As we explained on the home page, Ettington has existed for a very long time, being both recognised as a Saxon and Roman settlement. The Shirley family, the Lords of the Manor at the time of the Domesday Book are still residents, and the ancestral home is now a quality hotel known as the Ettington Park Hotel. This residence is outside the village lying on the A3400 Oxford to Stratford upon Avon road.
Below are some photographs gathered from residents past and present which help to tell the story of the changing village.
Some of the photographs and articles have helped to bring together people who have had associations with the village and it's residents and we are happy to continue to publish photographs and articles about experiences of village life.
The help of Tony Biles in providing pictures and information is much appreciated.
Let us have your pictures and memories of Ettington past or present.
The Saracen's Head
Kevin Sparks has provided this information about the Saracen's Head, which is now his home.
We have been told that this old coaching inn has very early origins, possibly as early as the 12th century, having discovered a medieval timber frame, an early 'cobb' wall, and other historic construction methods during the restoration.
There is also a cellar, which will be excavated when funds permit and we are not sure what we are going to find, let alone where the internal point of access was, or is.
Historic registers confirm the property as a coaching inn back to the 1750's but no records exist prior to this date. It was given the name of the Saracen's Head in recognition of the Shirley Holy War history and of the Saracen's Head being dropped down the nearby well at this time.
The Shirley family owned this property and it could be that this was a coaching inn 'way' back before the 1750's when the Halford Road was part of the route from the midlands to the south.
The Heritage Connection
We received this email from Gillian Heritage:
"I have been looking at your site and was thrilled to find a photo of The Saracens Head. My great, great grandfather, Thomas Heritage, was Innkeeper there from at least 1841 to 1861 when his son took over.There were Heritages there until at least 1901. This is all I know of them. I would love to find out more. Have you any suggestions please?"
Any help for Gillian from our Ettington Historians?
The Choir 1939
What are they doing now?
Ettington Flowershow
Any suggestions of when this might have been?
Ettington Main Road
Taken from a postcard sent to his parents by Brian Wilkinson who stayed with Ernie and Miss Widdows back in 1947.
Ettington Station
Ettington Station was situated about a mile from the village on the Wellesbourne road(A429). It was on a single track between Stratford and Kineton but there were twin tracks through the station so that trains could pass. The train driver would carry a baton that allowed him to use a particular stretch of line. This would be exchanged with the signalman for another one in the station allowing him to proceed along the next section. There was also a siding for goods and coal to be unloaded. In 1934 an evening excursion to a pantomime at Northampton was advertised in the Stratford Herald. The 1939 timetable showed four passenger trains to Stratford daily, which took about ten minutes. There were also four return trains during the day.
For more information and images of Ettington station look here.
Village from Church
View from Ettington Church Tower looking towards Banbury taken in the 1950's
Rainbow Cottage
19 to 27 Banbury Road Rainbow Cottage and the Old Stores
'Biles' - the Old Stores
The Old Stores 27 Banbury Road Ettington
Home Guard NCO's
The Home Guard NCO’s. Leslie Findon. Charles (Charlie) Ivins. Rowland Proctor. Ernest Biles. Ronald Hird . Bill Langsdale. Bill Ades. Edmund Manton
Football Team 1920
Ettington Football Team around 1920 Do you know who they are?
Football Team 1950-51 Season
Ettington Football Team. 1951-1952 season Topped Division Two in the Stratford league and won the Tysoe Cup. Back row: Rev.Pipe. Gerald Saunders. John Dunn. Gordon Watkins. Ray Brandish. Geoff Slatter. Jim Smith. Albert Wilkins. Charlie Brown. “Shaver” Wilkins. Alan Dunn. Reg Hemmings. Bernard Saunders. Bill Taylor. Tony Biles.
Footbal Team around 1922
Football Team circa 1922 Tony Biles has kindly provided the names for the photograph as follows: Back Row.- Ernest Biles. A Wilkes. Harry Taylor. Centre.- R Burrows. Richard East. G Widdows Kneeling.- H Widdows Albert Hemmings Front.- Jack East J Lawson Cyril Biles.
Village Maypole circa 1933
Ettington Village Maypole circa 1933 Recognise any relatives? Were you there?
Short Lane Ettington
Bob Widdows wanted to know where exactly was Short Lane Ettington as it was home to some of his family.
Mary Ann Warmington came up with the answer with the location as follows: Going towards Banbury it is the next turn left after Hockley Lane. If you look from the road you will see that the cottage is the picture is the one on the right. It used to be two cottages although they may now have been knocked into one. Short Lane is, or at least used to provide, access to the backs of the three terraced cottages further up the main road.
Chequers Inn and Smithy
Ettington Village - Middle
Banbury Road as it used to look before the days of traffic calming and many motor cars.
Chequers Inn
View towards Stratford upon Avon. Chequers Inn on right, White Horse out of sight on left.
You can just spot the sign amongst the greenery!
Ernie Widdows
Ernie Widdows and Dandy taken around 1947. Ernie used to ride a motorcycle and sidecar carrying ladders for painting and decorating. No doubt many will remember him.
History
Kevin Sparks has provided this information about the Saracen's Head, which is now his home.
19 to 27 Banbury Road
The Home Guard NCO’s. 
Ettington Village Maypole circa 1933
Bob Widdows wanted to know where exactly was Short Lane Ettington as it was home to some of his family.
