| The village
of Water Stratford is situated on an old Roman road and slopes down towards
the banks of the River Great Ouse. Its history can be traced back
to before the Norman Conquest, when the manor was held by Azor, son of
Tote. The Norman Conqueror gave “Staldfod” to the D’Oyleys, and they
gave part of it to the Abbey of Oseney. For a time after this the
owners of the remaining part took their names from the place; then in Edward
III’s reign it belonged to the Giffards, and afterwards successively to
the families of Barton, Fowler, Franky, Egerley, Winford and Hayes.
Some of Water Stratford had been given to Luffield Priory and this was transferred to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster, who had right of presentation to the church until the dissolution of religious houses at the Reformation; then this land, together with that which had been given to Oseney Abbey, was transferred to the Dean and Chapter of Oxford. The lands were afterwards acquired by the Throckmorton and Temple families and descended to the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos, who were Lords of the Manor and Patrons of the Rectory. |
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