Ascott-under-Wychwood

The village is one of three named after the historic forest of Wychwood; the others being Shipton-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood. “Ascott” is derived from the Old English ēast (east) and cot (cottage). ==Manor and castle==

Ascot d'Oilly Castle was built in about 1129–50 and a stone tower was added to it in the 13th century. The castle bailey is now occupied by the manor house, which is mainly 16th and 17th century but contains some 13th century buttressed and other stonework. ==Parish church==

Holy Trinity Church of England parish church was built in about 1200 in a transitional style from Norman to Early English. Surviving transitional work includes the south porch, and the four-bay arcade between the nave and the north aisle. The tower has a ring of six bells. Five of these including the tenor bell were cast in 1744 by Henry III Bagley of Chacombe, Northamptonshire, who at the time also had a bell-foundry at Witney. The treble was cast in 1905 by Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. ==Economic and social history==

The Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway was built in 1845 and opened Ascott-under-Wychwood railway station to serve the village. The OW&WR is now the Cotswold Line and the station is served by Great Western Railway trains. The village school was designed by the architect Clapton Rolfe and built in 1871. In 1874 at least four of the women emigrated with their families to New Zealand, where they now have numerous descendants. In 1973 on the centenary of the women's ordeal a commemorative bench was erected in the village. ==Amenities==

Ascott-under-Wychwood has a public house, The Swan. It was closed in 2010 but was re-opened in June 2013. It also has a community shop, which was opened in 2003. An art gallery and craft shop opened in 2022 owned by the Japanese artist Motoko Aritake-Wild. https://www.forgeatwychwood.co.uk The village has two schools, which are both privately funded. Ascott-under-Wychwood Pre-school which provides pre-school learning for children aged 2–5 years and Windrush Valley Private School which provides learning and education for children aged 3–11 years. The village has a cricket club, which plays on Memorial playing field, with a team in the Cherwell League on Saturdays, and friendly matches on Sundays. ==References==