This guide is the essential accompaniment to the trail, steeped in historical interest, providing all the details to show you the way around this short but pleasant route. Park in the lay-by on the Charlbury to Witney road downhill from Finstock parish church and walk back up to Holy Trinity Church. Take care as the road is fast and busy.  Finstock Church Built in 1840-41 and much altered in 1906 when the vestry and chancel were added, the church originally had a gallery to help accommodate the congregation and choir. Above the entrance is a single bell, still used today. T.S.Eliot was baptised in the church in 1927. In the churchyard stands the vault of the du Cros family, former owners of Cornbury Park. The novelist Barbara Pym (1913-1980) is buried here. Walk down the road to the Crown Pub. Standing by the pub you can see across the road the fine Elizabethan house named Finstock Manor, formerly known as Manor Farm. The date stone on the house is 1660. Note the design of the mullioned windows common in the 17th century. John Wesley stayed at the Manor and Wesleyan services were held there prior to the chapel in the village being built. Christmas money used to be handed out to the poor women of Finstock from the Manor in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  The Crown The Crown Pub was thought to have been a farm cottage since the 14th century and was probably a public house by 1780. The Crown used to have a 'cut-off' door at the top of the stairs (removed in 1967) so that the landlord could see any robbers at the bottom without being seen himself. The Crown has been used in the long distant past as a base to divide loot by local highwaymen! Joh Wesley is said to have preached under the Chestnut tree in front of the Crown. Across the road from the Crown you will find, if you look carefully, some long stones in the end wall of 49 School Road that are thought to be the remains of The Cross which possibly stood nearby. As you walk along School Road into the village you will see on your right-hand side a group of six cottages known as Watney Cottages, built as council houses in the late 1930's on land donated by the Cornbury Estate. The owner of the Estate at that time was the brewery owner Oliver Watney, after whom the cottages are named.  School Road Towards The Manor Looking across from the last Watney cottage you will see The Village Pound and Barn. The barn was one of the places in the village where club dinners and entertainments were known to be held by a group called the Independent Benefit Society. These were held on Holy Thursday which was kept as a holiday in Finstock during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The village stocks were originally on the land adjacent as was the village pound. Although it no longer exists at this site, a small village playground comprising swings and roundabouts was later set up there. As you walk on further, still on the left-hand side of the road you will find the School Road Well (now covered over for safety). This well was one of several in the village and was used until the late 1930's, when water was piped in from the Iron Spring in Fawler. Walk past the next two houses to the Bier Shed - now a parish council storage shed but originally used for many years by the local undertaker to store the long wheeled cart or 'bier' for carrying coffins. The former Village shop and post office can be found as you walk down the road towards the school. For several years the post office was in a wooden garage in the garden of 25 School Road next to where the post box still stands. A fish and chip shop and then a grocer's shop were previously found on the present shop site.  Village School Cross the road from the shop and walk to the Church of England School on the right-hand side of the road. The school was built on land given by Lord Churchill and opened |
in 1861. At that time, the first head teacher was paid a salary of �55 a year and the use of the school house - the far left part of the building. You can still see the older house and central school building, the newer 1890s extension being roofed with Welsh slate. Note the long high windows which were essential to let daylight into the rooms that had no other means of lighting. As you walk past the two new housing estates (Hill Crescent and Walkers Height) and begin to descend the hill you will see the Village Hall up on the bank to your right. This hall was originally built as a glove factory in the 1920's to replace another factory on a different site that had been burned down. Many women from Finstock were employed in this cottage industry, often working in their own homes. At the end of the 1930's when the industry was declining, the building and site were sold to the people of Finstock for use as a village hall.  Village Hall Walk on down the hill and take your first turning on the left and on the right-hand-side of this road you will find the old water trough where horses used to be watered. At the end of this road in front of you is The Plough - a beautiful old thatched building dating from 1772 - which was probably, like the Crown pub, formerly a farm cottage. It has been a public house since 1780.  The Plough Turning right up the High Street you can see the old Methodist Chapel on your left. Opened in 1840, the site was bought for �19. Richard Early, the Witney blanket manufacturer, was one of the trustees who raised �250 for the building and furnishing of the chapel. The school room was added in 1902. The chapel was closed in 1990 after 150 years of worship.  Old Methodist Chapel The area where Well Hill meets the High Street is known locally as The Bottom. Next to the chapel is the house called Sunnyside that once housed the Post Office. The novelist Barbara Pym used to live at Barn Cottage on the opposite side of the road while writing her most successful works (among them 'Quartet in Autumn' which was short listed for the Booker prize). Next door - Well Cottage bears a metal plaque known as a firemark that reads 'Fire Life Farmers' - an insurance company publicity advert and also an indication to private fire brigades that they would be paid for their services there if they were called out! In the early years of the 20th century, Well and Barn Cottages housed the Post Office and a wheelwright's workshop. The thatched cottage (number 17 High Street) bears the date 1666 and also once housed the Post Office. The next thatched cottage up the hill is also of this period but has been much extended. Walk on up the left hand side of the High Street until you reach St Margaret's house, just past a footpath sign to your left. During the 19th century a maypole was set up on the green area to celebrate May Day . Opposite this is a fine 18th century farmhouse (formerly Stranges Farm, now Old Farm) with a slate roof and dormer windows.  Old Farm Continuing on up the hill on the right you come to 44 High Street where one of the bakehouses for the village used to be during the 19th century. Near the entrance to Blackberry Lane, further up the hill, there used to be a gate into the forest called Gadden Hill Gate which marked the boundary of Finstock parish. Either Follow Blackberry Lane until you come out on 'Finstock Heath' near the edge of Wychwood forest. The six Finstock Heath cottages were built around the middle of the eighteenth century to house the men working as foresters in Wychwood Forest. Views of the forest may be gained by turning right and walking downhill towards the church and your starting point Or To avoid walking on the main road - return half way down the High Street to point X and follow the footpath sign up across the fields. On reaching a T-junction, turn left to the main road and walk down the hill to return to the starting point.  School Road Towards School Let us know how you enjoyed the walk Info@Finstock.org.uk back to top |