Besselsleigh

Besselsleigh
St Lawrence's parish church
Besselsleigh
Besselsleigh shown within Oxfordshire
Area	3.67 km² (1.42 sq mi)
Population	87 (2001 Census)
• Density	24/km² (62/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SP4501
Civil parish	Besselsleigh
District	Vale of White Horse
Shire county	Oxfordshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Abingdon
Postcode district	OX13
Dialling code	01865

Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Oxfordshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Oxford West and Abingdon
List of places UK England Oxfordshire 51°43′N 1°21′W / 51.71°N 1.35°W / 51.71; -1.35Coordinates: 51°43′N 1°21′W / 51.71°N 1.35°W / 51.71; -1.35

Besselsleigh or Bessels Leigh is a village and civil parish about 4 ¹⁄₂ miles (7 km) south-west of Oxford. Besselsleigh was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.

The village is just off the A420 road between Oxford and Swindon.

Besselsleigh is almost certainly the Lea or Leigh owned by a Saxon named Earmund in the 7th century. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 it was recorded (as Leie) as having been held prior to conquest by Northmann of Mereworth of Abingdon Abbey and to have passed under the same overall ownership to the minor feudal lord William the Chamberlain. The manor of Leigh passed to the family of a Thomas Bessels in the mid-14th century and by the next century the village had acquired its present toponym.

The Church of England parish church of Saint Lawrence existed by the 12th century, and the west wall, Norman south door and possibly some other parts survive from this time. The church was rebuilt in the latter part of the 13th century, which is the date of the Decorated Gothic west window of the nave and east window of the chancel. Most of the other windows are Perpendicular Gothic: that in the north wall of the chancel from the 14th century and others in the church from the 15th century.

In 1632 William Lenthall paid for St Lawrence's to be "beautified and repaired" and in 1788 William John Lenthall paid for further works on the church. The font is 17th century and the pulpit is 18th century. St Lawrence's is a Grade II* listed building.

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