Cotswold Ancestry - Burford

I have mentioned Mary Montgomery Bartholomew Carrington, my 2nd ggrandmother. Mary was the wife of William Ward Carrington. Her family history is known to a certain extent from the 1300's, with the village of Burford, England as the home of many of her ancestors.

Today I viewed some pictures that our daughter Elisabeth took on her spring trip to BWhat a treat visiting St. John the Baptist Church where the Bartholomews, influential urford, England. In 1997 I spent the day in this lovely town in the Cotswold's located 20 miles from Oxford. As no railroad ever passed through the village, industry didn't take hold and the area is much as it was in the 17th century. The two newest buildings on our visit were constructed in the 1800's.

wool merchants, attended and buried their dead. The building of the present church began in the late 1100s. Some family members were buried in the courtyard, on the south side, under 'bale Tombs.' Others were buried inside the Church, most in the Bartholomew Aisle.

The family home of Westhall Hill still overlooks Burford and has been kept in good condition and is very beautiful.

We took a bus from Queen Street in Oxford and had the driver, Tom, to ourselves. Tom lived in London and enjoyed breathing the clean air of Burford. The area was known for trading, especially in wool. Wool shrouds were required in all burials and the stone bales signify that the wool merchants also had a shroud.

We walked to the village of Fullbrook and didn't have any luck finding the stone of a Bartholomew wife buried there. The older stones were not surprisingly badly worn (14th @ 15th century).

We spent the rest of the day in Burford, at a tea shop, roaming wonderful stores, antique book stores, and museums. Tourism is important to the village. Then back to Oxford, again with just the two of us and the bus driver.

I'm writing this in hope that if any readers get a chance to visit this part of England, you'll know that this important area to our family (Carrington/Bartholomew) exists and perhaps you'll be able to visit. Cousin Gail Fischer was in the area and unfortunately wasn't aware of the history as it connected to the family. Aunt Lori and her daughters did spend some special time in Burford. The Goehrings also have visited St. Johns. Another topic to get back to.