History

Hook Norton brewery is one of the last surviving Victorian breweries in the UK. (April 2006).

Hook Norton is a village in north Oxfordshire, near the Warwickshire border, on the edge of the Cotswolds. It is between the market towns of Banbury and Chipping Norton, and has a population of about 2,000. The village name is believed to come from the ruler called Hook, whilst Norton is a corruption of ora-tun meaning a settlement (tun) on the side of a hill (ora), hence Hook Norton. There is no connection in terms of the place names with nearby Chipping Norton. Today it is simply known to its inhabitants as "Hooky" or, some times as "The Hook" as well. In the centre of the village is St Peter's, a largely 15th century church of Norman origins that features some rare wall 'Doom' paintings and an unusual 13th century baptismal font featuring pagan zodiac signs, as well as an 18th century hand-pumped fire engine.

Hook Norton has a shop, post office, fire station, primary school, doctor's surgery, dentists, vet, library, 2 churches, park, four good pubs, Memorial hall, a sports and social club and several playing fields. Nearby there was an ironstone mine, evidence of which can be seen all around, along with some of the old Cheltenham to Banbury railway --://batroypics.googlepages.com/hook-norton-cutting-tunnel, which mostly dealt with the local iron ore industries.

Today.

Today, Hook Norton is particularly famed for the Hook Norton Brewery which produces excellent traditional real ale. Hook Norton also hosts an annual charitable music festival which supports many local causes - Music at the Crossroads. The village once had many thriving ironstone quarries, but the railway that took away their product has long gone; tall stone pillars which supported two viaducts can be seen in the valley to the south of the village.

Railway viaduct piers to the south of Hook Norton. (April 2006).

Location

The parish church is located at Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference SP 311274 7 miles (11 km) from Banbury and 5 miles (8.0 km) from Chipping Norton.

External links

• Hook Norton Village Website
• Hook Norton Brewery
• Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales
• Hook Norton Music at the Crossroads
• St Peter's Hook Norton
• Hook Norton Harriers running club
• Hook Norton Pre-School Playgroup

v • d • e The District of Cherwell Oxfordshire • County Council elections • District Council elections Banbury County Constituency • Oxford West and Abingdon County Constituency • Witney County Constituency Towns Banbury • Bicester Large Villages Adderbury • Ambrosden • Arncott (Upper Arncott) • Bloxham • Bodicote • Caversfield (Bainton) • Deddington • Hook Norton • Kidlington • Launton • Upper Heyford • Yarnton Other Civil Parishes (Component Villages and Hamlets) Ardley with Fewcott (Ardley, Fewcott) • Barford St. John and St. Michael (Barford St. Michael, Barford St. John) • Begbroke • Blackthorn • Bletchingdon • Bourton (Great Bourton, Little Bourton) • Broughton • Bucknell • Charlton-on-Otmoor • Chesterton • Claydon with Clattercot (Claydon, Clattercot) • Cottisford • Cropredy • Drayton • Duns Tew • Epwell • Fencott and Murcott (Fencott, Murcott) • Finmere • Fringford • Fritwell • Godington • Gosford and Water Eaton (Gosford, Water Eaton) • Hampton Gay and Poyle (Hampton Gay, Hampton Poyle) • Hanwell • Hardwick with Tusmore (Hardwick, Tusmore) • Hethe • Horley • Hornton • Horton-cum-Studley (Oakley) • Islip • Kirtlington • Lower Heyford • Merton • Middle Aston • Middleton Stoney • Milcombe • Milton • Mixbury • Mollington • Newton Purcell with Shelswell (Newton Purcell, Shelswell) • Noke • North Aston • North Newington • Oddington • Piddington • Prescote • Shenington with Alkerton (Shenington, Alkerton)• Shipton-on-Cherwell and Thrupp (Shipton-on-Cherwell, Thrupp) • Shutford • Sibford Ferris • Sibford Gower • Somerton • Souldern • South Newington • Steeple Aston • Stoke Lyne • Stratton Audley • Swalcliffe • Tadmarton • Wardington (Lower Wardington, Upper Wardington) • Wendlebury • Weston-on-the-Green • Wigginton • Wroxton (Balscote) Former Districts and Boroughs Municipal Borough of Banbury • Banbury Rural District • Bicester Urban District • Ploughley Rural District • Bicester Rural District Former Constituencies Oxfordshire County Constituency • Mid Oxfordshire or Woodstock County Constituency • Mid Oxfordshire County Constituency List of Parliamentary constituencies in Oxfordshire • List of places in Oxfordshire • List of civil parishes in Oxfordshire

Coordinates: 51°59′N 1°29′W / 51.983, -1.483