DEDDINGTON, a parish (formerly a market-town)
in the hundred of WOOTTON, county of OXFORD, containing,
with the townships of Clifton and Hempton,
1847 inhabitants, of which number, 1404 are in the town
of Peddington, 16 miles (N. byW.) from Oxford, and
69 (N.W.) from London. This place, though formerly
of some importance, having sent members to two
parliaments in the reign of Edward I., is now an
inconsiderable town. According to Dr. Plot, a castle
was anciently built here, either by the Saxons or
the Danes, but no vestiges of it can be traced, nor is
there any thing of importance occurring in the history
of the place, except its having been the retreat of Piers
Gavestone, the favourite of Edward II., a short time
previous to his capture by the Earl of Warwick, and
his decapitation on Blacklow Hill, and subsequently the
possession of his successor in that monarch's aifections,
Hugh de Spencer, who suffered a similar fate. The
town, which has been noted for its malt liquor, contains
several well-built houses, and is well supplied with
water: a branch of the Oxford and London canal passes
through the parish. The market has been discontinued;
but a fair for cattle is still held on the 22nd of November.
A bailiff is annually appointed at the court
leet of the lord of the manor.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Oxford, rated in the king's books
at £15. 9. 4., endowed with £600 private benefaction,
£200 royal bounty, and £1400 parliamentary grant,
and in the patronage of the Dean and Canons of Windsor.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.
Parochial schools for boys and girlg are supported by
subscription. Almshouses for four aged men and four
aged women, were founded in 1818, and are endowed
with property arising from various benefactions vested
in feoffees for the benefit of the poor, producing about
£140 per annum. In the neighbourhood are two mineral
springs, now neglected, one of which is said to have
been highly impregnated -with sulphur. Lord Chief Justice
Scroggs, who nourished in the reign of Charles II.,
was a native of this parish; and Sir Thomas Pope, an
eminent statesman, and founder of Trinity College, Oxford,
is said to have been born here, in 1507.