Official Name: | Aston Upthorpe |
Static Image Name: | Aston Upthorpe Thorpe street.jpg |
Static Image Caption: | Thorpe Street, Aston Upthorpe |
Coordinates: | 51.574°N -1.205°W |
Os Grid Reference: | SU5586 |
Area Total Km2: | 4.74 |
Population: | 179 |
Population Ref: | (2011 Census) |
Civil Parish: | Aston Upthorpe |
Shire District: | South Oxfordshire |
Shire County: | Oxfordshire |
Region: | South East England |
Country: | England |
Post Town: | Didcot |
Postcode District: | OX11 |
Postcode Area: | OX |
Dial Code: | 01235 |
Constituency Westminster: | Didcot and Wantage |
Website: | The Astons.Net |
Aston Upthorpe is a village and civil parish about 3miles southeast of Didcot in South Oxfordshire. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire. The motion picture National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - Stonehenge Scene was filmed a mile to the south of the village on the ancient downland. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 179.[1]
Half of the 360foot high Blewburton Hill is in the parish. The hill is the site of an Iron Age hill fort that may have been occupied from the 4th century BC to the 1st century BC.
The Church of England parish church of All Saints may date from the second half of the 11th century. However, the only surviving Norman features are one small window in the north wall of the nave and the blocked-up remains of a south doorway. The nave roof may be 14th century and its west wall and Perpendicular Gothic window may be 15th century. The wooden north porch is of uncertain date, possibly the first half of the 17th century. In 1859–60 under the direction of the Gothic Revival architect P.C. Hardwick, the nave was restored and the chancel was restored. The bellcote is also wooden and has two bells, and may have been added by Hardwick. All Saints is now part of the Benefice of the Churn.[2]