Most people who live in Marston, especially Old Marston are aware that Marston was used as the base encampment for the Cromwellian forces during the siege of Oxford which took place during the English civil war (1642 -1646).

But what of the rest of Marstons' history?

We do know, because it was written down that in 1065 Edward the Confessor gave, "gifts to the Monks of Westminster of an estate at Islip which included a 'half hide' of land at Marston or, in old English, Mersee

In 1122 Henry I granted the chapel of Marston to the canons of St Frideswides

In 1279 there are records of 46 unfree tenants of the manor of Headington, 1 vicar, 2 freeholders one of whom could live at Court Place and 1 miller named Hugh de Molendino. The freeholders of the ferry are listed as two fishermen).

In 1451 the records show that the parishes of Marston and Headington were united by a 'papal bull'.

The Marston Chalice was given/bequeathed to the church by a wealthy Oxford butcher and bailiff, G Skydmore. Description 'The chalice is mounted on three Talbot dogs and stands nearly 6 inches tall, it is thought to be the oldest chalice in England'. (The Changing Faces of Marston book one).

In 1637 Marston gained its independence and became a separate parish from Headington.

1642-46 Civil War

Notable occurrence during this time were that Unton Croke (Lawyer) was a Parliamentarian married Ann Hore, who was heiress to a house and land in Marston. This property is said to be the site of Cromwell House and Manor House.

The surrender of the city was signed in this house in May 1646

William Bell 'Minister of Gospel' preached to Sir Thomas Fairfax and the general officers of the civil army.

During those four years Marston became a barracks 'village' as the parliamentary troops stationed in the area requisitioned crops and livestock. They also felled timber for their camp fires and took over fields for the pasturing of the animals.

T. Fairfax was an engineer and he designed and had built a bridge over the Cherwell to enable easy access for the parliamentary troops to the North of Oxford. This would have put the 'ferryman' out of business for four years.

Would he have taken this lying down?

It was around the time of the restoration (in 1646/7) of the Monarchy that the White Hart pub (Old Marston) was built possibly in response to a need by the civil army stationed in Marston. A relative of the Croke family lived in the White Hart around this time.

Shotover & Stow Wood were disafforested and the tenants of Marston received 90 acres in compensation (they had used these lands for commoning cattle, and cutting furze, fern and dead wood. Later this was commuted to a gift of fuel, and eventually of money known as Forest Coal. This money was dispensed by the church wardens and continued until 1960.

Here we have a blank and more research is necessary. Look at the history of the 'ferry and the Ferry Pub' and the people who ran it. When was the house built and why was this turned into a pub.

In 1800 Marston consisted of 43 dwelling houses about 250 inhabitants plus one solitary fisherman who lived in a hut on the bank of the Cherwell

No person of status lived in the village (above yeoman.

Dialect difference e.g. 'unked' meant bad luck or not as it should be.

Dirty muddy roads or paths were 'hoxey', dry and clean paths were 'quite path'

Rasping pudding, this was made from bread crusts which were boiled in a cloth, served with honey sugar or treacle.

The whole meal would be cooked in one pot;

i.e.

Bacon and potatoes cooked in a net, with greens loose and suet pudding wrapped in a cloth.

Children were given Kettle Banger, this was made by pouring boiling water on the broken bread, it was served with sugar/honey.

Hop tops and nettles were cooked as a vegetable.

Most people kept bees, the bees were told everything about the family, births marriages deaths etc. this was done by tapping on the hive and giving them the news.

Note: The main ingredient for Mead (a kind of liqueur) is honey.

The family Croke lived in the Manor House (Headington) before during and after the Grand Rebellion (the Civil War).

At this time (1800) the landlord of the White Hart was Joseph Bleay who was not only a publican but also the local baker and a farmer.

The most prevalent names in the village at the time were Sims, Bley and Loder.

The first recorded school in Old Marston is the church school of St Nicholas. This was built on glebe land. An early headmaster was a Jesse Rothwell.

Pubs in Old Marston, Bricklayers Arms, Victoria Arms, Three Horse Shoes, White Hart and Red Lion. Someone must know if the Bricklayers Arms got its name from the clay pits and Kilns near Jack Straws Lane.

In January 1881 the snow was so deep, up to twenty feet deep in drifts, that it completely isolated the village. Tunnels were dug along the main street (Old Marston Road) so that people could collect eggs and fresh bread. One man, John Irons died during this big freeze.

The Mill, which was located at the end of Mill Lane, became known as Burnt Mill Farm. On the early maps of this time a Sescut Mill (see Mills of Oxfordshire in the Central Library) appears to be in the right general area. This mill appears on maps until 1910.

St Nicholas Church, a book written by Tony Kelly is available about the history of St Nicholas Church - contact below is you are interested to know more.

In 1891 the district of New Marston was formed. At the time the area of New Marston consisted of just two streets William Street and Ferry Road. It is possible that the bricks used to build some of these houses came from a local kiln known to be in Jack Straws Lane.

Built into these known and documented events of the last 1,000 years would have been, regular fairs, fete's, markets and itinerant traders and gypsies who would have brought news of outside events and happenings.