Wykham

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are uncertain remains

NameWykham
Alternative NamesWickham Park
Historic CountryOxfordshire
Modern AuthorityOxfordshire
1974 AuthorityOxfordshire
Civil ParishBanbury

Licence to crenellate issued to Robert de Arden, in 1330, for Wykham Oxfordshire. Presumably this is Wykham Park near Banbury. The current house, used as a school, is mainly C17 with some early parts.

Wickham was held by tenants for military service at an early date. In 1279 it was held of the bishop for the service of 1 knight's fee, suit of court at Banbury, and 40 days' duty at Banbury castle in time of war. ... Robert de Wykeham who was lord in 1279 is probably identifiable with Robert de Wykeham who in 1316 held Swalcliffe and Wickham jointly with Simon Danvers. This joint tenure may be early evidence of the division which appears in the manor soon afterwards. At his death in 1331 John of Bloxham held ½ knight's fee in Wickham, his heir being his brother William, son of Robert Hikeman of Bloxham, who was over 60 years old. This family does not appear again in connexion with Wickham, and its share was probably merged with that of the Ardens who held the other half of Wickham. Possibly Sir Robert Wykeham granted half to the Ardens along with Swalcliffe manor in 1323, to solve his financial difficulties. Sir Robert Arden was granted free warren in Wickham in 1327; on his death in 1331 the marriage of his son and heir Giles and the custody of his lands was granted to Nicole, his relict, who married Sir Thomas Wale. Wickham then became the subject, along with Swalcliffe and other Arden lands, of a prolonged law-suit between the Wale family and Elizabeth Wykeham, relict of Sir Robert Wykeham, who attempted to recover her husband's property. The Wykehams were finally successful and in 1346 Sir Robert Wykeham was returned as lord of Wickham. ... No trace survives of the medieval manor-house which Robert Arden was licensed to crenellate in 1330. According to Beesley the house contained a chapel from which the Dashwoods recovered armorial glass, placing it in the chancel of Kirtlington church. (VCH)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP440378
Latitude52.037181854248
Longitude-1.35859000682831
Eastings444080
Northings237830
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 211
  • Crossley, Alan (ed), 1972, VCH Oxfordshire Vol. 10 p. 47 online transcription
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 409 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1853, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 2 p. 268 online copy
  • Beesley, A., 1841, History of Banbury p. 107, 160-1, 349
  • Skelton, J., 1823, History of Oxfordshire, Banbury Hundred p. 6

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1891, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1327-30) Vol. 1 p. 515 online copy