Launton

Launton
Launton
 Launton shown within Oxfordshire
Population 1,117 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSP6022
Civil parishLaunton
DistrictCherwell
Shire countyOxfordshire
RegionSouth East
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Bicester
Postcode district OX26
Dialling code 01869
Police Thames Valley
Fire Oxfordshire
Ambulance South Central
EU Parliament South East England
UK ParliamentBanbury
WebsiteLaunton Village Website
List of places
UK
England
Oxfordshire

Coordinates: 51°53′35″N 1°06′58″W / 51.893°N 1.116°W

Launton is a village and civil parish on the eastern outskirts of Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. Launton is twinned with the village of Gavray in France.

History

King Edward the Confessor gave the manor of Launton to Westminster Abbey in 1065.[2] The abbey surrendered the manor to the Crown when it was suppressed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540, but in 1542 the Crown granted Launton to the abbey's Dean and Chapter.[2] Mary I restored the Roman Catholic church in England so in 1556 Launton was surrendered to the Crown, who restored it to the reinstated abbott and convent of Westminster.[2] Elizabeth I restored the English Reformation so in 1560 Launton was surrendered to the Crown for a third time, who again granted it to the Dean and Chapter.[2] In 1649 the Commonwealth of England assigned Launton to Westminster School.[2] In 1860 the lands of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster were vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.[2]

The Church of England parish church of the Assumption of the Blesséd Virgin Mary was built in the 12th century and enlarged in the 13th century.[3] The bell tower has a ring of six bells,[4] all cast by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon in 1907.[5] The church has also a Sanctus bell dating from 1352.[2] The ecclesiastical parish is now part of the Benefice of Bicester, Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton.[6]

Bethel chapel was built in 1850 and later became a Congregational church.

The Varsity Line between Bletchley and Oxford via Bicester Town was built through Launton parish and opened in 1851. Launton railway station served the village until the end of 1967, when British Railways withdrew passenger services between Bletchley and Oxford.

Amenities

Launton has a Church of England primary school.[7] The school has links with the parish church including Christingle and Year Six leavers services.

Launton has two public houses: The Bull Inn at the crossroads in the centre of the village and The Black Bull at West End. The village has also a post office, a butchers and a hair salon.

Launton has a Parish Hall. The Sports and Social Club provides the home pitch for Launton Football Club, plus a tennis court and small children's play area.[8]

The Launton Village Players is an amateur theatre group living in and around Launton who perform an annual pantomime at The Cooper School in Bicester, and musical shows and plays in the village.[9]

The village has a Woods on your Doorstep[10] at Island Pond Wood, managed by The Woodland Trust.[10] Villagers bought it by public subscription and planted it in 1999.[10]

Public transport

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire route S5 links Launton with Bicester, Gosford and Oxford.[11] This service runs hourly, Mondays to Saturdays only and gives no late evening or Sunday service.

Arriva the Shires routes give Launton services to Bicester and Steeple Claydon (routes 16 and 18), Aylesbury (route 16 only)[12] and Buckingham (route 18 only).[13] Routes 16 and 18 run only a few times each day, Mondays to Saturdays only and give no late evening or Sunday service.

During school terms the village is also served by school coaches to and from Blessed George Napier Roman Catholic School in Banbury.

Sport and leisure

Launton has a Non-League football club Launton Sports F.C. who play at Launton Sports Club on Bicester Road.

References

  1. ↑ "Area: Launton CP (Parish): Parish Headcounts". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lobel, 1959, pages 232–243
  3. ↑ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, pp. 681–682.
  4. ↑ Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, Bicester Branch
  5. ↑ Davies, Peter (17 December 2006). "Launton Assumption of the BVM". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Benefice of Bicester with Bucknell Caversfield and Launton
  7. ↑ Launton CE Primary School
  8. ↑ "Launton Sports and Social Club". Launton Village Website. 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Launton Village Players". Launton Village Website. 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Woods on your Doorstep". Projects. The Woodland Trust. 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  11. ↑ Stagecoach webpage for route S5
  12. ↑ Arriva the Shires routes 16 & 17
  13. ↑ Arriva the Shires route 18

Sources

External links

Media related to Launton at Wikimedia Commons