Postlecumbe 1246/7 Ass
Postercumbe 1246/7 Ass
Postelcumbe, Postlecumb 1278/9 RH
Postelcombe 1327–77,1348 AD 1415 Bodl(Barrett)
Postelecombe 1355 Ipm Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem (Public Record Office), in progress.
Postcombe early-18thC ParColl
OS Map of Oxford County Surveyed by a Local man, Richard Davis of Lewknor & Published in 1797. This large Map consists of 16-Sheets at an impressively detailed scale of 1:31,680 or 2-ins to 1-mile. No more than 200-Copies were ever made, evidence being based on all Sets of the Map having Manuscript Serial No.s – this Image is part of No.34. Very few complete Copies survive. In terms of what the Map shows, a clear break has been made from the Christopher Saxton-led Traditional County Map, as here far more detail than previously is featured. Not only are County & Hundred Boundaries, Rivers & Streams, Towns & Villages, Parks & Woodland depicted, but here we have Roads, Tracks, Hedges, indeed every Field can be seen & relief is beautifully represented by the use of hachures. Davis was also Topographer to His Majesty, George III.
Postcombe is on the A40 about 4-miles South of Thame & about 3.5-miles South-east of the Village of Tetsworth & a similar distance North of Junction – of the M40 Motorway. This Stretch of the A40 runs close to & parallel with the Motorway.
Postcombe, a Division of the Parish of Lewknor, was called “Postelcumbe” in 1279. Roads from Oxford & Thame converge there to form the London Road. It had both a Pound & an Ancient Cross called in 1348 “Postelcombe Crouch“. The Hamlet had 3-Fields, known in the 18thC as Home or Middle Field, Windmill or Coppe Field & the Road Field or Lower Field. In 1971–73 the M40 Archaeological Research Group excavating a Site at Postcombe found 3-Saxon Graves, one of which was of a Child. A Bronze Buckle in one of the Graves dated the Burials to the 7thC.
Postcombe, too, had another other Inn, the ‘Feathers‘, so called at least from 1734; it was a smaller place than Lewknor, having but 10-Houses listed for the Hearth tax of 1662 when Lewknor had 43 (more specifically described a Century later as 7 Farmhouses & 38-Cottages) & some of these were in Adwell Parish. But it was growing during the 17thC & 2 of its Brick-built Farmhouses, Adwell & Poplar Farms, belong in part to that Period. By 1768 there were 5-Farmhouses & 18-Cottages at Postcombe. During the next 100-yrs Postcombe & Lewknor nearly doubled their size, for in 1861 their Houses numbered 127. By 1901 the Figure had dropped to 102. Many well-built Cottages & small Houses were put up during this Period: they are mostly of Flint with Red Brick facings; some belonged to the Squire & are marked with the letters ‘J‘ for Sir Edward Jodrell & ‘W‘ for Major Timothy White. The Bullingdon RDC was now (1958) bringing Mains Water to the Village, which hitherto has mainly had to depend on Well Water, though some Houses were Supplied from Watlington. There was a combined Post Office & General Store, another General Shop & a Garage.
Adwell also had detached Land in Postcombe Field, lying partly to the East on the Aston Rowant Boundary & partly in the North of the Township, though most of Postcombe was in Lewknor Parish. There is evidence that Medieval Tenants Held acres both in Adwell Field & in Postcombe Field, that Tithe was paid to the Rector of Adwell on Land in both Fields & that the Glebe was dispersed in both.
Civil War
Leaving Oxford on 17th June 1643, the 6ft-4in now 24-yr-old Prince Rupert marched with a Force of 1,100 Horse, 500 Infantry & 350 Dragoons across the Chislehampton Bridge across the River Thame. Early next morning, the Royalists Stormed Roundhead Garrisons at Postcombe & Chinnor, killing about 50-men & leaving both Villages in Flames. Rupert hurried on hoping to surprise the Pay Convoy, but its Escort was warned of his Approach & the Wagons were hidden in Woodland. Unable to find his Quarry, Rupert withdrew in Good Order towards Oxford. Although he ‘Missed‘ the Parliamentarian Payroll, Rupert was highly successful in disordering 2–Parliamentarian Quarters at Chinnor & South Weston, capturing or killing 170-Enemy Troops & easily outwitting & out-Manoeuvring his Enemies at Chalgrove.
The Road from Thame to the Oxford Road between Tetsworth & Postcombe was Turnpiked in 1785 with a Gate at Brick Kiln Lane (Park Street) at which the receipts in 1802 were £194.
Thame to Postcombe Turnpike Trust 1785
Thame Park Turnpike Road – Thame to Postcombe
Tollgates at Thame Brick-Kiln Gate & Chinnor Side Gate & Attington: Principal Road in the 18thC ran along the High Street of the Town, skirted Thame Park & passed through Attington before joining the London Road 3-miles to the South of Thame at Postcombe. The 3rd Turnpike is labelled ‘Thame TB‘ and sat outside the old Police Station opposite the Falcon Pub. Note however that in 1823 neither the Old Police Station nor the Falcon had been Built & there were no Houses in Chinnor Road.
Later evidence shows that Adwell’s Tithes, Church Land & Glebe lay in the Townships of Adwell & Postcombe & Miles Crispin was Lord both of Adwell & of part of Postcombe. On account of this Ancient Arrangement Adwell Parish, a Rectory in Aston Deanery, included part of Postcombe, the rest being in Lewknor Parish. In 1768 the Incumbent reported that 2-Houses in Postcombe were in Adwell Parish & early in the 19thC most of Adwell‘s Parishioners were said to Live there. In 1841 a Farmhouse (Adwell Farm) & 6 out of 33–Postcombe Cottages were in Adwell. Strips in Postcombe Fields also belonged to Adwell until an Exchange was made by the Inclosure Award of 1815. Postcombe Lay much nearer to Adwell Church than to its Parish Church of Lewknor & in the 19thC, at any rate, Postcombe people often went to Church at Adwell. In 1881 Houses in Postcombe still formed part of Adwell Parish, but by 1931 this was no longer the case.
In 1854 Adwell Children were attending the Sunday School at Postcombe. A Day School for 10-children was set up in 1829 & was supported by the children’s Parents. This was presumably the ‘Dame School‘ with about 10-children which was reported in 1834 & 1854. There is no later mention of a Village School. In 1871 the children went to the National School in Lewknor or to a School at Tetsworth, & they continued to attend Schools in these Parishes in the late 19th & early-20thC. In 1958 Primary School children went to Lewknor & Secondary children to the Icknield Secondary School, Watlington.
Until the Lewknor Inclosure Award of 1815 part of Adwell’s Land Lay scattered in Postcombe Field. By the Award the Boundary between Lewknor, in which Postcombe Township Lay & Adwell was defined: it was the Main London Road from Tetsworth Lane and then the Road to South Weston, in fact the old Boundary between Postcombe Township & Adwell. The Cottages, Gardens & old Inclosures in Postcombe belonging to Adwell Manor were left in the Parish of Adwell. Adwell Farm in Postcombe was, therefore, a detached part of the Parish until 1882, when it was transferred to Lewknor. The Postcombe portion of it comprised the Farmhouse, Buildings & 9-acres. A recent Boundary change has reduced Adwell to 340-acres, for in 1953 Lewknor received another 94-acres, lying just North of the Road from Postcombe to South Weston. This last Road formed the Southern Boundary of the Ancient Parish. The London Road, running from Northwest to North-east, separated it from Postcombe & Lewknor & a small Stream, a tributary of a Feeder of the River Thame, formed the Northern & part of the North-west Boundary. In the South-west, an Artificially made Boundary divided it from Wheatfield & South Weston.
Postcombe Stud – Chalford Road OX9 7EB: Livery includes well-ventilated Barn Stables, and well-maintained Post & Rail grazing Paddocks which are reinforced by Electric Tape. Inclusive use of Menage, Horse Walker & Lunge Pen. Includes a range of other Facilities & Services such as a Wash Bay, Tie up Stalls, Lessons & Education for both Horse & Rider. All accompanied with great Hacking Routes & Bridle Ways. Mr Guillaume Godts Contact Number: 0799 998 5142
The French Cob is a very rare Horse Breed which is also identified as the “Cob Normande”. This Breed typically pulls Grand Carriages & participates in simple Farm Work. Although a rare breed, the French Cob is a Horse with very good body structure. The French Cob is usually Bay or Gray. It has a Heavy Body with a Chest that is Deep. Its Hps are also bulky & broad. The Bane and Tail has long & luscious Hair. The body type is fit for Draught & Riding. It is a large horse which usually stands 15.3 to 16.3 Hand high (61-65 inches, 1550-1650mm. The French Cob is usually a very Calm animal. It is easy to control and very submissive, but is usually lively & has a magnificent Gait. It moves like a Ballet Dancer, jumping & galloping with fine elegance. That’s why the Breed is used to pull Carriages. A French Cob defines sophistication & the power to control agility strength.
The French Cob risks becoming Extinct. These horses have been used for Riding & easy Labour. Aside from using them as a means of Transportation, they have also been used for their Meat. The French Cob produces high-quality Meat with an exquisite taste. Breeders have been developing Studs for this Horse Breed in order to preserve their Blood Line for many years to come. The French Cob is considered to be one of the oldest Horse Breeds, existing for many Centuries. Before the Breed spread through France, it was predominantly available in Normandy. That’s why these Horses have been called “Half-breeds” for years. It is quite astonishing that Breeds originating from the Norman Coach Horse have always been recognised for their ability to work with Carriages & perform Farm Work. During the reigns of Henry VIII 1509-1547 & Louis XIV 1643-1715 they were crossed with Arabian & Norfolk Trotter Bloodlines. This produced Sports Horses of great agility & endurance.
Breed Standard
The Head: The head should be well proportioned similar to that of a Selle Francais. Wide nostrils, small ears& a straight or convex facial profile.
The Neck; Thick, muscular and arched.
The Shoulders; Broad & angled.
The Frame: The Chest must be deep, with the Withers pronounced. The Body is compact with a short, strong Back. The Croup is Muscular with sloping Hindquarters similar in appearance to a Thoroughbred.
The Legs: Muscular, strong with solid bone, but far finer in appearance to that of a Draught Horse.
The Feet: Wide, round with strong & often capable of going unshod.
Acceptable colours; Chestnut, Bay or Seal Brown Black (Pangre Noir)
Height: A mid-sized horse that stands between 15.1hh and 16.3hh
Weight: Between 550kgs and 900kgs.
They often have copious Manes & Tails with Leg Feathering, similar to the Clydesdale or Shire horse. The Gypsy Vanner, Norman, or French Cob & the similar Breton Horse, also from France, are Draught Breeds of the Cob Type.
The Galineers Cob, also referred to as the Gypsy Cob, Gypsy Vannner & Galineers Cob Pony, traces its Roots to the picturesque Landscapes of Galinee, a region in the Brittany province of Northwestern France. The Breed’s origins can be traced back several centuries, where it was selectively bred by local farmers and villagers to create a sturdy, all-purpose equine capable of assisting with various tasks. Petite & Powerful.
Pet Paddock dog walking &exercise field in Postcombe is a place where dogs can just be dogs.
Ideal for dogs with recall or temperament issues, our two-acre field provides a safe, private area, where they can walk, run and play, without a muzzle or lead. We understand how difficult it can be walking a dog in public places, especially if they can be a bit unruly but at our field you don’t have to worry about a thing! Surrounded by a 6-foot fence on all sides, your dog can just be itself and you can rest assured that they will be safe and happy.
Pet Paddock is beautiful as well as functional, surrounded by trees and fantastic views. Parking is provided.
Rental of our Field is available in hour & half-hour slots, seven days a week, from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm.
*One car/four dogs max (council regs); please take any litter and/or dog mess away with you.
Highfield, Lower Road, Postcombe , Oxfordshire , OX9 7D enquiries@petpaddock.com
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 