Additional information
Terrain
- Field paths and tracks, stretches of quiet road, several stiles
Landscape
- Rolling parkland and farmland on edge of Cotswolds
Dog friendliness
- Under control across farmland
Parking
- Free car park in Great Tew
Toilets en route
- None on route
About the walk
Arthur Mee, in his book The King's England – Oxfordshire, says that ‘if our England is a garden, Great Tew is one of its rare plots.’ Most would agree. The village is one of the most beautiful in Oxfordshire, a gem of a place that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Designed as an estate... village in the 19th century, with the intention of blending architectural beauty with utility and agricultural management, Great Tew went into decline in later years and virtually became derelict. However, the village has been given a new lease of life, with many of the thatched and ironstone cottages painstakingly restored, and now Great Tew is a designated Conservation Area. The origin of its name is unclear, but Tew is thought to mean ‘ridge’, of which there are a great many in the area. The village has a fascinating history. In 1036, 53 tenants lived here. By 1276 it had expanded to become a community of at least 75 households. However, the population fell during the 14th century, possibly as a result of the plague. In later years the village became closely associated with Lucius Carey, 2nd Viscount Falkland. In the 17th century, the manor of Great Tew was inherited by the Viscount, a renowned classical scholar, poet and generous host. Falkland later became Secretary of State to Charles I but was killed in 1643 aged 33, serving as an ordinary trooper in the First Battle of Newbury. A later owner, G F Stratton, who inherited Great Tew in 1800, resided in a rather modest late 17th- or early 18th-century house which stood at the southern end of the village. During the early years of the 19th century, Stratton engaged in an ill-fated experiment in estate management, drawing his inspiration from the Scottish agricultural theorist J C Loudon. The estate subsequently changed hands several times before being acquired by Matthew Robinson Boulton, son of James Watt’s partner and one of the giants of the Industrial Revolution, who had a keen eye on its sporting potential. Outlying farms were extensively rebuilt, cottages in the village were re-thatched and other features such as mullioned windows and stone door heads were added. The estate remained the home of the Boulton family for many years. Between 1914 and 1962 Great Tew was administered by trustees on behalf of two unmarried Boulton sisters, but by now the local workforce had decreased and the estate was all but abandoned. It was Major Eustace Robb, an old Etonian and descendant of the Boulton family, who moved to the village with the aim of halting its steady decline. His efforts certainly paid off. A stroll through the village today is marked by a conspicuous air of affluence, with coach parties of tourists breaking their journey here to admire one of Oxfordshire’s loveliest village attractions.
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Oxfordshire
Located at the heart of England, Oxfordshire enjoys a rich heritage and varied scenery, with Oxford’s elegant streets a highlight for visitors. The landscape encompasses open chalk downland, picturesque rivers and attractive villages, while northwest of Oxfordshire is home to the sleepy backwaters of Abingdon, Wallingford, Wantage, Watlington and Witney that reveal how Oxfordshire’s old towns evolved over the centuries.
