Strange isn’t it to think that Besselsleigh was once part of Berkshire? In 1974 boundary changes shifted it into Oxfordshire. Besselsleigh now sits just off the A420 road. This road connects Oxford and Swindon.
Besselsleigh’s story stretches back centuries. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions it. Back then it was called “Leie”. Before the Norman Conquest a Saxon named Earmund owned it. William the Chamberlain later gained ownership.
Centuries later in the mid-14th century the Bessels family acquired the manor of Leigh. By the next century the area was known as Bessels Leigh. This distinguished it from other places called “Leigh”.
The Bessels hailed from Provence in France. According to John Leland they were active in feats of arms. One Bessels even fought a stranger in a list. The King and Queen of England watched.
Richard Fettiplace married Elizabeth Besil in the 15th century. Elizabeth was the heiress of William Besil. Richard made Bessels Leigh his chief residence. Their great-grandson Besil Fettiplace became Sheriff of Berkshire in 1583.
In the early 17th century the Fettiplace family sold Bessels Leigh. William Lenthall bought it. He was the Speaker of the House of Commons. The old manor house was a grand structure. It had a place of concealment. Cromwell and other leaders were entertained there often. Sadly the house is now demolished.
Let’s talk about the parish church of Saint Lawrence in Besselsleigh. It existed by the 12th century. Some parts still stand from that time. The church was rebuilt in the late 13th century. The west window of the nave dates to this time. William Lenthall paid for the church to be beautified in 1632. Since 2015 the church has not been in regular use.
Besselsleigh was touched by World War II. In 1944 a bomber aircraft crashed nearby. It burst into flames at Great Park Farm. Soldiers billeted at Besselsleigh Park tried to rescue the crew. Two men died in the crash. One air gunner was awarded for his bravery.
Today Besselsleigh has a pub called the Greyhound. The Greyhound is part of the Lenthall family’s coat of arms. At the edge of the village is Parklands Campus. This is a special school run by Action for Children.
Archaeologists recently excavated the site of the old manor house. They found a rare freshwater system. Water was piped from a well into the house. This shows the wealth and sophistication of Besselsleigh’s past residents.
Besselsleigh offers a glimpse into England’s past. From Saxon origins to Norman conquests. From tales of valor to wartime tragedy. Besselsleigh stands as a testament to time’s passage. Its layers of history are waiting to be discovered.