DEDDINGTON, (Oxfordshire) 51 cm. 62 mm. from London, was anciently a T. corp. and sent members to Pt. in the Rs. of Edw.
I. and III. but never since; yet it is a pretty large T. governed by a bailiff. 'Tis said here was formerly a castle. Here
is a ch. sc. It has a little Mt. on S. Fairs on Whitsun-M. Aug. 10, and Nov. 11. Dr. Plot mentions an old custom still
retained at this place, chiefly at marriages, by young men, when they carry home their bride; They set up a post
perpendicular, and place a slender piece of timber on the top of it, on a spindle, having a board at the one end and a bag
of sand hanging at the other; against the board they ride with staves, which bringing the bag about with violence, it
strikes them on the back or neck, and sometimes, if they are not nimble enough to get out of the way, beats them off their
horse. To break this board is reckoned a piece of bravery, and was anciently rewarded. This manor was formerly Sir Thomas
Pope's, (who founded a sc. here, called Jesus sc.) but he sold it to K. Hen. VIII. by whom it was settled upon
Christchurch Coll. Oxford. Near this T. is a well of medicinal waters, of a strong sulphureous scent, highly impregnated
with a vitrioline salt. In the digging of it was found the stone called pyrites argenteus, and a bed of belemnites,
commonly called thunder-bolts; and out of it hath since been taken the silver marchasite, of a glittering colour, but of
no use as yet discovered.