Local History

 

The first documentary reference to Bicester is the Domesday survey of 1086 when it is recorded as Berencestra.

The name Bicester has been in use since the mid 17th century.  Theories for the meaning of the name include "of Beorna" (a personal name), "The Fort of the Warriors" or literally from Latin Bi-cester meaning Two Forts.

The town was granted its first market in 1239 trading wool, leather, lace, chair making, straw-plaiting and printing.

In the 18th century the town was a well known centre for horse racing and later for fox hunting.  As a result craft specialists including farriers, saddle and harness makers, horse clippers, ostlers, grooms and equestrian tailors became a feature of town trade.

The Ordnance Depot was established in Bicester in 1941 and is the clothing depot for the whole of the British Army.

Between 1961 and 1971 the town’s population double.  By 1981 it had a risen a further 30% to 16,000 and has continued to rise to the current 30,000.

www.wikipedia.org
www.ogormans.co.uk/history1.htm
www.visionofbritain.org.uk

Bicester Local History Society meets every month in St Edburg’s Church Hall.  To find out more contact Sally James – info@blhs.org.uk

References and further reading:

• Beesley. Alfred The History of Banbury (1841) (Extra illustrated version- vol. 16 OxLSC)
• Blomfield J C. History of the present deanery of Bicester, Pt 2 (Oxford 1882-94)
• Bond C J. ‘The Small Towns of Oxfordshire in the Nineteenth Century’, in T Rowley (Ed). The Oxford Region 55-79 (1980)
• Dannatt G H. Bicester in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. Oxoniensia vols XXVI/XXVII (1961/2)
• Dunkin John .The History and Antiquities of Bicester; a market town in Oxfordshire (1816)
• Dunkin John. History and Antiquities of the hundreds of Bullingdon and Ploughley (1823)
• Kennett White. Parochial antiquities attempted in the history of Ambrosden, Burchester, and other adjacent parts in the Counties of Oxford and Bucks
• Lawton, E.R. and Sackett, M.W., (1992), The Bicester Military Railway, Oxford Publishing Co., ISBN 0-86093-467-5
• Mitchell, V. and Smith, K., (2005), Country Railway Routes: Oxford to Bletchley, Middleton Press, ISBN 1-90447-457-8
• Parkinson R, Continuity and Change in an Oxfordshire Market Town- Bicester 1801-1861. Unpublished dissertation- Kellogg College. Oxford (2007)

All images are © Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive. Visit their website at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/heritagesearch