Village History
Berinsfield is six miles south of
As a new village we had a troubled start. Many mistakes were made by those in authority, the press found it easy to put us down. Even our name was contentious. These mistakes and contentious issues have drawn the residents together to fight for a fair deal. As a new village we have been the "trail blazer" time and time again and as a community we have grown stronger and more mature. This brief history was going to be called "Even Our Name Was Contentious", but the more research we carried out the more we found out - so here is a brief look at "the history we didnıt know we had". Here is a brief look at our local history and some of the events, which have brought us to this point and prepared us for our future. This book has been made possible with the help of the sponsorship of South Oxfordshire District Council's Millennium Grant and the Millennium Lottery Grant.
Researched and Written by Marc G.Hiles & Cathy Keogh
Edited by Isobel Hiles, Pamela Brenen, Christopher Hiles & Ratna Summers
We would like to give particular thanks to the following organisations:
Sue Lisk - SMR
The Staff of the Westgate library for Local Studies
We would like to give thanks to the people who have liveded and still live in Berinsfield and others who have contributed to this history.
Charlie Brown
Ian Brown
Natalie Coffey
Eddie Connell
Mr Garlick
John & Rita Greenaway
Leslie Edward Greenaway (Gammie)
Jim Hotaling
Christopher Law
Mr Bernard Moore of Chalgrove
Veronica & Terry Todd
Colin Winterbourne
Berinsfield Pre-History
We know much about the history of Berinsfield. There is an array maps and pictures, which record our history, there are also numerous archaelogical reports written about digs carried out, together with oral histories from those interested in the history of Berinsfield.
The Gravel Pits
The Gravel Pits were one of the first developments to the farmland. The maps of 1879 show a disused gravel pit to the north of the village next to the remains of Broadmoor Barn. It is the gravel extraction which has brought to light many of the archaeological finds. In 1924 gravel extraction started and Dennis Greenaway, brother of Leslie Edward Greenaway, affectionately known as Gammie, began work. Dennis, along with others, found numerous mammoth bones, tusks, teeth and other artefacts which were sent to the Ashmolean Museum. Gammie remembers that the current site of Berinsfield was a hill (before the gravel was dug away). The men were paid piecework for each skip they filled by hand. They dug up to the Roman Road, which was protected by railway sleepers laid across it. They continued extracting gravel the other side of the Roman Road. When the pits were dug it lowered the water table and people of Dorchester and the surrounding villages had to dig their wells deeper. Colin Winterbourne of Colwell Road remembers one of his first jobs was working for Mr Kirby, the builder, and his least favourite job was going down the wells along the Abingdon Road to clean them out and make them deeper because the gravel extraction had lowered the water table.
Abbey Woods Close was formed from the silt washed from the gravel, so if you have ever dug in the copse you will find it is very fine soil. The gravel extraction went on day and night so some archaeological finds may have been missed.
Palaeolithic & Neolithic Man (Mammoths too!)
Colin Winterbourne went on to work in the gravel pits and saved numerous very important finds of coins and flint axes of great importance. A fine collection can be seen at the Pitt-Rivers Museum, Oxford. From 1933 to 1936 Major G.W.G Allen flew over Oxfordshire taking thousands of photographs. These photographs depicted the crop markings. The pictures taken between May and August showed the evidence of what was hidden below the ground. One of the most impressive sites, no longer in evidence, was the massive Ring Henge. This could be seen from the air and consisted of a double ring - this was in fact the in-fill of the ditches on either side of a mound surrounding a ritual site. Over the years erosion and ploughing the site have levelled the site. Therefore, Berinsfieldıs history rests upon Neolithic Enclosures, field systems and pits discovered in the 1934 excavations. The site was excavated again in 1955 when burial sites containing high quality flint knives and other tools were found, plus the existence of a henge. These sites witness the first true residents of Berinsfield.
Bronze Age & Iron Age
The aerial photography showed numerous Bronze Age Ring ditches in the fields to the north of the village. One large ring ditch to the south of the village, which was also high-lighted along with lots of other crop markings in 1934 was of special interest and was excavated that same year by the Oxford University Archaeological School under J.N.L.Myers who found two Bronze Age ring ditches. These had been ploughed in during later occupation by an early Iron Age settlement. J.N.L.Myers showed that the site had continuous occupation through the Middle to Late Iron Age to the start of the Roman occupation.
Roman (1st Century - 4th Century)
The first part of the gravel extraction at Queensford Mill (1970 - 1971) removed 13 inches of topsoil. Colin Winterbourne, who had an eye for anything unusual, noticed bones and pots concealed in the soil. Digging stopped and archaelogists assessed and surveyed the area which revealed skeletons close to this new surface. In one corner there was a round pit with about 50 small skulls, probably of children. 200 graves could be seen and a rescue dig was carried out before the gravel extraction took place. 78 burial sites were excavated, 27 graves had coffin nails and fittings. Christopher Law of Bullingdon Avenue took his son Mark and his friend Ian Brown to have a look at the excavation. It was reported in Oxoniensia and Britannia Vol.XIII that there were potentially 2,000 burials. When the By-pass, which now separates us from Dorchester, was being built another 90 burials including a Neolithic Cursor was discovered.
Roman Road
Rev. R Hussey in 1840 researched and plotted the route of the Roman Road, which runs through our village towards the Roman town of Alcester, just outside Bicester. The road was 16.5 miles long and its Agger was 24 feet wide, one foot high going up to two feet high in the centre with a ditch either side. The route leaving Dorchester going up Green Lane and going through our village and out the other side to the north is well defined, the course can be followed going through Marsh Baldon, Little Baldon, Baldon, Chislehampton and Garsington with existing roads, footpaths and tree lines.
Roman Pottery
Building the flats in Cherwell Road and Evenlode Drive allowed the discovery, by builders like Mr Doran (Evenlode Drive) of an industrial site, a Roman Pottery factory. Although most of the sherds (broken pottery) found were Roman, there was evidence that this site had been used from the Bronze Age. The site appears to have prospered during the Roman age due to the improved transportation, as the site is next to the Roman Road. Pottery produced in this area has been found in villas on the Isle of White and is described as the "posh stuff" being very fine and containing very few impurities - the site was probably chosen as we are on a raft of some 50 metres of clay. Towards the end of the Roman period around the end of the 4th Century the pottery went into disuse, one of the pits used for cleaning the clay was filled with all the broken pots from the firing and in the top a single cremation urn, was found, upturned in the centre of the pit, a few feet below the topsoil surface - the last of the potters with his own pot.
Anglo-Saxon
In 1977, Ian Brown's first job after leaving school was taking part in the rescue dig of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Walley's Corner (Whalley the Anglo-Saxon word for "ghost"). He remembers working under the guidance of George Lambrick. The dig continued for 9 months running alongside the gravel extraction, which had brought this find to light. This was the last of the gravel extraction in our immediate area. This had "a watching brief" resulting from the finds of the dig that had taken place in 1934. In the 1974 114 graves were located and they were of quite high status judging by the artefacts, which were found with them.
A comprehensive report has been compiled by A. Boyle, A Dodd, D. Miles and A. Mudd. Near this site was Coll Well, which was built of large stone in a very uneven circular construction, this may have been caused by wear over time and at the base of which were two very large stones in a V configuration.
Agriculture
We know the land was occupied during the medieval times from the pottery found. The land was used predominately for farming. We have maps, which show the field names and some of the features in the landscape in and around our village. [Map of field system.]
Charlie Brown was born in 1911 and one of his earliest memories is of walking down the long dark road from Newington to school at Stadhampton. He still had the certificate of attendance presented to him for attending 495 times out of 500. He left school at the age of 14 years and started to work at Field Farm (Mount Farm) as a general farm labourer for which he got paid ten shillings a week although 9d (nine old pennies) was stopped for insurance. Charlie was employed by Henry Osbourne King (affectionately known as H.O.). The house at Mount farm was known as King,s House, H. O. King who lived at the large house was a straw & hay merchant, and Gammie when working for him remembers two cottages next to the large house and two set further back.
Field Farm becomes Mount Farm
There were three Field Farms in this immediate area in the parish of Dorchester, I believe that the Post Office may have had something to do with the renaming of Mount Farm in the early 1930ıs when maps of the area show the change from Field Farm to Mount Farm. Gammie remembers the postman, Jim Cheryl who delivered the mail on foot and walked from Oxford Road across the fields to Field Farm (Mount Farm) and then onto the Lodge, but even in those days things were beginning to move faster and the Post Office insisted that he use new technology, so Jim had to learn to ride a bike. The bike had various uses, not only to travel to work, but also used to wind straw together to produce a twine to tie the sheaths together before going on the rick.
Charlie's first job for 3 months was to help look after H.O.'s sheep. Gammie did odd jobs with his uncle Jim [Greenaway] once he left school 1929-30 helping with the horses and hay making on Field Farm (Mount Farm). This was until Christmas when they no longer required his services. He does remember a story about the local children getting up to mischief when George Brown was ploughing the fields, as he just started the team of horses, the children shouted "Whoa" and the horses stopped, he started the team again and they shouted "Whoa" again - they stopped again. This went on for a little while and George Brown was not amused.
Charlie and Ethel married in 1935 and lived in half of the white bungalow, which was in the field where the car boot sale is now held, near the staggered junction of Abingdon Road and the Oxford Road. Charlie had now started to work for Mr Farrant in Drayton-St-Leonard as Mount Farm and the land had been sold in preparation for forthcoming world events, which would lead to Charlie joining the Grenadier Guards.
Storm Clouds of War
Mount Farm was sold to the RAF as a satellite for Benson. Arthur Olley from London was one of the many conscripted under the Direction of Labour, an Act of Parliament issued by Ernest Bevin, to provide the work force required as part of the War effort. At 45 he was too old for the armed services and was assigned as part of the team to construct Mount Farm airfield. The land was changed to an airfield, originally with grass runways, but this was unusable during the autumn and winter months because it was so waterlogged. As training intensified and the Wellington Bombers started using it day and night three concrete runways, perri-track and hard-standings were constructed. The first planes were the Fairey Battles and Lysanders, later the Wellingtons and Dakotas.
12 Operational Training Unit (OTU)
Number 12 OTU was formed at the outbreak of war in September 1939 and placed under the control of the newly formed Number 6 (Training) Group. Initially it was allocated to act as a reserve aircraft pool and administered Numbers 52 and 63 Group Pool Squadrons operating Battles and Wellington Mk.I aircraft which were originally based at Benson. Battle airplanes of 12 OTU began using Mount Farm from July 1940 for day and night training. The accommodation was primitive for those who were guarding the airfield as only tents were provided. After the attack on Stanton Harcourt a few light machine guns were introduced to Mount Farm for protection, and due to its strategic positioning major developments began with the construction of concrete runways. Because of this development day and night time training flights were often diverted to Mount Farm from Bensonıs grass covered runways. As a result of this increased usage a proposed 300-yard extension to the main runway was planned. Mr Garlick, like Arthur Olley, was involved in the construction of Mount Farm. Mr Garlick told me he was involved in building the extension to the main runway, which had to be built to a tight deadline. When they started to find pots, bones and other artefacts, it was decided not to tell the authorities and they completed the extension, burying the artefacts to one side of the runway. The 12th OTU carried on training Wellington crews with a few minor interruptions until the afternoon of the 27th February 1941 when an enemy bomber using low cloud cover dropped 2 bombs half a mile from Mount Farm before going on to Benson. A night attack resulted in 13 x 50 kg bombs being dropped - one cratered the northeast southwest runway, two burst the perri-track and an NCO was killed and three men injured with the damage to two Wellingtons and a Magister. A third raid arrived on 12th May 1941 when a large bomb caused a 50 ft diameter crater together with smaller bombs which caused minor damage to the perri-track.
15 Operational Training Unit (OTU)
The 12 OTU was moved to Chipping Warden and 15 OTU took over control of Mount Farm as a second satellite to Harwell. Mount Farm became very active with Hampdens from 61,106,144 and 408 squadrons and Wellingtons from 218 squadron. Number 15 OTU initially was allocated to act as a reserve aircraft pool and administered Numbers 75 and 148 Group Pool Squadrons operating Wellington Mk.I aircraft. However, as the war progressed Numberıs 75 and 148 Squadronıs were activated as front-line squadrons, leaving 15 OTU as an individual unit. 15 OTU was based at Mount Farm under Harwell control from July 1941 until September 1941 and it was during this time that one of the many great acts of heroism took place. These times were confusing to our own air crew with squadrons being relocated, but this was to prevent squadrons to be easy targets for the enemy bombers. 75 squadron was the only New Zealand squadron in Bomber Command and on the night of the 7th July 1941 Sergeant James A.Ward from Munster crawled out onto the wing of his Wellington while it was in flight to extinguish a fire, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Another Wellington from the 75th, coming back from a bombing raid at the end of 1941, was not so lucky. On a dirty foggy night, it was a bit off course, and with its wing and engine on fire and smoking. They were above Chalgrove village, when it swerved left by the monument, it missed the houses at Rofford and ended up in a large elm tree where upon it exploded, killing all six crew. It was reported that the wheels remained up in the branches of the tree for nearly a year. Colin Winterbourne and his family had some close calls as 3 Wellington Bombers crashed close to his home in Dorchester. One night in particular, they had been hiding in a ditch for safety, when a Wellington crashed. The fuselage broke and the tail landed in their hedge with the tail gunner still inside. Colinıs father and brother rushed out to save the rear gunner but, with the rest of the plane in flames, the remaining crew perished. The police advised Colinıs family to leave their home that night. They had to walk to Burcot, to his brother Harryıs place and stay there for the rest of the night, all except one brother who had to get up early, he was a cowman and had a lot of cows to milk by hand. This happened the same night a German bomber, unable to locate any airfields, dropped its load of bombs over Warborough, blowing off the end wall of a house, leaving the occupants inside unhurt, if not a little colder.
Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris was accused by some as being callous and incompetent; callous in that 51% of air crews in Bomber Command were killed on operations and over 600,000 Germans were killed in his campaign, they say that it achieved nothing. However, Albert Speer, who was in complete charge of German industrial production from 1942, said ³The strategic bomber was the cause of all our setbacks.ı and the failure to stop the bombers was "The greatest lost battle on the German side". Bomber Harris's strategy was proved right and the air crews who took part in that campaign with such determination, and at such cost, deserve our thanks and respect. Sergeant James Ward was killed in action on a raid to Hamburg on 15th/16th September 1941. 75 Squadron carried out the fourth highest bombing raids of all heavy Bomber Command squadrons, suffered second highest casualties and was believed to have dropped the third greatest tonnage of bombs (21,600 tons) and dropped 2,344 mines, most likely representing the second highest in Bomber Command.
RAF 140 Photo Reconnaissance
Once again Benson took control of Mount Farm for 140 Photo Reconnaissance (PR) Squadron, which was equipped with PR Spitfires and a handful of Blenheims for night time reconnaissance. As the war progressed intelligence became a more important factor to victory, the major photo reconnaissance activity being concentrated on Dieppe, when out of 75 Spitfire sorties carried out in August 1942, 63 of them were from Mount Farm. On 17th August 1942, the squadron flew 22 Spitfire sorties. Blenheim night time reconnaissance became dangerous due to fighters and was stopped on 15th August 1942. On 15th March 1943 the 140th Squadron was moved to Hertford Bridge and Mount Farmıs future immediately changed.
USAAF 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group
Photo Reconnaissance (PR) played an important role during WWII. The 13th (PR) Photo Reconnaissance Group left their training base in Colorado Springs and on 2nd December 1942 arrived at Podington and waited for an operational base.
On 13th February 1943 they moved to Mount Farm (AAF Station 234), bringing L-4 Piper Cubs, P-38's and F-5 Lightning's. Spitfires still played an important role in the squadrons flying from Mount Farm. They were used to obtain target and damage assessment photographs for the 8th AAF (American Air Force) Bomb Groups.
Next to arrive at Mount Farm was the 14th Photographic Squadron on the 12th May 1943, equipped with P-38's, F-4's, F-5's and later Spitfires. On 8th June the 22nd Photographic Squadron reached Mount Farm bringing more P-38's and Spitfires.
The 13th began PR flights on 28th March 1943 and the 14th Squadron commenced PR operation in July. These squadrons became part of the "7th Photograph Group" on the 7th July 1943, which was almost immediately renamed the "7th PR and Mapping Group". With the arrival 27th squadron, which consisted of; P-38's, F-4's and F-5's, on 4th November, this group of squadrons became known as the "7th Photograph Group (Reconnaissance)" on the 13th November 1943. They commenced operation on the 30th December 1943 and were affectionately know as "The Eyes of the Eighth".
Sgt. Jim Hotaling worked in the dark room of the photographic lab. The Spitfire had two cameras of 500 shots, which had to be cut into two for processing - four loads. A F-5 (Lighting) had 5 films of 250 shots of 9" x 9" film - five loads. The filming runs were done either early morning or late afternoon so that the buildings had shadows and would be better depicted on the aerial photographs. There was also a B26 and B25 (Night Intruder) used for dropping flash bombs to light up the targets.
Christmas & Entertainment with the 7th Photo Recon Group.
Jim Hotaling was in a hut next to the gravel pit close to the Roman Road, which was used by the local Home Guard to practice their exercises (south of the present day village). Jim needed a bike to get to the Mess which was situated close to the Roman Road (now Barrrington Close). This meant cycling past the Officerıs mess by the Main Gate and Guard House (now the end of Fane Drive by the shops and church). There was a Red Cross Club and a PX Club next to the Mess which was the heart of the base, but the airmen needed a break and bikes were essential to get away, Jim remembers The Bell at Shillingford run by Mr Cobb and how "you could really work up a thirst because of rationing" (You had to go to 12 pubs to get six pints). Christmas is still Christmas even if you are miles away from home. The airmen made it special for the local children plus children from Shillingford Orphanage. The airmen would put their sweet and biscuit rations into big tubes at the entrance of the PX Club weeks before Christmas. They also made toys to ensure each child had a present and a bumper bag of goodies. These duties often fell to Major John G.Anderson of 22nd Squadron seen here inspecting the toys. "Even Santa needs a hand". He also arranged special visits, for instance, the Polish orphan choir at the PX Club at Christmas.
The tradition in the villages around Mount Farm, as with the whole of the country was to bring evergreens into the house during the Christmas period. A local girl remembers how she and other children used to collect "chaff" - thin aluminum strips dropped from planes to confuse radar, this was draped over the evergreens - tinsel!
Major John G.Anderson role as Special Services Officer also involved special visits, entertainment and the physical training of the men. The entertainment involved "Hollywood stars" of the day; Bob Hope, France Langford, Bing Crosby, and Glenn Miller & His Orchestra. This was one of Glenn Millerıs last shows was at Mount Farm before he disappeared. These were big affairs held in the blister hangers so they could get everyone in.
The war continues.
The first sortie to Berlin was by a Spitfire flown from Mount Farm on the 6th March 1943, the group produced maps for ground forces, spotted enemy transport movements, installations and gathered weather reports. The 7th at Mount Farm played its part in the run up to the D-Day landings by photographing airfields, towns, French ports and targets in the Low Countries. The runways at Mount Farm were also used for other training exercises as shown by the photograph of a Wellington towing a D-Day Glider. In the last months of the war P-51's (Mustangs) were assigned for defence and escort of PR aircraft. On November 9th the 27th squadron was moved to France and later came back to Chalgrove. The remaining three squadrons - 13th, 14th and 22nd, moved to Chalgrove on 1st May 1945 and ran post war damage assessment flights until they were disbanded in December 1945. The 7th Photo Recon Group was awarded numerous honours. A roll of the Honoured Dead is to be found in the church of the names of 45 American and one British airmen who gave their lives fighting for peace. Wg Cdr Adrian Warburton DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DFC(USA) was the RAF Liaison Officer to the USAAF 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group here at Mount Farm Airbase during World War II. He was regarded as the supreme photo reconnaissance pilot of the war having flown hundreds of missions for the RAF. It was Elliot Roosevelt who specifically asked for Warburton to be his deputy at Mount Farm. Wg.Cdr. Adrian Warburton was lost on a mission from Mount Farm on 12th April 1944.
Back to the R.A.F, then the Army.
Once again, Mount Farm was used by RAF Benson as a satellite station for 8 OTU, until 4th July 1946, when the 7th Photo Recon Group moved to Chalgrove. Mount Farm was then transferred to the Army. Corporal Rita Lowson, now Rita Greenaway of Colwell Road, had been stationed at Burnham Beeches near Slough with the 2VRD - RAOC (Vehicle Reserve Depot - Royal Army Ordinance Corps) which included the A.T.S. and a detachment of R.E.M.E.(Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers). In 1946 they moved to Mount Farm. Rita was in hut 13 of the old WAAF huts (in the approximate area of the War Memorial) and worked in the company office, which was near the green hut. The war had finished so Rita was involved with the processing of the men and women who were being demobbed. Charlie Brown was stationed at Mount Farm and drove the big Fodens up to Glasgow until he was demobbed. He also transported Jeeps, 3 & 4 tonners, landing craft and other vehicles to be relocated at other depots - Glasgow or Barnstaple. By 1949, the area around Mount Farm became farmland once more.
Berinsfield - The CommunityThe surname Hiles is not rare, but of low frequency as described by the GOONS (Guild of One Name Studies). I have researched the origin of the name and have read what other organisations have indicated its origin to be, but I am now back to 1584 and the name has not changed from the original spelling. There are however some branches of the family which have had some spelling variations such as Hyles, Iles, Eyles and Highells, but these have been on certain documents and have returned back to the original spelling with following generations. Some believe it derives from 'hill' or 'some one who has come down from the hills' and if you have every used the IGI you will find that Hiles is in with the Hill, Hills, Iles and other spelling variations due to the phonetics of the name Hiles. Another organisation has described it as a variation of Hale, but I have found no evidance to support this belief.
The Community War and post war activities were coming to an end. The armed forces were being demobbed. Families being reunited and starting again, but there was an acute housing problem throughout the country and it was no different in Oxfordshire than anywhere else. There were houses available in the area but were deemed quite expensive. Arthur Olley had moved his family from London to the Three Pigeons in Drayton St Leonard. The Evacuation Committee offered them larger accommodation in the White House in Ewelme. At the end of the war he was offered the house at a cost of £300, he didnıt believe in private ownership but also didnıt want to get into debt. He took rented accommodation in Benson. John Greenawayıs father was offered two cottages in Dorchester for £100, but declined the offer as they were in poor repair. As the last Army vehicle moved out of Mount Farm, a sheeted wagon came in. There are no dates for the end of military use for Mount Farm and starting dates for our community. Some of the families of the men that had helped build and repair the runways of the air base had already moved into the huts. Bullingdon Rural District Council saw this as a temporary housing solution, and invited families to temporarily squat in the huts (this lasted for 14 years!). A community had started to form, and the birth of the first new village in the UK for more than nearly 200 years had begun - Berinsfield.
Bullingdon Rural District Council first had the idea of building a new village in 1949. Although what was happening at Mount Farm Air base was not unusual, as the book "The Sociology of Housing - Studies at Berinsfield" R.N.Morris & John Mogey explains. What was to happen next was a brave step forward into the unknown. Abandoned bases at Abingdon, Chalgrove, Easthampstead, Slade Park and Slough are other bases described in the book, but only Mount Farm (Berinsfield) was to be built in the same location as the huts and the community re-housed.
There were originally between 150 and 200 families at the "Field Farm Estate" between 1947 and 1949, who were all expected to be re-housed within 12 months.
First the Community
Mr & Mrs Colin Winterborne moved into the Field Farm huts in 1949 shortly after getting married and Angie Winterbourne (Angie Bowden - Brown Owl) was born in the huts in 1950. Veronica Todd came from Reading at the age of 2 years, with her mother Lil Huggins and her father, who had recently come out of the Army. They moved into a whole hut on Mount Farm for 7/6 a week. You could rent half a hut, but the dividing wall was plaster board and separated by 2"x1" battens, so you knew when your neighbours were in and often the topic of conversation. There was electricity to the huts for lighting and a small range was used to provide heat and for cooking. Only 20% had an inside water closet and 56% had a single cold water tap. Veronica remembers the huts as quite large with some large families in them. Joan & Kermit Bateman had 12 children while they lived in the huts and later on they moved to Benson.
The huts down by Green Lane were clad with wood, although some were covered with felt, which Terry Todd remembers as being very fragile and easy to put a foot through the walls. There were some half round huts one of which was on the other side of Green Lane from where Veronica lived - nobody lived in it as it had been used to store ammunition, but she recounts that she and other children used to run over the top. Mrs Coffey remembers that the huts, up near where the Village Inn now stands, were covered with corrugated iron. Natalie Coffey was told how her father and grandmother had come from South Wales on a coal lorry and were allocated a hut opposite the garage - 4b Mount Farm. When they first arrived there was no running water, so a lorry came with a big tank on it. Later they put two standpipes in the road and the Council gave every family an Elsan bucket. Most families were able to put these in the huts for a toilet. When they were full the contents were buried in the garden, some people dug big holes, which lasted a few months. Friday night was "Elsan night", where the men went into the garden with a shovel - as Terry said the gardens were well fertilized. This could make things difficult walking about in the dark, as there was no street lighting. If you wanted water you had to go to the standpipes. In the winter (they had proper winters - cold and with snow) it was advisable to get a saucepan or kettle the night before, or you had a long wait as the pipes often froze.
Close community
It was a very close community in those days. Colin Winterbourne had the switch for all the electricity in his block of huts and someone else had the tap, which controlled all the water. They had a complete hut, which had 3 bedrooms, dining room and a kitchen with a range in the middle. All the water had to be heated up on the range for washing and cleaning. For supplies there was the fish man, the vegı man, the bread man and other mobile shops that visited the huts including Pam Walls who came round on the milk float. One of the huts became a store and a post office where Barrington Close garages are situated - this was run by Jeff Parnell, who was from Drayton-St-Leonard. He would deliver your order to your hut on a Friday night, if it was too heavy. Friday night was a busy night, especially as it was bath night as well, in a tin bath in front of the range. If you wanted to travel there was a regular bus service, which stopped outside Deaconıs Garage. You had to wait in the dark as there were no lights at the stop, but buses came at 20 minutes past the hour. Veronica often made the trip to Reading to visit her grandparents. Other people like Net Bailey who used to work in the tannery in Abingdon, would bike to work. The original junior school was down by Evenlode Drive with Miss Hanscombe as head mistress, Veronica says she was a very nice teacher. Some time later the school hut suffered the same fate as the Abbey School would and caught fire. The Primary School has since been on the same site, although the buildings have changed. The Youth Club was where Evenlode Drive is now and run by Miss Edith Fyleman, but she had to retire as the children were getting a little too much to handle and Terry Todd took over.
Three sites
The huts were divided into three sites; Mount Farm site, which was between Green Lane and the old Dorchester Road and up to the school fields. The Field Farm site extended from the school fields and across to Green Lane where the current water tower is now. The other side of Green Lane, (site of the original water tower), was the Tec site, which was still in use as a storage depot for military vehicles. Originally a guard house was situated at the beginning of Fane Drive and this was the second entrance to the airbase. This was closed due to many accidents and a fatality. The airbase was surrounded by fields, which were being farmed again after 1946, Kelly Bumpass used to be one of the men driving the combine harvesters along with Mr. Carey who lived in one of the two cottages near Queens Farm. It was he you went to for your eggs. As the farmers were claiming back the land from the air base by taking down the huts and dismantling the concrete bases, Colin Winterbourne and family moved to a hut near where the telephone box is along Fane Drive opposite Colwell Road. Terry Todd remembers one of his early jobs was as one of the team to dig up the concrete bases, hard-standings and tracks using jackhammers. This was no mean feat as they were 18" thick! Mr. Deacon, being environmentally friendly and a shrewd businessman then recycled the concrete by selling it back to Bullingdon Rural District Council as hardcore for the building of Berinsfield.
Then the Village
Bullingdon Rural District Council commissioned William Holford & Partners to produce plans for a model villageı to be built from scratch, the first new village to be built on virgin ground in 200 years. The plan was for 278 units of accommodation, 200 to be owned by the local authority and 78 for private ownership. William Holford is quoted as saying in 1957 - ³The decision to build new housing on this site, away from old-established towns and villages and without regard to local employment, is contrary to generally accepted planning principles, but the peculiar circumstances attaching to this half abandoned war-time camp site justify the experiment - it is, in fact, difficult to think of any suitable alternative open to your council - and I see no reason why it should not succeed.²
Name Like most other building projects, especially these days, it was to be a phased approach, and Berinsfield was to be no different. Building started in 1958, but the name of the village was to prove contentious and is well documented in the Oxford Mail and Times from the 21st March 1956 when Bullingdon RDC first proposed to build a new village.
"What shall we call it?" - Headline from the Oxford mail. "It" was our village. Mr. K.F. Welch of Dorchester Parish Council headed the campaign "Why not Wimblestraw". The council were not impressed and wanted something to link the past to the future. So other names like "Collewelle" - from the charcoal burning carried out near Shadwell Spring and other names were considered; Cropwell; Chastlewell; Clanwell; Lynchwell; Biborough. The council suggested Shadwell and Vincent Cherrill (the name of a local farmer of the last century), but none of these names were supported - William Holford was asked for a suggestion. He replied "No Sir, I wouldnıt dare!" A councillor did suggest "Williamsville" - Luckily it did not gain approval. It was Mr C.J. Peers, Chairman of the Field Farm Welfare Committee who put forward the name "Berinsfield" to the Council, the credit is given to a local Roman Catholic Priest. It was in fact Miss Edith Fyleman and Father Connack of the committee who came up with the name - "Berin" after St Birinus who baptized King Cynegils just down the road in the Thames and "Field" from "The Field" as this was the name the American service men called Mount Farm Airbase. There were various reports in the Oxford Mail, but the name came into being between July and November 1958.
Building of Berinsfield
The huts had been taken down in phases since the site was first used for temporary housing. As Mr. Winterbourne had said he had first moved from huts close to Mount Farm Houses and been moved from one side of the Roman Road to the other as the airfield had been returned to farm land. Towards the end, the huts were coming down faster, first the Field Farm huts, which were replaced by Colwell Road and Green Furlong, and the families were moved from the Mount Farm huts into these new houses. They took down the Field Farm Huts from the gate house at the end of what is now 1 Fane Drive - up to what is now Barrington Close, building the first part of Fane Drive, leaving spaces for the shops, health centre, West Croft, Crutch Furlong and Russell Jackson Close. They also took down the huts alongside the old Oxford-Henley road (formally A423) and built Wimblestraw Road with Shadwell Road and Bullingdon Avenue off as cul-de-sacs - the first private houses for sale as Terry remembers, at £1,000 a piece. Some that could afford these prices moved in. It was rumoured that some of the private dwellers could only afford orange boxes as furniture, but this was certainly not true in every case. The first phase was up to Lay Avenue and was built by Selick & Nickels, a builder from Cornwall.
First In?
Elise East, husband and daughter Nicky East were the first to move into Shadwell Road in September 1959 from Henley Street in Oxford. The builders hurried to finish 4 Shadwell Road as Elsie was expecting and wanted to move in before the birth - Russell East was born in December 1959. I have asked who was the first to move into the houses in Colwell Road, but a few people have claimed that honour. At the end of the Field Farm Estate there were some 69 families out of the original 200 families still waiting to be housed, one of these families was Mrs Cox and family. Mrs Cox had been living in the huts from the beginning.
Veronica moved from the hut in Field Farm to Colwell Road with her father and mother (Lil Huggins). After Terry and Veronica married they initially lived in Colwell Road, then moved to the flats in Fane Drive and now live in Barrington Close.
A little known piece of our history is held by each of us who are home owners. The deeds to our properties give us a history of the land on which it stands. Cathy Keogh reports that her deeds reveal the land in Shadwell Road and to the west of the village was owned by the father of Arthur Cullen, a local builder and landowner.
1961
An aerial photograph taken in 1961 shows Berinsfield still being built, the footings for the shops, still no health centre and the last of the bungalows in Bullingdon Avenue being finished, the church being started. Eddie Connell had come out of the Army, having been stationed in Germany and came to visit his brother in Watlington. He liked the area so much that he wanted to live here, so looked for work. He got a job as a bricklayer in Berinsfield and brought his young family down from Glasgow in 1962. Eddieıs first job was to put the footings in for the shops and pub (Berinsfield Arms) He was always proud of the fact that he had built the house he and his family lived in until his death.
The village continues to grow!
Bullingdon Avenue was going to be called something else originally, as Chris Law recalls. He had heard about the new development when he was working at Morrisıs in 1958. He put down a £100 deposit on one of the 3 bedroom bungalows, which was in each of the corners of the Avenue and were built first, the 2 bedroom bungalows built shortly afterwards. The Avenue was to be called Holdford Avenue, as Chris Law recounts. He had already paid to have 200 business cards printed with Holford Avenue, but there were a few issues and it resulted in Sir William Holford and Bullingdon RDC falling out. A secretary who worked for the Chief Executive at the time said there were some very heated exchanges and he had said he would not have his name put to any part of this village after what Bullingdon RDC had done to his original plan for the village and the name changed to Bullingdon Avenue.
Separate
The Oxford Mail reported on the 26th February 1962 that Berinsfield had become a separate Parish, which was favoured by both Bullingdon RDC and Oxfordshire County Council. A final comment made in the article was that "a burial ground will be needed in the parish". It took 33 years to achieve this goal and could justify a complete chapter all of its own. The first parish meeting was held on the 16th April 1962 and is commemorated by the stained glass window in the church dedicated to all Parish Councillors "Past & Present" who have served the community. The final article to do with the our village name was on the 30th August 1962 when the local post office adopted the new name of Berinsfield. The sub-office had been called "Field Mount" after the two adjacent farms.
On the 23rd May 1963 the Bullingdon Rural District Council put forward expansion plans for Berinsfield with 700 new houses, which were to include two blocks of 8 storey flats. 26 May 1964 Multi storey flats rejected, but 3 and 4 storey flats approved.
Primary School
In 1964, the year the new Primary school opened, Chris Law recounts the Big Snow when the weather turned icy no one could get up the Oxford Hill (The A4074 just north of Berinsfield). John Pratt went in with a JCB to dig a way through, when the snow began to thaw a 3-wheel Messerschmitt bubble car was found on top of a hedge. A tractor was used to retrieve some of the vehicles and on one occasion the front of a Princess car was pulled off.
Road straightening.
Coming down the A4074, formally A432 from Nuneham Courtenay there was a staggered junction near where the Golden Balls roundabout is today. The lay-by was part of the main road, which then dipped down to the brook and wound its way back up to Berinsfield. There were numerous accidents (The Oxford Hill). Major road improvements took place to straighten the road and move it away from the side of Berinsfield, closing the Fane Drive entrance, leaving us with that lay-by and a new junction/roundabout. The junction at the Golden Balls caused more accidents than it resolved and was eventually changed to a roundabout. The lay-by has now been closed and is returning back to nature.
Lionel Brett wrote a paper "Landscape in Distress" in 1966 stating - "It is difficult to write fairly of this solitary attempt at a planned village. It was enlightened of Bullingdon RDC, having made this decision, to use this old airfield camp site for housing, to seek the advice of a distinguished planning consultant on its layout. But something went wrong and the "village" is no such thing, but just another Council housing estate with standard road widths and semis."
Increase
Bullingdon RDC saw the potential of Berinsfield being able to resolve all their housing problems. There was a rapid increase in the population rising to 1,220 in 1966. By 1971, just five years later it had risen to 3,238. The housing mix was 75.5% owned by local authorities and only 19% owner occupied, the national average for properties owned by local authorities was 30%.
The Oxford Mail and Times once again report extensively on the proposed high rise to be built in Berinsfield, which was not accepted. Two blocks of flats at the end of Cherwell Road and Evenlode Drive and later another block opposite the health centre were built. Views were expressed saying this was a mistake when they were being built. By 1974 the Church, Health Centre, Public House, two parades of shops, a community centre, Primary and Secondary schools had been built. The Oxfordshire County Council was expanding the Secondary school to increase its capacity from 600 to 900 pupils, the library and youth centre were under construction.
South Oxfordshire District Council established a project team in July 1974 to give consideration to the future of Berinsfield. The report highlighted the land the Home Office had purchased to build 82 homes for Prison Officers. They would be employed for the new Lockwood Prison to built at Culham, but this project had been abandoned and the Council was trying to get the land to develop. This was achieved and we had a phase of self-build, Leach Road was built and the remaining gaps along Fane Drive were filled in. The village has been growing ever since; the last major bit of building was Abbey Woods Close, built on the site of the Abbey School. The first residents moved in during March 1998. The last major phase to our village is at its mid-point, the flats at Evenlode Drive and Cherwell Road are down and major building work is scheduled to start and be completed in the next two years. Berinsfield has grown from the initial 278 accommodation units of the first phase to 1,136.
History in Newsletters
Miss Edith Fyleman often mentions in her reports that she was trying to get funding for the community newsletters, or get someone to print it. Our community here at the Field Farm Estate and the one at Chalgrove was kept informed of what was happening and forthcoming events. Only one of these has been found. This covers the dates from 1st June to 1st October 1956. It describes the refurbishment of the social club; an open air Fete and Jumble Sale; and the highlight of the newsletter - the report on the seaside Holiday at Laving, Sussex where a party of 53 (5 fathers, 9 mothers and 39 children) left on two of Mr Surmons coaches.
Social centre
At the Social Centre there were various clubs and activities; Sunday School, on Mondays - Tap Dancing, Junior Club with Roller Skating and a request for more roller skates, on Tuesday, Cubs met with Fred Walls as Assistant Cub Master. The pack was recognised by the district and the first 6 to enrol went to Watlington Camp in July and distinguished themselves by winning the trophy for being the best six! On Tuesdays was also the "Teenager Club". On Wednesday the Brownies met with Mrs Huggins (Tawny Owl). The Brownie Revels were at the Social Centre on the 18th July 1956 where the 1st Field Farm Pack entertained 5 other packs and their leaders. Later on a Wednesday evening the Centre was used for Beetle Drives, which were run by Mrs. Gomm of the Womenıs Fellowship to raise funds for the Centre. There were also competitions, country dancing, talks and hair dressing demonstrations.
First
The first monthly Community paper was called the "Berinsfield News", started by Captain Eric Shaw (Church Army) in the early 1960's. It covered activities of the Womenıs Fellowship, Scouts, Cubs, Guides, Brownies, Berinsfield Football Teams and other activities and events. In December 1969, to cover the cost of production a charge of 6d per copy and orders could be placed at the Mr. Bradfieldıs, the newsagents.
Village News
We have had a few variations of village newsletter with irregular issues, but in April 1982 saw the start of the "Berinsfield Village News", produced by the Berinsfield Information Centre (BIC). In the July 1982 issue it was "US against those who would try and put us down", where Radio Oxford had commissioned the broadcaster and writer Richard Stanley to carry out a story on this victimisation. Howell Davies - Headmaster of the Primary School was stated as saying that, "Many of the critics have never visited our village!"
War Memorial
The "Journal of the 7th Photo Recon Group" in March 1982 was started in America - its President in 1982 was George Lawson, a former commander of Mount Farm Air Base. The new journal for the 7th Photo Recon Association begins with talk of the 4th reunion at Cincinati Convention & Exposition Center. These were the men who served here during the war and with which Berinsfield (Mount Farm) still have very strong ties with reports of the reunions and the visits to the village. In July 1984 the Americans who had served here during the war came over for the dedication of the new war memorial. The last issue was produced in March 2002, its last President Frank Gaccioni reporting the end of the 7th Photo Recon Association.
Your Paper
The next paper was "YOUR PAPER", which started in the beginning of 1985 and started with the Berinsfield Community Association celebrating "TEN YEARS OF SUCCESS" The March 1985 issue asked the question - Our School to Go? The Headmaster Mr. Connell deciding enough is enough. The issue also reported that a requiem was to be held for Miss Edith Fyleman on the 20th April at Dorchester Abbey.
In the March 1985 issue were the plans for the War Memorial. The Nature Spot - written by Mr. Len Summerfield was a constant feature in all the following village newsletters until January 1997 when Mr. Summerfield passed away. Len not only did the nature spot, but also wrote poems, one of our many poets. "YOUR PAPER" continued until November 1986.
Independent
"The New Berinsfield Independent" came into being in October 1986 and was to run alongside the next village paper. The last issue was May 1992 with the title "My Voice" and a promise of the occasional Pictorial version of "The New Berinsfield Independent". An article in the last issue covered the new football pavilion to replace the Green Hut. Village Voice The next paper in the history of our village newsletters was "The Village Voice". The first issue in December 1987 asked for support to "SAVE OUR LAKES" after the Oxfordshire County Council put in an application to use Queensford Pit as a waste disposal site. A milestone reported in "The Village Voice" was the opening of Mount Farm Community Education Centre. By issue 48 Ken Chrisp was the last person on the editorial committee running the community newsletter. In issue 55 the leading story was that the Girl Guides were to end in Berinsfield. In issue 57 (July 1993) the Flower Festival reported a great success with its theme - the village history. Also chairs were dedicated to Fr. John Garvey and the late Mr. Bradfield and his wife. The format was to change with issue 60 as it goes to A5. The first Carnival to be held in the village for over 14 years was reported in issue 67, the first event was the Berinsfield Tinman - a mini triathlon, which was such a success that it was run for the following three years and reported in following issues. The event was supported by village groups and the surplus funds were divided between the groups. The last issue was 87 in July 1996 after a contentious article about "Policing in Berinsfield".
Your Village Voice
The first issue of "Your Village Voice" was October 1996, the front page article was "SRB - A Brighter Future". The first issue contained items which were to become regular features from the Parish Council, Church, BCA, Mount Farm Community Education Centre and the Berinsfield Information Centre. Also the other features from the Boxing Club, Scouts & Cubs, Brownies, Neighbourhood Watch and a few specials - Berinsfield Gardeners doing well at the Dorchester Flower Show and the Library celebrating its 21st birthday.
The first year of Your Village voice was filled with numerous articles, but some of the highlights in the May 1997 issue the Abbey Site was being developed, in the June issue Berinsfield Primary School FC brought home the Morrell Shield with a 2-1 victory over Goring - goals scored by Thomas Hilsdon and Marc Kenny. The last time this happened was 23 years ago in 1974. The September issue reported that on the 3rd of August 1997 Berinsfield had its burial ground consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford - Revd. Richard Harries. A task, which had taken 33 years for the village to achieve, had finally been accomplished. Also in that issue was the report of a slightly different Harvest Festival, which had an Indian flavour with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence, and the money raised went towards projects to strive to combat poverty in India. The issue also reported the obituary of Leslie William Charlton (1915 - 1997) who was one of our accomplished artists. A very special day in our history was captured in issue 16 and reported on the Queenıs visit to the village on 27th November 1997 and was a special 4-coloured issue. Another important regular feature were the history articles and old photographs. March 1998 saw completion of Abbey Woods Close. A special issue sponsored by The Reel Thingı - Ulric Caramber Coker MD, local lad returning to the village. We were also finding out just how far our village newspaper was going with comments from America, Canada, Sweden and Egypt. The end of 1999 saw the start of the millennium projects with the Millennium Yews being planted in the burial ground and the dedication of the Berinsfield Millennium Quilt at the Harvest Festival. The project co-ordinator, Isobel Hiles had said that 16 women had spent 1,905 hours putting it together.
With the dawn of a new millennium we saw a change to "Your Village Voice". It has a coloured cover. The first of 2000 had a front page headline of a "Yawn of a new Millennium" with a picture of Mitchell Purvis son of Louisa and Simon, the first to be born at home in Oxfordshire on 1st January 2000 at 9.44 am. Also in this issue was the opening of "Solutions" at SOLLıs Abbey Sports Centre and the proposed boundary changes for the village. Issue 44 The Carnival special was a great day - a little damp at the end as the Lord Lieutenant - Hugo Brunner crowned the Millennium Carnival Queen Lee-Anne Murphy and Prince Consort, Liam Weller. The theme was Berinsfield through the ages, the flowing capes of the Roman Legions of the Thursday and Friday Club, the BCA and Village Inn having very musical themes and the Scouts & Cubs as Saxon's. The winning float was the Primary School. The year 2000 was a busy year of celebrations. Issue 50 showed all the previous front-pages, and a small piece of our history. 2001 was a year of change and preparation - Landscape Designs Associates were employed by South Oxfordshire District Council to identify what we, as a village wanted in the way of environmental improvements. June saw the flats come down, with Mrs. Jean Welford winning the raffle to take the first swing with a crane. The Queenıs Jubilee Year of 2002 saw new groups - Berinsfield Residents Association, Berinsfield Advisory Group, Berinsfield Community Safety Group, new initiatives with the Berinsfield Community Business and Berinsfield Information Technology continue to be reported in our village newsletter along with support from SOHA Housing, South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police. The history of our village is still being written, but this history project - A brief history of Berinsfield, "A history we didnıt know we had" has to finish here!
Almost the last word, but not quite!
We havenıt mentioned the history of our clubs, such as the Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Girl Guides, ACF, ATC, Boxing, Life Saving or Football, nor have we mentioned the active history of over 25 years of the Berinsfield Community Association or the 40 years of the Church - which the village built itself.
The Schools, Playgroups & Nursery all have stories to tell. Things from our past, such as Wg. Cmdr Adrian Warburton and parts of his plane recently being discovered near Munich in Southern Germany, continue to help us produce the history of our village.
If you have any memories, stories or pictures relevant to our history, please drop them into Berinsfield Library.
Sometime in the future, maybe for Berinsfield's 50th Celebration they may become part of a more comprehensive Berinsfield History book.
Copyright : Berinsfield Millenium Committee 2003