OXTON, a parish in the southern division of the
wapentake of THURGARTON, county of NOTTINGHAM, 5
miles (W. by S.) from Southwell, containing 798 inhabitants.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the
peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Chapter of
the Collegiate Church of Southwell, rated in the king's
books at £6, endowed with £200 royal bounty.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. Oxton constitutes
the endowment of two prebends, Prima et Secunda,
in the Collegiate Church -of Southwell. The small river
Dove runs through the parish, which lies in the centre of
the ancient Forest of Sherwood, though it is said never to
have formed part of that district. In the village is a free
school, founded by Mrs. Sherbrooke, and endowed with
a rent-charge of £20, for teaching all the poor-children
of the parish. In 1789, a barrow was opened in the
neighbourhood, and found to contain a curious urn of
iron, a sword in a wooden scabbard, a dagger much
corroded, and several glass beads.