Churchill, Oxfordshire

Churchill is a small and picturesque Cotswold village in north-west Oxfordshire, England, about three miles south-west of Chipping Norton.

History

The village has borne several versions of its name through its history, including Cercelle, Churchell, and Cherchell, but its current form was in use by 1537. The origin of the name is uncertain, though it may come from the Old English cyrc, meaning a hill, burial ground, or barrow. (The village does contain several barrows, suggesting the existence of a settlement here from prehistoric times.) However, the name may come from Cyrc-hill, literally Hill-hill — a common construction formed by Anglo-Saxon incomers who did not understand the meaning of a Celtic root (cf. the etymology of Pendle Hill).

Related Topics:
1537 - Old English - Celtic - Etymology - Pendle Hill

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Churchill was originally at the foot of a hill (now known as Hastings Hill), but on 31 July 1684 a fire destroyed twenty houses and many other buildings, and killed four people. The village was rebuilt higher up the hill, with stone houses instead of the old timber-framed and thatched cottages. The fire was apparently caused by a baker who, to avoid chimney tax, had knocked through the wall from her oven to her neighbour's chimney.

Related Topics:
31 July - 1684 - Chimney tax

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The old village can still be seen as grassy mounds in the pastures around the Heritage Centre.

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