Bampton Livestock Sale 15th October 1873

The attendant at the back on the rigt is Sally Ellis. It's possible that the attedant on the left is Faye Fairclough (Smith).The picture is taken in front of The Elephant and Castle pub in Bridge Street. The building dates from the 17th century with alterations in the 19th century and in the 1960's. It seems to have been a public house for most of its life but it closed at some point in or after 2000 and is now a private house. It had a thatched roof until 1958 when a firework, let off some weeks before the 5th November, struck the roof and started a fire.

From left to right, Marion MacNab, Cath Bradbury, Les MacNab (Landlord Jubilee), Maggie Mace, Don Bradbury (Landlord Horseshoe), John Rainey (Landlord Elephant & Castle), Tom Mace,
Harry Walton (Landlord Talbot) and Helen Rainey.

One hundred pensioners were treated to a day out in Weymouth by The SPAJERS. A wonderful time was had by all. However, when the coaches were halfway home, it was realised that two passengers were missing! Mr. Don Rouse, Chairman of SPAJERS, phoned the police in Weymouth who conformed that the two ladies had reported in and then booked themselves in to an hotel. Next day, Mr. Rouse returned to Weymouth to retrieve the lost pensioners.

This is a poem written by John Bolderson, a man from Witney, who was referee for Albert Radband's Bampton Football Club. He makes amusing mention of Frank Hudson, Eric Truman, Rodney Adams, Simon Goddard, Jim (Ginger) Townsend, John Marsden, Frank Barrett, Philip Hewitson, Roger Siford, Mick Walsh, George Siford, Terry Craven, Peter Hawks and William Truman.

In recent years, property prices in Bampton have increased to the extent that they are now well above the national average. This advertisement is for a three bedroom house with offers invited in excess of £400,00.

These were the tickets for The Spajers' Christmas Draw. Notice the price of tickets - 6 pence . That would have been 6 old pennies , equivalent to just over 2 pence nowadays. Miss M Roberts, know to Bampton as Peggy Roberts, opened the first Bampton Hairdressers in her house, Fleur de-Lys. This was the left -hand red brick house , close to and opposite the War Memorial. She later moved the business to the shop , now the Pottery Shop, opposite the Morris Clown.

Photo taken 1925 outside the Elephant and Castle. Jingy Wells is playing the fiddle and Reg Tanner is to the left of him as you look at the photo.

Jean Countess of Donoughmore, who died aged 89, was kidnapped by the IRA along with her husband in 1974. The Earl and Countess of Donoughmore were kidnapped from their home in Knocklofty, Clonmel, Co Tipperary in June 1974.
She married John Michael Henry Hely Hutchinson in 1925. He was the elder son of the 6th Earl of Donoughmore. During the second World War she was in charge of the Red Cross in the East End of London and was made an MBE for her work in 1947.
Following the death of the 7th Earl of Donoughmore in 1981, he was succeeded as the 8th Earl by his son , who came to live at Bampton Manor, Broad Street and later at Frogwell, Bushey Row.

This is a newspaper article written by S.P.B.Mais, following a visit to some Oxfordshire village inns. The Elephant and Castle in Bridge Street; The Malt Shovel in Lavender Square; The Horse and Groom in Black Bourton (now The Vines) and The Plough at Alvescot are all mentioned. The writer says by far the most interesting character was 85 year-old Mr. John Kent of The Malt Shovel, Lavender Square, Bampton. At that time Mr Kent had been landlord for 34 years and had an abundance of fascinating stories to tell.