Ted Dixey was known to most Bamptonians as a bellringer and Morris dancer. These are photograph of his maternal grandparents, his sister and husband Robert Ferguson, of Ted himself and his fiance of 40 years, Sylvia.
Freda Bradley wrote a lovely book called 'Bampton; The Way It Was.' These are photographs of her parents and grandparents and of Freda when young with her brothers Jim and Ken with their grandmother Mrs Dewe, taken in 1937.
The old carillon had to be turned off permanently in the end when too many pins on the drum had fallen out and simply would not stay in place when put back.
In 2012 as part of the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, an evening of entertainment was organised which asked the question "Has Bampton Got Talent?"
This is the YouTube address for the filmed interview we did with Patrick about his working life. His training for being a butcher and where it was done are really interesting and I don't know if it is still available today. Patrick ran the butchers shop in Bridge Street for many years and really enjoyed it. He won prizes for his sausages
On September 11th 2010 I spotted this large, white fungus growing on the lime trees outside the North side of St Mary's. I found it to be very hard, it was impossible to make a dent in it.
Over the spring Bank Holiday weekend the members of the Flower Guild of St Mary's put on a wonderful Flower Festival in the church. They also work very hard all day on the Monday offering sandwiches, quiche, cakes, orange squash, tea and coffee
Mummering has taken place in Bampton for at least 134 which is when Rev Giles mentions it in his book about Bampton. Don Rouse has written a far more up-to-date account which you'll find after the photographs.
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.