This is one of the earliest photograph of the Bampton Morris Men taken in 1897, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year.
The dancers are
George Wells/Taylor
Thomas William Tanner
Joseph Rouse
Robert Dixey
George Dixey
James Dewe
Charles Henry Tanner, ragman
Henry Radband, sword carrier
William Nathan Wells, fool, known as Jingy
Richard Decimus Butler, musician

Between 1926 and 1938 Bertie Clark, although not a Bampton man, played for the Bampton Morris Men and he can be seen here on the left. The dancers are on the South side of the Market Square in front of Folly View semi-detached houses.

This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy.
The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.

Horse fair and fun fair seen outside the west side of the Market Square. It would also have filled the Market Square. The Inn at the top left of the photograph is the Lamb, known by locals as The Tree because of the large Ash tree growing outside it. The Inn was completely demolished in 1960 to make way for building the Market Square Garage. The sign for the Talbot hotel shows the landlord to be W Norman. Almost every man wears a hat.

A fair was held in the Market Square at the same time as the Horse Fair. The square is filled with stalls which continue on down High Street. The sign 'Robinson Cheap Butcher' can be seen in the square.

Carousel on the south side of the Town Hall, coconut shy and a horse from the horse fair.

The fair stalls on the north side of the town hall

The Trout part way along the road from Bampton to Buckland is a very popular eating place. It is on the Thames and many fishermen and women have the right to have a rod there and they go to the pub, eat and fish. A cycle path would have been a wonderful addition to safe riding and these pictures are taken from scanned black and white negatives.

Riders included:

• Jo Lewington
• Dr Matthew Perry & wife Carole
• Freda Bradley
• Bishop Paul Burroughs

Bampton Brass Band. Market Square. Notice that the arches of the Town Hall were bricked up. 1908.

Images of Parkers Solicitors, now Marks Kitchen, (previously Constable's Bakery,) Rosemary House, and the Poachers Rest Restaurant (previously Barclays Bank) West end of Market Square
Supplied by Andrew Hilditch c 1990