West Hanney Explained

Official Name:West Hanney
Static Image Name:West Hanney Church - geograph.org.uk - 745381.jpg
Static Image Caption:St James the Great parish church
Coordinates:51.633°N -1.415°W
Os Grid Reference:SU4192
Label Position:bottom
Population:490
Population Ref:(2011 Census)
Civil Parish:East Hanney
Shire District:Vale of White Horse
Shire County:Oxfordshire
Region:South East England
Country:England
Post Town:Wantage
Postcode District:OX12
Postcode Area:OX
Dial Code:01235
Constituency Westminster:Didcot and Wantage
Website:TheHanneys

West Hanney is a village and civil parish about 3miles north of Wantage, Oxfordshire, England. Historically West and East Hanney were formerly a single ecclesiastical parish of Hanney. East Hanney was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred the Vale of White Horse to Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 490.[1]

Archaeology

In September 2009 a metal detecting club held its annual rally at a site in the parish.[2] [3] One detectorist found a Saxon grave from early in the 7th century [3] containing the skeleton of a young woman with grave goods including one spindle whorl, two iron knives, and two ceramic pots that may have contained food.[4] Near the grave the detectorist found an ornate circular Saxon metal brooch inlaid with gold,[3] [5] garnets[3] [4] and coral.[4] This type of brooch was previously known from Kent, East Anglia, Essex and Bedfordshire.[6] Still, the one from West Hanney is further west than all previously found examples,[6] making it "a find described as of national importance".[4] It has yet to be determined where the brooch may have been made.[6] Also yet to be determined is whether the young woman belonged to the local Saxon Gewisse tribe.[6] She was about 25 years old when she died,[4] [6] and shortly after her grave was discovered an osteologist said that her skeleton would be examined to try to determine her cause of death.[4]

Parish church

The village had a parish church by the Domesday Book in 1086. The earliest part of the present Church of England parish church of Saint James the Great is the nave, built about 1150. The north tower was added later in the 12th century and the south transept is 13th-century. In the 14th century, the nave was lengthened westward and the south arcade and aisle were added. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century. In the 19th century the church was restored, the nave was increased in height with a clerestory, and the south porch was added. The church is a Grade II* listed building.

The tower has a ring of six bells.[7] Abraham I Rudhall of Gloucester[8] cast five of them in 1702,[7] but Charles and George Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry[8] cast the other in 1856.[7] St. James' has a Sanctus bell that Robert I Wells of Aldbourne,[8] Wiltshire cast in about 1760.[7] There is another small bell that Charles and George Mears cast in 1858, but this is currently unused.[7] The parish is now part of the Benefice of Vale and the parishes of Denchworth, East Challow and Grove.[9] A Georgian rectory was completed in 1724. It is now West Hanney House.

Amenities

West Hanney has a thatched, timber-framed pub, The Plough, which was probably built in the 17th century. It is a free house, and in June 2015 it was bought by a body of villagers, who had it refurbished as a community pub.[10] West Hanney had another pub called The Lamb, which ceased trading in 2008. It reopened in 2011 as the Hanney Spice Indian restaurant and take-away.[11]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Area: West Hanney (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics . . . 18 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Saxon Grave . Welch . Peter . 2009 . 5 October 2011 . Weekend Wanderers Detecting Club . — detailed photographic report on the excavation
  3. Web site: Ancient skull unearthed on farm . 21 September 2009 . 5 October 2011 . . BBC Online.
  4. News: Archaeologists reveal secrets of Saxon burial grave at West Hanney . . 24 September 2009 . 5 October 2011.
  5. Web site: 8. The West Hanney Saxon Skull and Brooch . September 2009 . 5 October 2011 . Treasure Island — the best archaeological finds in Britain . The Independent.
  6. Web site: Open day to feature Anglo-Saxon brooch . 3 October 2011 . 5 October 2011 . News . Oxfordshire County Council.
  7. Web site: W Hanney S James Gt . Davies . Peter . 3 May 2011 . . . 7 October 2011.
  8. Web site: Bell Founders . Dovemaster . 25 June 2010 . Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers . Central Council of Church Bell Ringers . 7 October 2011.
  9. Web site: Benefice of Vale . Archbishops' Council . Archbishops' Council . . . 18 September 2015.
  10. http://www.hanneycommunitypub.co.uk/ Hanney Community Pub Ltd
  11. http://www.hanneyspice.co.uk/ Hanney Spice