Hook Norton

Toponymy

In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in AD 922, the village is called Hocneratune. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is called Hochenartone. Other historical spellings of the name include Hocceneretune (1050), Hogenarton (1216) and Okenardton (1263). Another variation may be 'Hegnorton' as seen in 1430. The name may possibly mean 'the farmstead of the Hoccanere tribe', the supposed tribal name deriving from the personal name 'Hocca' and Old English 'ora' (hill-slope), together with 'tun', settlement.

Today the village is colloquially known to its inhabitants as "Hooky" and sometimes as "The Hook". The village is formed of four neighbourhoods: East End, Scotland End (in the west), Down End (in the centre) and Southrop (in the south).

History

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that a Viking army raided the Hook Norton area in AD 913, and the village had a parish church by AD 922. The Domesday Book records that in 1086 Hook Norton had 76 villagers and two mills. Reports of a band of villagers arming themselves and attempting to fight a Viking raiding party have also been made, supported by finds in nearby fields.

Hook Norton had a clockmaker, Thomas Webb, who maintained the turret clock at St. Giles' parish church, Wigginton from 1788 until 1834. Webb was succeeded in his trade at Hook Norton by John Paine, who maintained the clock at Wigginton from 1835 until 1855. In 1840 Paine built a new turret clock for St. George's parish church, Brailes, Warwickshire.

The former Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway, part of the Great Western Railway, served Hook Norton with a railway station at East End. British Railways closed the station in 1951 and closed the railway to all traffic in 1964. Tall stone pillars which supported two B&CDR viaducts can be seen in the valley to the south of the village.

Near Hook Norton there were several ironstone quarries, evidence of which can still be seen. The Brymbo Ironworks, opened in 1899, had its own narrow gauge railway and was connected to the B&CDR at Council Hill Sidings, 0.75 miles (1.2 km) east of Hook Norton station. The Brymbo Ironworks closed in 1946 and was dismantled in 1948.

Hook Norton Brewery has a museum that includes a section on the history of the village. The village's 18th century hand-pumped fire engine, which was in use until 1896, is preserved in St. Peter's parish church.

Notable buildings

The present Church of England parish church of Saint Peter is of Norman origin but also has Early English, Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic features. The Norman font is 11th century and is unusual in featuring pagan signs of the Zodiac. St. Peter's contains a number of Mediaeval wall paintings including saints, angels and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The church tower has a ring of eight bells. St Peter's is now the mother church of the Benefice of Hook Norton with Great Rollright, Swerford and Wigginton.

Hook Norton Baptist Church is among the oldest in Britain, having been founded 1640. Its present building is Georgian, built in 1781. Hook Norton also had a Methodist chapel, which was built in 1875.

Amenities

Hook Norton has a Church of England controlled primary school, shop, a post office and general store, a fire station crewed by retained firefighters, a GPs' practice, a dental practice, veterinary surgery, public library, a memorial village hall, a Women's Institute and a sports and social club.

Hook Norton Brewery is famous for brewing traditional real ale. Hook Norton hosts an annual music festival, Music at the Crossroads, that raises funds for many local charitable causes.

Hook Norton has three public houses, all of which belong to the Hook Norton Brewery:

Sport and leisure

Hook Norton F.C. plays in the Hellenic Football League Premier Division. Hook Norton Cricket Club plays in Oxfordshire Cricket Association Division One. Hook Norton also has a tennis club, a running club and a Multi Use Games Area whose sports include netball.