Dare to imagine Sunningwell a village with a history stretching back to Saxon times. Its name, derived from Old English, means “the spring of Sunna’s people.” The echoes of ancient voices linger here.
Sunningwell is more than just a picturesque village. It is a place where history whispers from every stone. Its story is intertwined with powerful abbeys and noble families.
The story of Sunningwell starts long before the Norman Conquest. By 1086 Abingdon Abbey held the manors of Sunningwell and Bayworth. The abbey kept both manors until 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Later Sunningwell and Bayworth were granted to speculators. They sought a quick profit. John Williams bought them in 1546. He later became Baron Williams of Thame. The manors passed through various hands including those of Sir Thomas Baskerville.
The parish church of St Leonard is the heart of Sunningwell. Its oldest parts date back to 1246. The nave and parts of the chancel have witnessed centuries of change. A blocked 13th-century window hints at the church’s long past. The east end of the chancel was rebuilt in the late 13th or early 14th century. It features a Decorated Gothic east window. In the late 15th century the south transept and north tower were added. Perpendicular Gothic windows and an embattled parapet gave the nave a new look.
A unique feature is the Elizabethan polygonal west porch. It has Ionic columns. It is said that John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury gifted it. He was rector of Sunningwell St Leonard’s around 1551.
Samuel Fell served as rector of St Leonard’s from 1625 to 1649. The west tower has a ring of six bells. One was cast in 1653 during the Commonwealth era. The others were cast in 1857 and 1933.
The painter J. M. W. Turner once stayed in Sunningwell. He visited his aunt and uncle at the age of 14. Turner sketched in the area.
Once a cottage housed the village schoolteacher. A schoolroom was built next to it. This became Sunningwell Church of England Primary School. It later moved to new premises. The old school building is now Sunningwell School of Art.
Today Sunningwell has a population of just over 900. It is smaller than its neighboring parishes. The village has a pub called the Flowing Well. It is a place where you can pause and soak up the atmosphere.
Sunningwell is a village that has seen centuries pass. Its history is etched in its buildings. It is felt in the landscape. As you leave Sunningwell remember the echoes of the past. The village carries the stories of those who came before us.