BAMPTON, (Oxfordshire) on the r. Isis, where it is navigable by boats. It stands on the b. of Berkshire, 5 m. from
Burford, 10 m. from Oxford, and 56 cm. and 66 mm. from London, and is said to have been a place of good repute, even
before the conquest. Its Mt. on W, is noted for fell-mongers wares, no T. in England having such a trade for leather
jackets, gloves, breeches, stockings, &c. brought hither in great quantities from Whitney, and bought up for the peasants
of Berks, Wilts, and Dorsetshire Its Fair is Aug. 15. The vicarage here is divided into three parts, and it has a ch. s.
for 20 poor children of the two neighbouring villages, Aston and Coat. The manor of this T. was anciently the estate of
Audemare de Valence, E. of Pembroke, who dying without issue, it passed, by a daughter of John Comyn of Badenagh, to
Richard, Ld. Talbot, in the R. of Edw. III. and his posterity enjoyed it, 'till the R. of Hen. S. when, on the failure of
issue, it passed to Sir John Talbot. In the R. of Edw. IV. it was in the family of the Molins and Hungerfords; but the
latter having forfeited it, by siding with the Lancasterians, that K. disposed of it to John, Ld. Wenlock. The family of
the Woods in this place are reported to hear a great knocking always before any of them die.