English Heritage sites near Sparsholt Parish
UFFINGTON CASTLE - WHITE HORSE AND DRAGON HILL
3 miles from Sparsholt Parish
Three atmospheric sites lie along the Ridgeway. Uffington 'Castle' is a large Iron Age hillfort, Dragon Hill a natural mound associated in legend with St George.
WAYLAND'S SMITHY
4 miles from Sparsholt Parish
A fine and atmospheric Neolithic chambered long barrow 2km (11/4 miles) along the Ridgeway from the Uffington White Horse: it was once believed to be the habitation of the Saxon smith-god Wayland.
ABINGDON COUNTY HALL MUSEUM
12 miles from Sparsholt Parish
This splendid 17th century Baroque building housed a courtroom for assizes, raised on arches over a market space. It now houses the Abingdon Museum.
DONNINGTON CASTLE
14 miles from Sparsholt Parish
The striking twin-towered 14th-century gatehouse of this castle, later the focus of a Civil War siege and battle, survives amid impressive earthworks.
CHISBURY CHAPEL
14 miles from Sparsholt Parish
This pretty thatched and flintwalled 13th century chapel survived after the Reformation in 1547 by being used as a barn as part of Chisbury Farm.
NORTH HINKSEY CONDUIT HOUSE
14 miles from Sparsholt Parish
Roofed conduit for Oxford's first water mains, constructed during the early 17th century.
Churches in Sparsholt Parish
Sparsholt: Holy Cross
One of Simon Jenkins’ England’s Thousand Best Churches, the Church of the Holy Rood has Norman origins and a fine wooden steeple visible from afar. The north transept has long been demolished, but the south transept houses three rare 14th Century oak effigies. There is a fine organ.
With the assistance of English Heritage and the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, major works over the last 25 years have included the installation of french drains and a new roof, the recladding of the steeple and restoration of three principal stained glass windows.
There is much more information about the church (and about the villages of Sparsholt and Westcot) on the village website:http://www.sparsholtandwestcot.org/. Select the "Ameneties " Tab, then "Church of the Holy Rood".
Pubs in Sparsholt Parish
Star
Watery Lane, Sparsholt, OX12 9PL
(01235) 751873
thestarsparsholt.co.uk/