For information on line information see Appleton History from British History

Appleton

Appleton (known in charters by various forms of that name meaning simply “an orchard” and also as Earmundesleah) has had a fairly uneventful history. The existence of a tumulus known as Yttings Hlaw (or similar spellings) indicates early settlement, and the presence of Bad’s Well, with its alleged healing properties especially for eyes, may have given the area some fame before the Conquest. The most traumatic event in the village’s history was probably its occupation by the Danes in 871 when they sacked Abingdon Abbey, which owned it. It is assumed that it was recovered by Alfred the Great and in 942 King Edmund (hence the non Appleton form of the name) granted it to one Athelstan, who may have restored it to Abingdon Abbey. The parish appears in the Doomsday Book, notably as the site of the most valuable fishery in Berkshire worth £1.4s.2d. From then on the history is largely a record of grants and reversions, the best-known names to appear in the list of grantors and or tenants being William de Merton, perhaps a kinsman of the founder of Merton College, Oxford, Sir William de Shareshill, Lord Chief Justice in the reign of Edward III, and William Lenthall, Speaker of the Long Parliament (this at a time when the Lordship of the Manor descended with that of Besselsleigh) and - of more local fame - the Fettiplaces and the Southbys.

Eaton

Eaton, too, was famous for its fisheries in 1086 and, unlike Appleton, appears never to have been a possession of Abingdon Abbey. Oddly, the lordship of Eaton seems to have been more connected in medieval times with Cumnor and even with Fyfield than with Appleton.

The civil parish of Appleton-with-Eaton was created in 1894 and in 1974, together with the rest of north Berkshire, the parish was transferred to Oxfordshire.

Eaton (meaning land by a river) is mainly a farming hamlet. It received its Charter in 968 from King Edgar, and in 1968 enjoyable millennium celebrations took place in which all residents, their families and ex-residents took part.

In 1554 Eaton Manor and lands were conveyed by Christopher and Catherine Ashton to Sir Thomas White, who founded St John’s College, and so they became college property. The Sellwood family lived in a house in the hamlet from 1569 to 1840, and their annual rent to St John’s included 14 shillings, I peck of malt, 2 bushels of oats and 2 hens.

Originally Eaton was sited lower down the hill towards Bablockhythe and the Isis/Thames but moved to its present position, it is believed, due to the Black Death. Coal and goods were transported up from the river to the public house at one time.

The hamlet was enclosed in 1828 to 1830 when the roads to Appleton and Cumnor were altered, and the road from the river curved round in front of The Eight Bells instead of Manor Farm.

The soil is Oxford Clay with Corellian beds underneath.