Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story

When: Saturday 30th November 11am to 4pm
Where: The Mansion, Radley College, Kennington Road, Radley, Abingdon OX14 2HR

A bright, sunny day and the historic Mansion at Radley College provided the ideal setting for the launch of Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story. The Mansion was built by the Stonhouse family in the 1720s as their manor house.

Radley Women’s Institute served hot drinks and delicious cakes in the entrance hall. Displays included a timeline of 1000 years of national and local events, family trees of the Stonhouse and Bowyer families, photos and facts about Radley servants, and banners depicting the College grounds and their links with ‘Capability’ Brown. Also on display were artefacts belonging to Radley College, such as a laundry maid’s goffering kit from the mid-1800s, used to put fine pleats into the shirts of Radley ‘dons’.

The book is a collaboration between Radley History Club and Radley College’s archivist. It uses first-hand and contemporary sources, and tells the story of Radley’s manor and its relationship with the village from around the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day. Employment, land ownership, and deference are recurring themes.

The final chapter includes episodes from the lives of Radley village couple David and Beryl Buckle and their relationships with Radley college. The book was partly funded by a legacy from David Buckle to Radley History Club, and so the Club was particularly pleased that his son Peter at the launch.

More about the book and how to buy a copy