Moreton-in-Marsh Moreton-in-Marsh the Name A market town and parish in the upper division of the hundred of WESTMINSTER, county of GLOUCESTERSHIRE, - (1831 Topographical Index of England). The earliest signs of a settlement around Moreton dates back to 1st century Roman earthworks predating the Fosse Way, the Roman road that runs through the centre of Moreton-in-Marsh. The town is of Saxon origin and is over 1000 years old, the name Moreton meaning 'Moorland Settlement, and the much misunderstood 'in Marsh' originally being 'Henmarsh' - boggy land where wild birds were to be had. *Gloucestershire 1730 Magna Britannia: Moreton-Hendmarsh, a small Market Town, and Parish consisting most of pasture, the Evenlode running on the borders of it. It had a Market in the Reign of K. Henry III. but has long been disused. It lies in the great Road from London to Worcester, and the Roman Fosse-way passeth thro' it. About a Mile from hence in the London Road, are four shires Stones, where the four Counties of Glocester, Oxford, Worcester and Warwick meet and join. Ansfred of Cormeille held this Manor in the Conqueror's Reign, and it continued some Time in his Family; but it came to the Abbey of Westminster in King Henry III's Reign, in which it continued till the Dissolution, and then was given to the Dean and Chapter, who now enjoy it, but have leased it out to Mr. Batson of Bourton-on-the-Hill, who is the present Lord of it. The Church is a Chapel of Ease to Bourton, and is supplied by the same Minister, dedicated to St. David, the Patron of the Welsh Nation, who is said to have lived 147 years, and done many Miracles; but has a Right of Burial granted to it by Pope Julius in 1512. The building is small, but has a North Ile, and a Tower at the West End, with Battlements. There are several Inscriptions in it for the Creswick's Family, and besides some small Gifts to the Poor, they have a Stock of £60 to set the Poor on Work, given by several Persons. *Courtesy of Rod Neep and the Archive CD Books Project Moreton-in-Marsh Before the Norman Conquest, Moreton-in-Marsh was owned by the Earls of Mercia. In the Domesday Book it is shown as belonging to Westminster Abbey. The Churches St. David's church Rebuilt in 1859 replacing a smaller church of the same name dating to the thirteenth century. The Congregational church Built in 1860-61 by C. M. Gore in Oxford Street. First Minister was the Reverend Mann. Knight's Fees There were Knight's Fees held, one at Moreton Hen Marsh and one at Batsford by James de Solers under Margaret De Stokes, 20 Henry III (1236). Margaret descended from Ansfried De Cormeilles. The Fosseway Roman Road Runs through the heart of Moreton-in-Marsh Early Railway One of the earliest railways in the country, the Stratford-Moreton tramway opened in 1826. The main line between London, Oxford and Worcester followed in 1853. Four Shire Stone A Cotswold stone pillar erected two miles from Moreton-in-Marsh. It marked the "coming ttogether" of the four counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Unfortunately county boundaries have changed over time. The Curfew Bell The original curfew bell, dated 1633, still hanging in its tower, the curfew hall, on the corner of Oxford Street, the bell was used daily until 1860 and after in times of emergency for the fire brigade. Chastleton House A fine Jacobean Manor house with its original furniture still intact and now run by the National Trust.  Inns of Moreton White Hart (Royal) Hotel - High Street. This Inn was originally a 16th Century Coaching Inn, and once provided peaceful refuge for Charles I, in the summer of 1644 during the Civil War. Although the Inn is said to have an inscription which dates its construction to over 100 years later. Several reports of a ghostly male figure, and various unaccountable noises. 1856 R. King 1885 Herbert James Berry 1891 Joseph Allan Hathaway. Alehouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1903 John Brown. Alehouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1906,1919 John Brown 1927 Mark Pearce Batsford Park visited by George VI when he inspected the Green Howards in Moreton High Street before their embarkation to France in 1940. At one point there were 18 Public Houses and Hotels in Moreton The Green Close The Plough Inn - also known as the Packhouse Inn The Rising Sun - west side of High Street (now private residence - the Limes) 1839-1863 Robert Walker The Golden Gallon - High Street (private residence) 1851,1858 Thomas Butler 1891 George Groves. Beerhouse. Lardner & Sons, Little Compton ( John Mace Phillips) The Foresters Arms - High Street (closed 1921) 1891 Rosannah Wilkins. Beerhouse. Henry L. Barker, Stow Brewery (owned Miss Davis) 1903 William Alexander the Elder. Beerhouse. Edward Augustus Green, Stow Brewery 1921 George Henry Smith The Fox Inn - The White Lion - High Street (closed during World War One) 1830 Thomas Horne 1856 Jane Cambray (Mrs) 1885 Owen James Coppage 1891 Owen James Coppage. Alehouse. Dunnell & Sons, Banbury (owner Charles Horne) 1903 Owen James Coppage. Alehouse. Dunnell & Sons, Banbury (owner Charles Horne) 1906 Harry G.W. Hemming The Queen's Head - 1891 Frederick Horne (owner). Alehouse. Free from brewery tie 1903 A.F., J.N., E.C., & H.E. Horne (owners). Alehouse. Free from brewery tie 1903 Arthur Fredk. Horne, John Nicholson Horne, Edgar Chas. Horne, Harold Ewart Horne The Star The Green Dragon The Crown - near Curfew Tower (closed in 1921) 1856 Henry Wells 1863 Edwin Wood 1879,1885 Thomas Lamb 1891 Elizabeth Lamb. Alehouse. Hitchman & Co., Chipping Norton 1902 Allan Robert Holbeach 1903 Allan Robert Holbeach. Alehouse. Hitchman & Co., Chipping Norton 1906 Allan Robert Holbeach 1914 Harry Ernest Wood 1921 Albert Edmunds The Railway Inn - New Street (closed 1967) 1863 Jesse Timms 1876 J.A. Bayliss 1879 Charles Milton 1891 Charles Milton. Alehouse. Henry Lardner & Sons, Little Compton 1903 John Hicks. Alehouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1907,1929 Thomas Hicks (died October 1929) 1929 Mrs Thomas Hicks (died August 1937) 1937 Frederick Hicks (died October 1962, aged 64) 1962,1967 Henrietta Hicks The Chair The chair in which King Charles I sat at his trial in 1649, was left to Moreton-in-Marsh Hospital by Dr. Sands-Cox in 1875. The chair was sold to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1928 for £550. The Redesdale Hall or Market Hall Dates to the mid 19th century The Manor House Hotel - dates to 1658 - Believed to be haunted by Dame Creswycke The Redesdale Arms Hotel (formerly the Unicorn) - known for ghostly footsteps High Street. 1671 William Nicholls (Unicorn Inn) 1698 Laurence Ratliffe (Unicorn Inn) 1782 Richard Phipps (Unicorn Inn) 1815 George Phipps (Unicorn Inn) 1850 Richard Keyte (Unicorn Inn) 1856 George Wells (Unicorn Inn) 1876 David Wootten (Unicorn Inn) 1879, 1885 Joseph Allen Hathaway (Unicorn Inn) 1886 Redesdale Arms 1891 Frederick Tanner (owner, died Nov. 1893 aged 43). Alehouse. Free from brewery tie 1903 Ann Tanner. Alehouse. Hitchman & Co., Chipping Norton 1903-1935 Ann Tanner (died June 1935, aged 86) 1935-1951 Olive Tanner 1951-1957 Mr and Mrs Mick 'Dixie' Dean 1957-1972 John Oldrey 1973 Crest Hotels 1981 Hugh Ross Corbett 1983 Mr and Mrs R. Jewell 1985 Michael Elvis and Patricia Seedhouse 1990 County Inns. 1995 Nick Clarke (manager) The Bell Inn - High Street (still trading) 1856 W.J. Drury 1885 James Kempson 1891 James Kempson. Alehouse. William Turner 1902 James Kempson 1903 Alfred Edward Taylor. Alehouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1906,1919 Alfred Edward Taylor 1927 Maude Sansom (Mrs) The Black Bear Inn High Street (still trading) Supposedly had a poltergeist called Fred. 1856 J. Newman 1885 Robert Stanley 1891 Isaac Union. Alehouse. Richard Iles Arkell, Donnington Brewery 1903 Mary Union. Alehouse. Richard Iles Arkell, Donnington Brewery 1906 Mary Union (Mrs) 1919 Henry Golding 1927 Isaac Harris The Swan Inn - High Street (still trading) 1859 Emmanuel Slatter 1885 Joseph Octavius Gillett 1891 Charles O. Eeles. Alehouse. Tayler & Co, Cotswold Brewery, Northleach 1902 Frederick Baguley 1903 Frederick Baguley. Alehouse. Tayler & Co, Cotswold Brewery, The White Horse Inn - Stow Road (still licensed and trading as the Inn on the Marsh) 1891 George Bumford. Beerhouse. Henry Lardner & Sons, Little Compton 1903 John Henry Tarplett. Beerhouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1906,1939 John Henry Tarplett 1997 (April) Richard and Catherine Prince. Marston's Brewery, Burton on Trent 1997 (Nov.) Wayne and Kim Brannagh The Wellington Inn - London Road (still trading; Hook Norton Brewery tied house) 1891 Reuben Webb. Beerhouse. Henry Larner & Sons, Little Compton 1903 Ellen Poole. Beerhouse. Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon 1939 Harry Commander Northleach - 1919 Charles Jeffrey 1927 Charles Pegler 1939 Charles Humphrey Pegler 1999 Bernard Edgeworth Various sources plus the Gloucestershire Pubs web site: http://www.gloucestershire pubs.co.uk/ pub%20list/index.htm The Schools A national school was endowed in 1813, with £4,000, by Lord Redesdale and Dr. Winford - with about 100 children of both sexes. There is likewise a free school for the children of dissenters, having about 30 boys on the foundation. (1831 Typographical Index of England). The Charter The Abbot secured a charter for Moreton in1227 to have a weekly market and in 1267 for a fair. A new Charter was granted by Charles I in 1638