of the church is the early c1100 Norman bucket font with figures of Adam and Eve, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and signs of the Zodiac (Sagittarius , Aquarius & Aries) flic.kr/p/Q8mgx4
There is also the village's original fire engine (the Sentinel) last used in 1896. flic.kr/p/2b5FZBh