Woodeaton

If the tiny village of Woodeaton did not have a parish church it would be looked upon as a small hamlet. However it does have a church so it qualifies to be included here as a village. Woodeaton lies about 4 miles north east of the city of Oxford just off the B4027 Forest Hill to Islip road.

The village is home to Woodeaton Manor School, a secondary school with day/residential provision, which offers a therapeutic and nurturing environment for pupils who have emotional and social difficulties.

The village church is the small, largely unrenovated, medieval Church of the Holy Rood. The church has a rare medieval wall painting which depicts St Christopher carrying the Christ Child across a stream, and also a minstrel's gallery. A 'rood' is a cross or crucifix, especially a large one in a church.

At the centre of the village, by the village green, are the remains of a 13th century Early English style stone cross, and opposite is a structure which reminds me somewhat of a typical pele tower of the type found in Northumberland and Cumbria.