England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Holton St Bartholomew

The Parish

The parish of Holton lies in central Oxfordshire roughly 6 miles east of the city of Oxford. Holton sits a quarter mile east of the A40 road which links Oxford with High Wycombe and London. Holton is a linear village straggling along a winding lane to the north of the A40 and is merely an adjunct to the much larger settlement of Wheatley on the southern side, Holton sits on the western flanks of the valley of the River Thame, a position which gave it rich pastures suitable for cattle, early gazetteers estimate that pastoral methods were dominant by 2:1 over arable within the parish acreage. Modern developments abound, the A40 has been upgraded to fast dual-carriageway highway whilst to the east runs the modern M40 motorway between London and Birmingham. Oxford's colleges have expanded beyond the city limits and one college, Brookes, has facilities within the village. Holton is drained southwards by the Thames which soon meets the Thames at Dorchester, the Thames heads east through Reading to London and the North Sea. Holton is sited at around 80 metres above the sea in gentle terrain, to the west the knoll of Shotover Hill (171 metres) stands between Holton and Oxford as the highest ground around. Holton parish was typically sized for the area covering 1,600 acres which would have supported a population of close to 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Holton was held by Roger D'Ivry and was a typical small rural manor offering just 6 ploughs backed by meadows, pastures and woodland.

The Church

St Bartholomew's church sits on the southern side of the main lane through the village and roughly midway along its length. The church has its origins in the beginning of the 13th century when Norman was transforming into Early English Gothic styles. Pevsner dates the arches to both transepts and the southern doorway to c1200. The early 14th century saw changes to the original structure with the chancel being rebuilt in the Decorated style shown well in the east window. Rebuilding followed once again towards the end of the 14th century with the rebuild of the southern transept and the addition of the western tower both in the Perpendicular style. The 15th century saw the addition of the eastern bellcote in similar styling. The Victorian era saw a major restoration in 1845 which included rebuilding the northern transept and northern porch as well as a general restoration of the church. The lane passing the entrance is of sufficient width to allow on-street parking outside the lychgate which grants entry, sadly for the photographer much of the eastern end of the church has viewing impeded by close trees leaving mainly views from the west.