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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Barford St. Michael

Barford St Michael is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Barford St. John and St. Michael, in the Cherwell district, in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is on the south bank of the River Swere, about 5 miles (8 km) south of Banbury.

History

North door of St Michael's church: Norman doorway within Gothic porch

Barford St Michael has sometimes been called Great Barford as it is much larger than the village of Barford St. John on the opposite bank of the Swere. The bell tower and north doorway of Church of England parish church of St Michael are Norman. Much of the rest of the church was rebuilt in the 13th century in the Early English Gothic style. It is a Grade I listed building. In August 1549 the vicar, James Webbe, was executed at Aylesbury for his part in leading a rising in protest at the abolition of the Latin liturgy and other religious reforms. The village has one public house, the George Inn. It was built in 1697 and in the 20th century was a Hunt Edmunds tied house. There is also a farm shop. Woodworm Records Recording Studio is based in the village.

In 1931 the parish had a population of 186. On 1 April 1932 the parish was abolished to form "Barford St John and St Michael", part also went to Deddington.