Adderbury, East (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Banbury, hundred of Bloxham, county of Oxford, 3 miles (N by E) from Deddington; containing, with the township of West Adderbury, and the hamlets of Barford St. John, Bodicott, and Milton, 2525 inhabitants. This place, in Domesday book called Edburgberic, probably derived its name from St. Edbuegh, to whom many religious establishments in this part of the county were dedicated: in the court rolls of New College, to which the lordship belongs, it is written “Ebberbury”; and Henry de Knyghton relates that, by a council of bishops held at Oxford, a blasphemous impostor, condemned for assuming the name and pretending to the wounds of Christ, was crucified at “Abberbury” now Adderbury. The parish comprises about 5900 acres, of which 1120 are in West Adderbury, 1240 in Bodicott, 800 in Milton, and 700 in Barford St. John. In the eastern part of the village stood a magnificent ancient mansion, belonging to the Duke of Argyle, afterwards the residence of the Earl of Rochester, and of which the remains are now incorporated with a modern seat. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s books at £21. 4. 9½ .; net income, £818; patrons and appropriators, Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford. The church, situated on elevated ground, is a handsome cruciform structure, in the early and decorated English styles, with a massive square tower strengthened by angular buttresses, and crowned with a pierced parapet, from within which rises an octagonal spire, having at the base four octagonal pyramids surmounted with vanes: between the north transept and the east end of the chancel is an octagonal turret, crowned with battlements. The chancel, which is of beautiful proportions, and built by William of Wykeham, is lighted by windows of elegant design, though much defaced by the insertion of mullions: part of the ancient rood-loft, of exquisite workmanship, is remaining; also some fine tracery at the east end; and the whole of the interior is replete with rich details, interspersed with grotesque ornaments. In each of the hamlets of Bodicott and Barford St. John is a church, both ancient structures, supposed to have been erected in the fourteenth century; and the old parsonage, now a farm-house, retains much of the original character. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans; and some endowments have been left for the instruction of children.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.
