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Restoration of the old Grammar School
The Old Grammar School in Bampton was built by Robert Vesey (d.1635), a wealthy local merchant living in Chimney, now a nearby village. At that time, Bampton was the largest town in the area and it badly needed a school for the children of the increasing large merchant class. Vesey commissioned the building of the school and was opened in 1653, 18 years after his death.
He also left money in trust (£100, that would have been £1,000,000 in today’s money) to fund the school master; coal to warm the classroom; and for the upkeep of the school building. As the centuries passed, the value of the trust decreased, other schools were opened in Bampton and the local children went to the national school that opened in 1873.
The Grammar School building continued to be used as a village meeting place and for a range of other village functions such as Baby Clinic and Sunday School. The library moved arrived in 1964 and the Girl Guides, the Brownies and the Scouts had their meetings on the upper floor. There are still some people in the village who remember these gatherings.
In the early 1960s however, the floor upstairs and the stairs to it were deemed unsafe and were so bad that the stairs were removed and the only access now is via a ladder. The floor remains unsafe and the roof, made of wonderful old Cotswold stone, was repaired in 1911 and, more recently, thanks to a village fund-raising campaign, in 2017.
In conjunction with the village as a whole, the Archive is raising more money to both restore the upstairs part of the Old Grammar School, and to replace the stairs to make it accessible and usable once again.
One of the aims of the restoration of the Old Grammar School is to give the Bampton Community Archive a permanent home – where visitors can visit and access the Archive database; browse the collection of historic local history books; see the current exhibition; and browse the shop of local arts and crafts.
The school building will be familiar to fans of the popular TV series Downton Abbey as it features as the Community Hospital in the fictitious village of Downton.
Janet Newman
Removal of Market Square Garage.
This shows the site of the demolition of the Market Square Garage, which had been built on the site of one of Bampton's old pubs -The Lamb, often known as The Tree because of the large elm tree that stood beside the front door.
Janet Newman
Property prices in Bampton have continued to increase to well above the national average. This is a three bedroom property inviting offers in excess of £400,00.
Janet Newman
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.
Janet Newman
Princess Anne at R.A.F. Brize Norton
Princess Anne attends the retirement of the C-130 Hercules and the stand down parade of Number 47 Squadron.
Janet Newman
Poem by referee Tony Boderson about Bampton Football Club.
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.
Janet Newman
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.
Janet Newman
Morris Dancing in Bampton 1912
This newspaper sketch shows the fiddler Billy Wells - better known as Jingy Wells. Second from the left is Charles 'Cocky Tanner', the Bagman.Charles danced for forty years. At the back can be seen the Fool, Dave Edginton and at the front, extreme right, is Thomas 'Buscot' Tanner, the Squire.
Janet Newman
Sales brochure for Meadow Farm, Buckland Road.
Janet Newman