The pub in the High Street named The Morris Clown (as at 2018) began life as The George. Steve the present landlord found the ancient wooden name board in the cellar but it fell to dust when he tried to lift it. A long time ago it became the New Inn as seen in the first photograph which is at least pre 1920 because the cottage at the est end of the Market Square is still standing and that was pulled down to make way for the War Memorial. Over the door can be seen a sign which says Clinch's Entire Eagle Brewery, Witney. There is another line underneath which sadly is not readable. The lower board says Commercial Inn, Lila Clack and two more lines of text which I can't read. The opposite side of the road is the department store owned by T. W. Pembrey which ran the length of present day No7 High Street, Lesta House, Strawberry Cottage and across Bushey Row, then called New Inn Street the shop on the corner. On the end wall of the New Inn on the third picture text can be seen which in part says Commercial something and Posting House. A little of this lettering can still be seen in 2018. What was Pembrey's is now Busby's department store. Note the thatched hay rick camera side of Lime Tree House. Thatching hay ricks kept the hay in good condition and shed the rain off; rick thatching was a specialist job and in Bampton Ben Tanner and his brother were particularly skilled and Reg Rouse was also.

The Malt Shovel Inn was in Lavender Square and sold Belcher and Habgood's noted Ales & Stout. They also kept pigs and sold sausages and bacon and also vinegar from a barrel. Still called the Malt Shovel it is now a private dwelling with great care taken to make sure the frontage is a delight to see in all seasons.

The Malt Shovel had a malthouse probably by the mid 18th century when it was owned by the maltster John Minchin, and passed later to John Ward, maltster, and to Ward's son-in-law Richard Hambidge, maltster and spirit merchant, before becoming a public house in the 1870s. (from Victoria County History)

The photo shows 3 Dr Landrays:

• Robert Landray (GP in Bampton)
• Margaret Landray (worked under maiden name of Dr Bray, anaesthetist at Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon)
• Martin Landray (consultant physician, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; and Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology at University of Oxford).

All 3 went to the Medical School at University of Birmingham (but I was a bit later than the other two!). All 3 still live in Bampton.

All written by Martin

1950 Morris dancing in front of the Elephant and Castle on Bridge Street

Sam Bennett. He moved to Warwickshire but walked to Bampton to fiddle for the Morris at Whitsun. He would arrive at Mr & Mrs Townsend's Castle Farm on Bridge St and announce 'I be 'ere'. To earn his keep, he'd stay on for a few weeks doing farm work for Mr Townsend.

"The war took away many of the young men, and for the first time in recorded history the Whit Monday performances were suspended during 1917 and 1918. However, Wells had recently taught the dances to a group of men at Alvescot, and on the Whit Monday 1919 two of these stepped into the reformed Bampton set. One stayed only that year, but the older, William Flux, had married a daughter of long-time lead dancer Thomas Tanner, and became the organiser of the team.

This brought him into conflict with Wells - Flux wanted them to dance more at Pubs, Wells at the private houses - and this reached crisis point in 1925. The following year Wells refused to play for them, so both Bertie Clark from Alvescot and Sam Bennett from Ilmington were drafted in to provide music.

In 1927, for the first time in recorded history, two teams appeared on the streets: the old side under Tanner and Flux, and a young side recently raised by Wells. They continued in relatively peaceful co-existence for some years, but by the mid 1930s performances by the Tanner side were more sporadic, with only Wells fielding a team most Whit Mondays.

The final appearance by the Tanner team was in 1941, and it was left to Wells to keep it going during the war, and beyond." Keith Chandler

This is the December 1998 issue of The Beam. A publication by the Parish Council that is produced 3 times a year and given free to all households in Bampton. Topics and advertisers are :-

The Bampton Beam
Volume 13 No.3
August 1998 Pg. No. Summary of Content

1 One article on page one.
BAMPTON’S GOT ONE AT LONG LAST – A BUS SERVICE INTO OXFORD. Bus Route 18 – By Jonathan Phillips –District Councillor. Including timetable.
2 Three articles and one advert on page two.
BAMPTON VILLAGE HALL – advert.
Bampton Village Hall. Don Quixote de la Mancha.
FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S BAMPTON.
BAMPTON FIRE STATION Still Under Threat!
3 Nine articles on page three all under title ‘BAMPTON PARISH COUNCIL NEWS’.
Traffic Calming.
Police.
Allotments.
Pavilion.
Land between Aston Road and Buckland Road.
Millennium.
STOP PRESS! Traffic Calming Update.
Help required to set up an Indoor Bowls Club.
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL Bampton and Lew
4 Nine adverts on page four.
Toby Vines.
E. TAYLOR & SON FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
Market Square Garage, Bampton.
THE CROP SHOP – TOO
N. WOODLEY BUILDING MAINTENANCE.
BAMPTON FAX BUREAU.
THE APPLIANCE DOCTOR.
Curtain Choice.
BEAMTECH
5 One article on page five.
NEWS FROM THE BAMPTON MILLENNIUM COMMITTEE – including form entitled ‘BAMPTON MILLENIUM COMMITTEE’.
6 Five articles on page six.
THE WITNEY AND BURFORD HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN.
AGE CONCERN
LIGHTS OF LOVE
West Oxfordshire Citizen Advocacy.
VOLUNTEER LINK-UP
7 on page seven.
MISSING
8 on page eight.
MISSING
9 One article on page nine.
BAMPTON PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP Taking care of their early years
10 One article on page ten.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
11 One article, one advert and one cartoon on page eleven.
W.R.S.V. by Jean Howell, Bampton / Aston Organiser
Sharing the Caring with community care – advert.
Bampton Bill – cartoon.
12 Four adverts on page twelve.
STE-MARK WINDOW CLEANERS & PRESSURE WASHERS
PHILIPPA RAYNE – Registered Osteopath. FIONA GEARY – Physiotherapist. LESLEY MELLIN – Reflexologist. Aromatherapist.
THE PUMPKIN CLUB CHRISTMAS BINGO
ARGOSY BLINDS
13 Three articles on page thirteen.
LAVENDER FLATS Written by Mrs Joan Smith
THE MUMMERS ARE BACK!! By Don Rouse.
This is a story about the life of a Labrador pup called Mandy-Jane.
14 Two articles on page fourteen under the title THE GARDENING PAGE.
BAMPTON GARDENING CLUB NEWS.
WEED’S AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM By Edie Bindweed
15 Two articles on page fifteen.
ARCHITECTURE ROUND BAMPTON Written and drawn by Gilbert Marsh. Garden Gates in Bampton.
What’s happening in Market Square.
16 One article on page sixteen.
ROYAL AIR FORCE, BRIZE NORTON Do we Care! By Flight Lieutenant Adrian Dant M Inst. Pet. RAF Station Environmental Protection Officer.
17 Two articles and one advert on page seventeen.
New Boss for Signals Units Released by Flight Lieutenant Dave Rowe, Community Relations Officer.
REMEMBRANCE DAY by Mrs E. Quick, an Ex-service Great Grandmother.
OLD PILOTS, BOLD PILOTS by Archie Jackson – advert for book.
18 Eight articles on page eighteen under the title ‘NOTICE BOARD’.
BUSH CENTRE.
BAMPTON EXHIBITION FOUNDATION.
THE PUMPKIN CLUB CHRISTMAS BINGO.
BAMPTON BRIDGE CLUB.
BAMPTON WELFARE TRUST
THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY
SOMEWHERE IN BAMPTON SOMETHING LURK’S
BAMPTON CLASSICAL OPERA
19 Four articles on page nineteen under the title ‘NOTICE BOARD’.
FOXBURY FARM Books Wanted
BAMPTON YOUTH CLUB
HAWTHORN FARM RIDING FOR THE DISABLED GROUP.
THE BURFORD SINGERS
20 Three adverts on page twenty.
PITSTOP
GREY GABLES GARAGE
Electric Vehicles Ltd.
21 Two articles on page twenty one.
THE COOKERY PAGE By Gilly French. Party Food. General Ideas. Recipes.
THE TAPPERS HIT TOWN by Rachel Piggott
22 One article on page twenty two.
OUT OF WORK FARMER –TURNED AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT By Dan Rouse
23 One article and one advert on page twenty three.
Contd ... OUT OF WORK FARMER –TURNED AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT By Dan Rouse
24 Five adverts on page twenty four.
New carpets fully fitted.
ANDREW BOWMAN MASTER THATCHER.
CHENNELLS
R. COOPER
A. SIMMONDS The Old Fashioned Village Store.
25 One article on page twenty five.
LETTERS TO : AUNTIE BEAM
26 Three ads on page twenty six.
BAMPTON ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH GROUP by Margaret Bruce-Mitford
CARPENTER home improver
D&K Building Services
27 Two adverts on page twenty seven.
Select Blinds
Farmington STONE Company
28 Three adverts on page twenty eight.
CARPENTER / HOME IMPROVER
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BAMPTON
D & K BUILDING SERVICES
29 One article on page twenty nine.
WEST OXFORDSHIRE ARTS ASSOCIATION NEWS AND EVENTS
30 One article on page thirty.
Macmillans Cycling Challenge by Jo Lewington
31 Three articles on page thirty one.
THE ROBERT VESEY ROOM BAMPTON LIBRARY
W.O.A.A. Highlights July, August and October by Margaret Bruce-Mitford
32 One advert on page thirty two.
Bampton Youth Club
33 Three articles on page thirty three.
Competition Corner August winner 1998
THE BAMPTON BEAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
THE BAMPTON BEAM’S CROSSWORD
34 One advert on page thirty four.
Piggott’s School of Dance
35 Three articles on page thirty five.
Diary of Forthcoming Events
BAMPTON DIRECTORY 1999
THE BAMPTON BEAM – publishing information
36 One advert on page thirty six.
BAMPTON SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Marion and Ted Lay lived in Bampton all their married life and as Jamie Wheeler says

"They were the loveliest people you could ever meet. I claim a slight family association as their daughter Marjorie married Jim Brooks. It was a second marriage for them both and Jim had previously been married to my Auntie Joyce. I always regarded him as my uncle. Ted was a Morris dancer years ago and we always did one dance outside his house on Whit Monday and for Mrs. Lay after Ted died. Mrs. Lay was sister of Harry Pocock whose name crops up on this site quite often. He died the day I was born (or so Mrs. Pocock used to tell me)"

The Bampton Beam used to be produced three times a year. This issue is from August 1997 and the topics covered and the advertisers are :-

ARTICLES AND NOTICES
Fire Station Threatened? Bampton Fire Station could close if more recruits cannot be found. Sub-Officer Brian Kew explains it all.
Millennium – what Millennium?
Bampton Village Hall
Bampton Gardening Club by Chairwoman Lin Edgar
Bampton Bill – cartoon
Bampton Parish Council News, traffic calming measures, proposed development in Station Road, Mercury Close/Pembroke Place playgrounds, Sports Pavilion, Use Them or Lose Them Campaign, Pavement areas, Police Liaison Meeting, War Memorial, Charge for Road Closures and Parish Council Minutes
District Council News, County Council Budget, West Oxfordshire Plan to 2001, The Future Management of West Oxfordshire District Council, Neighbourhood Notification, Oxfordshire Village Shops Association
The Recreation Ground
Bampton Boys’ FC by Linden Burley
Bampton in the Bush Cricket Club
Bampton Tennis Club
Archery
Progress for Bampton Recreation Ground by District Councillor, Jonathan Phillips
Witney and District Carers Club
Oxford Brookes University Survey
Foxbury Farm Open Day
What Next? The Vicar’s Story – The Reverend Lloyd talks to Linda Mills
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bampton – forthcoming events
Society for the Protection of Bampton
Letters to the Editor
Wedding notices – Bill Redpath and Susie Fifoot and Linda Amos and Karl Scarff
Bampton Youth Club
West Oxfordshire Drug Reference Group
Bampton Environmental Watch Group
100 years old on 9 July 1997, Mrs Nellie Brooks
Notice Board
Bampton Bridge Club
The Bampton Bush Centre
The Children’s Society
The Victoria County History
Bampton Welfare Trust
Used Cards Wanted to help ‘The Vine’ a centre for unemployed, depressed, homeless and unhappy people
Bampton Methodist Church
Yoga in Bampton
Bridge Classes at The Bush Centre
Bampton Youth Centre
Bampton Women’s Institute
Bampton Gardening Club
Amnesty International
Step-Out – group to help increase self-confidence
Bampton Exhibition Foundation
Bampton British Legion
West Oxfordshire Conservative Association
Bampton School, articles produced by Year 5 (Mrs Newman’s class)
Friends of Bampton School
Morris Dancer of the Year – Luke Fowler
The Bampton Playgroup
Architecture around Bampton, written and drawn by Gilbert Marsh – new houses in Pembroke Place
The Beam’s Pet Choice, ‘Puddin’ by Louise Gray
Macmillan Cancer Relief, Bampton, Faringdon and Carterton Committee
What’s Been and What’s to Come? Elderly people sign, April Fool joke, Easter Bonnet Parade, Pumpkin Club’s Annual Street Fair, The Shirt Race, The Donkey Derby, May Garlands, The Morris Dancers
Gardening Life by Jo Lewington
The Cotswold Wardens
Letters to Auntie Beam
Don’t Suffer in Silence – domestic violence help
Oxfords Women’s Aid
Victim Support
Housing Rights Centre
Citizens Advice Bureau
Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Samaritans
Rat of the Month – the person who pinched a full bottle of coins that belonged to The Pumpkin Club from the Romany bar and replaced with an empty one
West Oxfordshire Arts Association New and Events
Feathers in Bampton’s Artistic Hat by Margaret Bruce-Mitford
Fiddlers and Feet Workshop
Young Calligraphers
The Food Page by Gilly French
Crossword
The Morris Clown Pub Saved by Jonathan Phillips
Pumpkin Club Bingo
Diary of Forthcoming Events
Support Bampton Facilities – Use Them or Lose Them Campaign

LIST OF ADVERTIZERS
G A J Soame & Associates, planning consultancy, architectural and property services
Andrew Bowman, Master Thatcher
Chennells, hairdressers
Grey Gables Garage
Farmington Stone
Community Care
Edby Vines, producers of English Wines and Vine Suppliers
Market Square Garage
N Woodley, building maintenance
The Appliance Doctor
Philippa Rayne, osteopath, Lesley Mellin, reflexologist/aromatherapist, Fional Geary, physiotherapist
E Taylor & Son, funeral directors
Adrian Dunsby, carpenter
J Temple, hardware, DIY, Fancy Goods and Toys
Curtain Choice
Bampton Fax Bureau at Emmie’s Newsagents
R Cooper, builders, carpenters, joinery, painters, general repairs and dry stone walling
The Pitstop and Oxford Carb Services
Bubbles dog grooming
Danetree veterinary surgeons
Londis community shop
The Romany Inn
A Simmonds, the old fashioned village store
Electric Vehicles Ltd
Abbey Properties, estate agents

The Bampton Beam used to be produce three times a year. This publication is from December 2002. The articles covered and the advertisers include:-ARTICLES AND NOTICESBampton Skate Park by Alan DunbarThe New Bus Services by Cllr Fred Gray

The Bampton Beam used to be produce 3 times a year. This issue is from April 2003. The topics covered and the advertisers include:-ARTICLES AND NOTICESBampton’s Pre-School Playgroup – New Building Needed – Help Required!The Skate Park is Ready