APPLEFORD-ON-THAMES
Although Appleford-on-Thames is close to the River Thames the big mystery for a
visitor to the village is just where is the river? There is
no obvious sign of it at all!
At the extreme south of the village is a level crossing
over the main railway line from Didcot to Oxford. However
to enter the village from the direction of Didcot you
ignore the level crossing and turn sharp right. The road
into the centre of the village from Didcot is a long straight one
with little of interest except, perhaps, the public house, The
Carpenter's Arms.
In the centre of the village the road turns left and
leaves the village over a railway bridge and past the
station. Also in the centre of the village is the start
of Church Street which leads to Manor Farm and the parish
church, the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. There are
a few interesting buildings in this road.
Historically Appleford was a place
where apples from the Harwell orchards were carried across the Thames into Oxfordshire.
(This area of Oxfordshire
was part of Berkshire until the middle of the last century.) Appleford was once a key crossing
point along the river and there was once a bridge over
the Thames here. It is also known that there was
church
(dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene) at the south side of
the bridge, as well as the present Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.
It is believed that in Saxon times
there was a church on the site of St. Peter's
and St. Paul's Church, probably founded by Saint
Birinus of Dorchester or one of his priests, although nothing remains of it today. The oldest features of the present Grade II listed building
date from the Twelfth Century when the nave was rebuilt. The chancel was rebuilt in the Thirteenth century. For the history and full information about St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church click here.
Appleford-on-Thames is north
of Didcot and west of Sutton
Courtenay on the B4016.
