CLIFTON HAMPDEN, OXFORDSHIRE

Grid Ref: SU 547 956
Date: 12 & 17 April 2008

Clifton Hampden lies on the Thames, south east of Abingdon. It is in a good location for walking the Thames Path.

The church of St. Michael and All Angels stands on a promontory overlooking the river, well above the flood plain, a tribute to the wisdom of the builders. The oldest part of the church is the south aisle with its three cylindrical piers from the time of the anarchy when King Stephen (1133-1154) battled for supremacy over the Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. Her second marriage was to Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou by whom she had a son Henry. Stephen was grandson of William I by his daughter, Adela. Eventually Stephenand Matilda agreed that he would reign until his death and be succeeded by Matilda's son as Henry II. The north arcade is from the period of Edward III, 1327-77. There is also a Norman piscina and a 12th century carving of a boar hunt. However, most of the church was rebuilt by George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century. Fragments of glass from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries have been used to make two windows in 1993.


Cottage for holiday let		Plough Inn

St. Michael & All Angels		Round piers in the south aisle

Window made from ancient glass		Sedilia

Cross roads		Bridge over the Thames