Swalcliffe

"SWALCLIFFE, a parish in the hundreds of Banbury, Bloxham, and Dorchester, county Oxford, 5.5 miles S.W. of Banbury, and 23 N.W. of Oxford. The parish, which is large, includes the chapelries of Epwell, Shutford, and Sibford-Ferris. The Warwickshire hounds meet in this parish. In the vicinity is Madmason camp. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Canterbury, value £292. The church is dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul. There are chapels-of-ease at Epwell and East Shutford, and a district church at Sibford. The parochial charities produce about £184 per annum."

"EPWELL, a chapelry in the parish of Swalcliffe, hundred of Banbury, county Oxford, 6 miles W. of Banbury, its post town. It is situated on the N.W. border of the county, near Broome Hill. The living is a curacy annexed to the vicarage of Swalcliffe, in the diocese of Oxford, in the patronage of New College, Oxford. The church is a small ancient edifice dedicated to St. Anne. There are charities of about £7 per annum."

"SIBFORD-GOWER and SIBFORD TERRIS [or FERRIS ?], townships in the parish of Swalcliffe, hundred of Bloxham, county Oxford, 7.5 miles S.W. of Banbury, and 24 N.W. of Oxford. These townships are situated on the borders of Warwickshire, and are wholly agricultural. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Oxford, value £235, in the patronage of New College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was erected in 1840. The parochial charities produce about £135 per annum, of which £30 go to the free school. There are places of worship for the Wesleyans and the Society of Friends. J. H. Sheldon, Esq., is lord of the manor."

[The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]