RADLEY MANOR AND VILLAGE a thousand year story was published on 30 November 2019. Copies can be bought via the Club’s website or in person from Radley Village Shop. The book costs £15 (plus postage & packaging).
The book was researched and written as a collaboration between Radley History Club and Radley College’s archivist. It tells the history of Radley’s manor and its relationship with the village from around the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day. It explores the changing role of the manor, the people who held it, how they lived and the power they exercised, as well as how the lives of ordinary villagers were affected by the manor. More details
Front cover of ‘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.
There were events on Saturday 15 June 2019 at all five stations along the line to celebrate the event – with the excitement and added bonus of two steam engines (Clun Castle and Flying Scotsman) passing through on excursions.
The celebrations at Radley began with the unveiling of a permanent board with a timeline of the history of Radley Station on the railings at Radley Station (on platform 1 for trains to Oxford and beyond). Radley History Club is very grateful for the grants from the Greening Lamborn Trust, Radley Village Shop, Radley Parish Council and GWR to cover the cost of the board. Entikera Limited provided extensive and indispensable support in kind.
Information board featuring a timeline of Radley Station
Events then moved to the garden of the Bowyer Arms where there was:
a display of railway pictures and artefacts by Radley History Club, Friends of Radley Station and former railwayman and Radley resident Vic Gackowski, and the reminiscences of Harold Gasson, a former GWR fireman
storytellers Polly Mountain and Ed Blagrove in costume relating tales about Radley and the railway line
a display of work by children from Radley Primary School about the railway
Over 300 people visited the Club’s exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 2nd and 3rd November 2013 about the railway in Radley, its history, the people who used it and the people who worked on it. They were also able to enjoy refreshments provided by Radley WI and to buy a copy of the Club’s new book, Radley People & the Railway 1843-2013, written by Club chairman Christine Wootton with contributions from members and others.
The exhibition was opened by Richard Tolley, a former engine driver on the branch line from Radley to Abingdon (affectionately known as ‘The Bunk’) who blew his whistle and waved his green flag in the railway’s traditional signal. Richard is pictured alongside the ‘stationmaster’ for the day, Eric Blanks, and Club chairman, Christine Wootton.
The displays were put together by Club members, Rita and Brian Ford. The collection of railway memorabilia included the ‘Radley’ nameplate normally on show at the shop at Radley College.
Display of Radley railway memorabilia
‘Radley’ train nameplate
A highlight of the exhibition was the working model of the Abingdon Branch layout built and operated by members of Abingdon and District Model Railway Club. The model shows what Abingdon station looked like before it closed to passenger traffic in 1963 and before Waitrose arrived.
Abingdon branch layout by Abingdon and District Railway Club
The full layout of the Abingdon Branch line
The exhibition was based primarily on photographs and other material from the Club’s archives, Club members and local railway enthusiasts. One series of photographs showed the impressive array of buildings at Radley Station in 1957 – now all long since gone – and another the stages in the replacement of the bridge over the railway carrying the road to Lower Radley in November 1983.
Display of photographs of Radley Station in 1957
Display of photographs showing the replacement of the bridge to Lower Radley in November 1983
Visitors were greeted by a team of Club members dressed for the part. Left to right: Eric Blanks (stationmaster), Brian Ford (porter), Tony Rogerson (engine driver) and Denis Standen (Isambard Kingdom Brunel).
Oxford Mail article on the railways book – the book featured on the centre pages of the Oxford Mail of 11 August 2014 in a spread entitled ‘Trains, plain-clothes men and royal visitors’.
The exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 16-17 July 2011 told the story of Radley’s farms and families, past and present. Radley once had at least 17 farms, now it has just two – Peach Croft Farm and Lower Farm. The Club’s new book, Radley Farms and Families 1600-2011, charts the story of Radley’s farms and families over more than four centuries.
The displays featured material from the Club archives on various farms (Walsh’s, Minchin’s, Wick, Pumney, Neat Home, Peach Croft, Park End, Church, Sugworth, Gooseacre, Home, Thrupp), the Stonhouse family, Radley people, farmhouses in the village, farming methods through the ages and aerial photographs of Radley. Rita and Brian Ford brought along many items from their collection of agricultural implements and memorabilia.
Display board about Gooseacre Farm
Display board about Church Farm
Over 300 people visited the exhibition during the course of the two days. “A very interesting exhibition which has brought back some lovely memories” “Very professional – an excellent farming history”
