Did you know that Hinksey Hill Farmhouse sits on land with a history stretching back centuries? This area’s story starts long before the farmhouse itself. Let’s delve into the past.
The name “Hinksey” comes from Anglo-Saxon origins. It possibly means “Hengist’s Island” or “Stallion’s Island.” The first mention of a settlement here dates back to 685-688. King Caedwalla of the West Saxons gave land to Abingdon Abbey.
Fast forward to 1066. The Domesday Book records the land as part of the Hundred of Hormer. The Earls of Abingdon possessed the land from the 11th century.
Between the 16th and 17th centuries some of the oldest surviving cottages and farm buildings in the area were built. While we don’t know the exact construction date of Hinksey Hill Farmhouse it is a survivor of that time.
In 1617, the Carfax Conduit was completed. It carried water from Hinksey Hill to Carfax in Oxford.
The artist William Turner painted Oxford from Hinksey Hill. His “Oxford from Hinksey Hill” sold for £18,900 at Christie’s in 2022.
Much of the land on Hinksey Hill was owned by the Earls of Abingdon. The 7th Earl sold it in acre-sized plots throughout the 1910s.
In 1974, boundary changes moved Hinksey Hill from Berkshire to Oxfordshire.
Today, Hinksey Hill Farmhouse stands as a reminder of this rich history. It connects us to the Anglo-Saxons, the Earls of Abingdon and even famous artists like William Turner. The farmhouse has been a silent witness to centuries of change. Its stones hold stories of farmers, villagers and the evolving landscape of Oxfordshire.