In today's world, Ewelme is a topic of great relevance and interest to society. From its impacts on people's daily lives, to its influence on the economy and politics, Ewelme has sparked a global debate about its implications and possible solutions. In this article, we will explore the different facets of Ewelme, analyzing its origin, evolution and future prospects. From its impact on mental health to its role in contemporary society, Ewelme has become an inevitably present topic in our lives, generating reflections and discussions that seek to understand its scope and consequences. Through an exhaustive analysis, this article seeks to shed light on Ewelme and offer a panoramic view that allows us to understand its importance in the current context.
This article is about the village in Oxfordshire. For the River Ewelme in Gloucestershire, see River Cam, Gloucestershire.
The toponym is derived from Ae-whylme, Old English for "waters whelming". It refers to the spring just north of the village, which forms the King's Pool that feeds the Ewelme Brook. The brook flows past Fifield Manor and then through nearby Benson before joining the River Thames. It formed the basis of Ewelme's watercress beds, which provided much local employment until well into the 20th century. Before the inclosure in 1863, there was no clear boundary between the parishes of Ewelme, Benson and Berrick Salome where they shared large open fields. Ewelme Parish was within the Hundred of Benson in 1086, later renamed the Hundred of Ewelme.
Ewelme School is said to be the oldest school building in the UK still in use as a local authority school.Cynthia Harnett featured the school and church prominently in her children's novel The Writing on the Hearth: the action in the book is set around the time the school was built.
The almshouses are officially called "The Two Chaplains and Thirteen Poor Men of Ewelme in the County of Oxford". There were originally thirteen almsmen; as of 2020 the charitable trust runs 23 homes for men and women, in Ewelme and in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire.
Thomas Chaucer, who died in 1434, his wife Matilda, and their daughter, Alice de la Pole, Duchess of Suffolk, are buried in the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin adjoining the almshouses. The tomb chest of Thomas and that of his wife Matilda Burghersh are topped with memorial brasses showing him in plate armour and her in mantle, veil and wimple with their respective crests (his a unicorn and hers a lion) at their feet. Alice's alabaster tomb, almost undamaged by time, consists of a canopy of panelled stone, below which is the recumbent effigy of the Duchess on top of the tomb chest which contains her remains; the space beneath the chest encloses her sculpted cadaver, which is viewed through elaborate reticulated arches. Her effigy was examined by Queen Victoria's commissioners in order to discover how a woman should wear the insignia of the Order of the Garter.
The parish church with the almshouses on the right
Amenities
The village is dominated by the nearby buildings belonging to Benson Airfield. Ewelme has a public house, the Shepherd's Hut, controlled by Greene King Brewery. The village shop is run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. Ewelme Cricket Club was founded in 1933. Since 2006 Ewelme has hosted the annual Chiltern Chase, a charity run of two multi-terrain (cross country) courses: one of 3 miles (5 km) and the other of 6 miles (10 km). Both races start and finish on Cow Common. Normally two charities benefit equally from the proceeds of the event.
Notable residents
India Hicks, British designer, businesswoman and former model lives at "America Farm".
^GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Ewelme in South Oxfordshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time. URL: http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/9651. Date accessed: 10 August 2015