Published histories of Deddington include:
- Early Victorian Deddington, as observed by William Cotton Risley, Vicar of
Deddington 1836 - 1848 by
Geoffrey Smedley-Stevenson. This book contains selected extracts from
his diaries for his years as vicar and magistrate in the parish. It was
published by the Banbury Historical Society as an illustrated 320 page
edition (Volume 29, 2007) in July 2007 (ISBN: 978 0 900129 27 8) and
can be obtained via Banbury Museum. The original diaries are held in the Bodleian Museum in Oxford.
- Historical Notices of the Parish of Deddington by E Marshal published by North Oxon Archaeological Society 1878.
- A Supplement to Marshall's Deddington by W Wing reprinted from the Oxford Chronicle 1879.
- The Story of Deddington by Mary Vane Turner, 1933. A facsimile version of this book - long out of print - has been produced by the Deddington & District History Society with a new introduction for £9.00 per copy. Copies can be purchased from the Deddington Library for personal callers, or if you would like a copy by post, then please email for further details.
- A History of Deddington, Oxfordshire by H.M.Colvin, 1963. A copy is available in Deddington library and second hand copies can occasionally be found for sale on the internet.
- Historic Towns in Oxfordshire - a survey of the New County edited by K Rodwell and published by the Oxfordshire Archaelological Unit, 1975, contains a chapter on Deddington. A copy is held in the library.
- A History of the County of Oxford Volume 11, 1983, by Alan Crossley (editor), A P Baggs, Christina Colvin, H M Colvin, Janet Cooper, C J Day, Nesta Selwyn and A Tomkinson includes a chapter about Deddington. This volume can now be read at the British History onLine website.
- Matthew Bishop of Deddington in Oxfordshire - A forgotten voice from the 18th century. This is a fascinating account by Brian Carter (ex Deddington resident)of a previously unknown Deddington resident as recounted in a book Mathew Bishop wrote about his life as an adventurer in the army and navy. The book itself can be read at the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies and follow the link above for more information on Brian's booklet.
- Cardinal Newman - used to walk from Oxford to Deddington to preach. Brian Carter has also published a booklet about him details of which can be found via the link.
- Printers and Publishers in Deddington 1840 - 2004 This is another booklet by Brian Carter available from Deddington Library.
- Traditional Domestic Architecture of the Banbury Region, by RB Wood Jones, Manchester University Press, 1963. This book is an excellent guide to the local vernacular and is referred to several times within this site as a source of information about Deddington houses such as Leaden Porch. A copy is held in the Oxfordshire Records Office.
- The Deddington News has been published monthly ever since 1976 and contains a wealth of stories and information about contemporary Deddington with lots of well researched articles about the past. Editions from 1976 to 2001 can be found in the archive whereas later editions can be found on the Deddington News website itself.
- Deddington Online - we recommend you browse our History index and the Articles and People sections in particular.
- Links to other Oxfordshire history societies - which may well have published information of interest and relevance to Deddington - can be followed here
A very brief history of Deddington drawing on the above sources:
The parish probably became a settlement in the 6th to 7th century and its name stems from the "tun" (inclosure or village) of Daeda. By 1086 it was one of the most valuable settlements in the county (belonging to Odo of Bayeux, half-brother to William the Conqueror) and, shortly after, acquired a substantial castle. Development in Anglo-Saxon times appears to have been on the east side of the present village, near the castle. Later, in the 12th century, the areas around the Market Place and main street were laid out in a much more regular fashion as a market town.
In 1275 Deddington was a Parliamentary borough and in 1316 returned two Members to Parliament. In these terms, this was the pinnacle of the importance of Deddington. The main reasons for its decline were its proximity to Banbury and its geography. Even in the 12th century Banbury was beginning to outstrip Deddington in size and prosperity. Nevertheless, because of its extensive and productive agricultural land and its site on the road network, it maintained a fairly large population for the next few centuries because Deddington lies at the junction of major east-west and north-south roads. The existing A4260 (Banbury to Oxford) and B4031 (Buckingham to Chipping Norton) became turnpike roads in the 18th century, the former in 1755, the latter in 1768.
However, in the wider context, Deddington was largely by-passed by the Industrial Revolution. Being on relatively higher ground, the crucial freight routes - the Oxford canal and the Great Western railway - were built along the Cherwell valley two miles away; they passed through Banbury which consequently grew rapidly. Deddington failed to acquire an industrial base and this, together with agricultural depression led to a rapid decrease in the population from about 2000 in 1880, to 1490 in 1901. In the early 20th century the village was "not merely decayed but positively bleak and forlorn, wearing a mean and hungry look" (H.A.Evans, Highways and Byways in Oxon and Cotswolds, p.57-9). However, unlike many rural villages in these times, Deddington did not go into complete decline. It was a centre for the local area, providing a market, a postal service and regular transport to Banbury and Oxford. Importantly, it was also the centre of a rural deanery and the meeting place for the local magistracy. The presence of these institutions encouraged the settlement of professional people such as solicitors, doctors and clergymen.
In the last 40 years or so Deddington has begun to prosper again, mainly through the influx of retired professional people and commuters who appreciate the delightful environment and its convenient position for travelling. In relatively modern times the increased importance of traffic led the A4260 to become the principal street. Interestingly, whereas 200 years ago the stagecoach would turn off into one of the inns in the centre of the old town, the long-distance car driver of today is probably unaware of the existence of the market place and the other features of a medieval village.
If you would like to explore Deddington today, we have a virtual walk for you to take.