Although not a stone from this great foundation can be seen on the original site, fragments survive in cottages at the heart of the village.
Abbey History; Heritage Trail; Hidden Gems.

• The village has two fields divided into 90 allotments. The Allotments Association leases them from the Parish Council and manages them on a day-to-day basis.
• Rent is £18/year (£13 for over-60s) but there is currently a waiting list.

• Your existing telephone line can carry voice and high-speed internet traffic at the same time.
• Most houses in the village are also within a few metres of the Virgin Media cable network.
• Supplier comparisons: Simply Switch 08000 111395.

• First Saturday in July: a notable date in the village calendar. Contacts; feature >>
• A flower festival is invariably held on the same weekend in St Leonard's Church. Contacts; feature >>

• 57 Spareacre Lane outside local shops (Barclays)
• Tesco Express A40 eastbound
• Total Service Station A40 westbound (£1.91).

• Activities for pre-school children and their parents/carers.
• Health Visitors: 01865 881642. Based at Eynsham Medical Centre Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00, run postnatal groups, breast-feeding support and child health clinics (drop-in Tuesday 12:15-14:45); routine 8-month checks and all immunisations for children 0-5 years old.
• Oxfordshire Family Information Service: 08452 26 26 36. Free information on registered childcare providers, family and parenting support.
• Oxfordshire County Council - Early Learning and Childcare Macclesfield House, New Road, Oxford OX1 1NA: 01865 815630. Childcare Needs Survey.

View contacts & service times

• Anglican Church Market Square, OX29 4UG; view feature >>; website
• Baptist Church Lombard Street, OX29 4HT; view feature >>
• Catholic Church Abbey Street, OX29 4HR; view feature >>; website.

• Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND: 01865 792422
• County Councillor, Eynsham Electoral Division see also ELECTIONS
  Charles Mathew, Parsonage House, Stanton Harcourt OX29 5RP: 01865 882205 (work), mobile 07967 756204 email. View profile >>

• Eynsham Dental Care
• To find an NHS dentist consult NHS Choices or call NHSDirect: 0845 46 47
• For impartial advice on procedures, costs etc, contact the Dental Helpline: 0845 063 1188
• For emergency treatment call NHSDirect

• West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1NB: 01993 861000
• General enquiries: Town Centre Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney OX28 6JH
• District Councillors, Eynsham & Cassington Ward:
  Richard Andrews (-2011), 17 Dovehouse Close OX29 4EW: 01865 880106 email
  Frances Pike (-2010), 4 Hollow Furlong, Cassington OX29 4ET: 01865 881382 email
  Margaret Stevens (-2012), 51 Mill Street OX29 4JY: 01865 882384 email

• The Parish Council provides bins around the village for dog waste: responsible owners, please note!
• In the interests of public health, dogs are not allowed on the Oxford Road (north side) playing field. On the south field they should be kept under control at all times.
• Stray dogs should be reported to the District Council: 01993 861020 (out of hours 01993 705056).

• Your elected representatives and terms of office
• Recent election results
• West Oxfordshire Electoral Services: 01993 861522 email.

• Default supplier Southern Electric, PO Box 7506, Perth PH1 3QU: 0845 7444 555.
• Consumer Direct: 08454 04 05 06.

• Eynsham is at grid ref SP 432 094 GB and 70m above sea level; sunrise/sunset
• 2001 census data - Eynsham civil parish: population 4,665; households 1,887.
• Parish precept for 2008/9: £87,280 - for 2009/10: £87,070
• Council Tax rates for Eynsham 2009-10: see Housing
• Social & economic comparisons: Oxfordshire Data Observatory
• Historical perspective (Domesday Book 1086): 'The Bishop of Lincoln holds Eglesham himself and the monk Columban from him. 15½ hides belonging to this church. Land for 18 ploughs; he found as many. In lordship, land for 2 ploughs. Now in lordship 3 ploughs. 3 men-at- arms with 34 villagers and 33 smallholders have 15 ploughs. A mill at 12s. and 450 eels; meadow, 255 acres; pasture, 100 acres; woodland 1½ leagues long and 1 league and 2 furlongs wide; value when stocked 25s. The value is and was £20.'
• Eynsham Online usage report

• Eynsham Fire Station, Stanton Harcourt Road OX29 4HX: 01865 881337. Contacts and services.
• In emergencies ring 999; otherwise please leave a message.

• Committee contacts; maintenance programme; maps & tour >>

• In case of leaks ring 0800 111 999
• Default supplier British Gas Trading, PO Box 3055, Eastbourne BN21 9FE: 0800 072 5230
• Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06.

• Bartholomew Educational Foundation makes grants to Eynsham students under 25 years old.
• Eynsham Consolidated Charity makes grants to people living in Eynsham who are in need, hardship or distress.
• For either of these please write to Robin Mitchell, Clerk to the Trustees, 20 High Street, Eynsham, WITNEY OX29 4HB. All applications are treated in absolute confidentiality.
• The Parish Council makes grants to community groups & other non-party-political organisations for projects that “are in the interests of, or will directly benefit, all or a reasonable portion of the parish and its inhabitants”. View application form.

• The County Council is responsible for all grass verges in the village and contracts with the Parish Council to cut them.
• The Parish Council also maintains the 3 play areas and the open spaces in Dovehouse Close.
• Playing Field pitches are cut during the playing seasons by the Playing Field Managers. Contact Ann Cross: 01865 880712

Venues available for regular or casual bookings:

• Baptist Church Hall, Lombard Street: contacts & diary
• Bartholomew Room, The Square: contacts & diary
• Berry Sports Hall, Back Lane: contacts & diary
• Eynsham Youth Centre, Back Lane: contacts & diary
• Primary School Hall, Beech Road: contacts & diary
• Red Lion Function Room, The Square: Barry & Sue Watts 01865 882903 email
• Scout Headquarters, Back Lane: contacts & diary
• Social & Sports Club, Swan Street: contacts & diary
• Sports Pavilion, Oxford Road: contacts & diary
• St Leonard's Church Hall, Thames Street: contacts & diary
• Tolkien Room, Abbey Street: contacts & diary
• Village Hall, Back Lane: contacts & diary
• White Hart Function Room: Jacky Thomas 01865 880711 email

The responsible authority for low-cost and social housing is the District Council.
West Oxfordshire Housing Services, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney OX28 1PB: 01993 861010.

For other property to rent or buy contact local estate agents; take a tour. Council Tax rates 2009-10:

• Band A £ 938.73
• Band B £1095.18
• Band C £1251.64
• Band D £1408.09
• Band E £1721.00
• Band F £2033.91
• Band G £2346.82
• Band H £2816.18

A place for recreation of many kinds – bird-watching, boating, camping, fishing, painting, picnics, walking – or even doing nothing. Dry access just past the toll bridge: sharp left and down the bank to Thames Path; no cars.
Lock and weir keeper Nik Vallely: 01865 881324.

• Story of a lock keeper's wife
• Water level and flood risk monitoring
• Molly Harwood's slideshow

• Eynsham Country Market is held on Thursday 09:00-10:30 (except January) at St Leonard's Church Hall. Contacts; feature.
• A charity stall is also held every Thursday in the Square (weather permitting). Contact Lynette Brown: 01865 864675.

• At the top of Back Lane car park, with additional access on foot via Conduit Lane or Evans Road.
• Postal address Conduit Lane, OX29 4QB: 01865 881206. Further contact details and opening times; website.
• NHSDirect (any time): 0845 46 47.

• Member of Parliament, Witney Constituency
  David Cameron holds at least one local surgery a year in Eynsham. Local office 58/60 High Street, Witney OX28 6HJ: 01993 702302 email
• Members of European Parliament
  The South- East region of the UK is represented by 10 MEPs. UK Office 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA: 020 7227 4300 email

• Eynsham Echo: bi-monthly from the Parish Council – delivered free.
  Contact the Clerk: 01869 347652 email
• Eynsham Roundabout: monthly from the 3 churches – subscription £2.80 p.a.
  Editor Pam Breeze, 57 Merton Close OX29 4QE: 01865 880725 email
• Witney & West Oxfordshire Gazette – Wednesday.
  Editor Derek Holmes, 47 Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG: 01993 773133 email
• Local newsagents.

• Back Lane car park outside the Medical Centre
• Market Square outside the Bartholomew Rooms
• Mill Street opposite Spareacre Lane
• Witney Road beside Oxford-bound bus stop.

For news of forthcoming elections, recent planning applications, Parish Council meetings / contacts and other public notices.

All except the board in Market Square have space for local organisations too. Notices should be displayed no more than 14 days before an event and removed no more than 7 days after. No commercial advertisements are permitted. Any permanent notices should be A5 to allow for maximum use of the boards.

The Village Hall has its own notice-board.

• The Abbey Fishponds are the only remnants of this great foundation to survive in their original setting. They were created in 1217, by diverting the road and stream (and incidentally much enlarging the Abbey precinct). The Parish Council manages the area on behalf of Fields in Trust, to protect its past and enhance its biodiversity. Access from Station Road.
• Eynsham Wood to the north of the village was a Millennium project, supported by the Woodland Trust: 13 acres within the ancient Wychwood Forest – planted only in 2002 but maturing steadily. Access via crossing points on the A40 and from Freeland Road.

• The free car park in Back Lane, beside the Medical Centre, is just a short walk from the village centre along Conduit Lane (12 hour maximum stay).
• There are 6 free parking spaces in the Square, including one for disabled drivers.
• Roads around the Square are narrow and readily congested; please observe the double yellow lines. Parking is unrestricted along most of Mill Street.
• Parking infringements are now handled by the District Council: 01993 861000 email. View latest news >>
• The car parks beside the playing fields in Oxford Road close at dusk.

The District Council Pest Control Service handles rats, wasps etc at domestic and commercial premises; charges vary. Enquiries / bookings: 01993 861060. Latest news >>

• Managed for the Parish Council by the Playing Fields Management Committee (PFMC) – chair Ann Cross: 01865 880712. View Report 2008/9 >>
• The playing fields on Oxford Road feature a kick wall and skateboard park (north side) and a sports pavilion (south side).
• Dogs are banned from the north field and should be kept under control at all times on the south field. For obvious reasons, dog owners are asked to clear up after their pets and bins are provided.
• The car park gates are locked at dusk.

• Office in the Village Hall, Back Lane: 01865 883008. Contacts and opening times
• If it is closed, ring 08458 505 505. In emergencies call 999
• Local policing news; Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG).

• outside the Post Office in Mill Street (last collections Monday-Friday 19:00, Saturday 11:20)
• beside the Bartholomew Room in the Square
• beside Janty's in Acre End Street
• beside the Star Inn on Witney Road
• beside the Spar in Spareacre Lane
• on Hanborough Road (junction with Wytham View).
• in the wall outside the Boot Inn at Barnard Gate.

• BBC Radio Oxford (95.2 fm)
• Heart 102.6 & 97.4 (formerly Fox FM)
• Jack fm (106.8 & 106.4fm) weekdays 06:00-09:00

Kerbside recycling

• a free recycling box is available for paper, glass, cans, textiles, foil, plastics, batteries, aerosols and cardboard. Contact West Oxfordshire Environmental Services: 01993 861000.
• Green waste bins are supplied and emptied fortnightly for a small annual charge: 01993 861020 email

Home composting

• a range of council-subsidised home composters is available from as little as £27, including delivery. Order from Recycle Now: 0845 077 0757

Recycling Bank, Back Lane car park

• cans, card, 'tetrapak' drinks cartons, glass, paper, plastics, shoes, textiles. Also books, videos, DVDs (not WODC). Enquiries 01993 861020

Swap Shops: new feature >>

Waste Recycling Centre: Dix Pit

• off Eynsham-Hardwick Rd, just west of Stanton Harcourt village. Run by Oxfordshire County Council: 01865 880782
• automotive waste - building materials - electrical items - furniture - garden waste - glass - household chemicals - metals - paper - untreated wood.
• Open 08:00-17:00 all year; closes at 20:00 on Thursday April-September. Trade waste 07:00-16:00 Monday-Friday, 07:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

• Oxfordshire Highways (Northern Area Office), Ron Groves House, 23 Oxford Road, Kidlington OX5 2BP: 0845 310 1111 email
• Winter maintenance: keeping roads clear of ice and snow

• Term 1: 01 September–22 October 2009
• October holiday 23 October–30 October 2009
• Term 2: 02 November 2009–18 December 2009
• Christmas holiday 21 December 2009–01 January 2010
• Term 3: 04 January–12 February 2010
• February holiday 15 February–19 February 2010
• Term 4: 22 February 2010–01 April 2010
• April holiday 02–16 April 2010
• Term 5: 19 April– 28 May 2010
• Late Spring holiday 31 May–04 June 2010
• Term 6: 07 June-22 July 2010
• Summer Holiday 23 July-31 August 2010

View directory entries for:

• Bartholomew School Witney Road OX29 4AP: 01865 881430
• Eynsham Community Primary School Beech Road OX29 4LJ: 01865 881294
• Preschools and other establishments.

See also

• Bartholomew School Association (PTA)
• Primary School PTA

For adults, carers, children, families. 0845 050 7666; out of hours 0800 833408. More information.

Carried out by West Oxfordshire District Council. The service includes:

• mechanical sweeping of highways
• litter picking to highway verges and all other relevant land
• litter bin provision and servicing - funded by the Parish Council
• dog bin provision and servicing - funded by the Parish Council
• removal of fly-posters and fly-tipping deposits
• enforcement action in respect of litter, fly-posting, fly-tipping etc.

Free 24 hour fault line: 0800 317802 or email. Please give the location of the unit and its number if possible.

• Choose between BBC Oxford and ITV Meridian for local news.
• Digital switchover starts in 2011. You should be able to use your existing rooftop aerial and wiring if they are in good condition, though you may need to get them checked for best reception.
• Most houses in the village are also within a few metres of the Virgin Media cable network.

• The public toilets in Oxford Road (north side) playing fields were completely refurbished in 2006 (District Council).
• The toilets in Back Lane car park were replaced in 2009.

• Historic and beautiful structure linking Eynsham to Oxford via Swinford, Farmoor and Botley.
• Charge: 5p for cars (currently the lowest toll in England); charity collection on public holidays.
• Allow extra time for your journey in the morning and evening rush hour/s.
• Sold by auction 03 December 2009: read more >>; view blog >>

• Hanborough station: Witney Road, Long Hanborough OX29 8LA (3½ miles) serves Oxford, London Paddington, Worcester and Hereford (First Great Western trains). Live departures
• Oxford station: Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HS (6 miles) serves Bristol, Edinburgh via Birmingham and London via Reading. Train operators: First Great Western and Virgin.
• Timetables (all services) National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50.
• Traveline integrated bus/rail Journey Planner: 0871 200 22 33. Calls on BT residential lines cost 10p per minute plus 6p to connect.

There are 3 introductory guides:

• Eynsham Unlocked, a short tour of the village centre, highlighting historic features and other points of interest. Published by the Parish Council and widely available. 2nd edition 2009, free.
• Eynsham Abbey Heritage Trail, created in 2002 to mark the bounds of the former precinct, with carved stone from the abbey built into the engraved 'stations'. Available in St Peter's church or the library, free.
• Oxfordshire Village Circular Walks 1 – Eynsham. Four walks, 4-8 miles long, taking in Church Hanborough, Eynsham lock, Freeland, Pinkhill lock, South Leigh, Swinford toll bridge, the Thames Path and Wytham Wood.

• Household collection: Thursday; bulky household waste on application (also unwanted cars).
• Trade waste: prices on application.
• Contact West Oxfordshire Environmental Services, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney OX28 1PB: 01993 861020.

• Thames Water Utilities, PO Box 286, Swindon SN38 2RA.
• For bills, change of address, meter readings: 0845 9200 805.
• For all other enquiries and emergencies: 0845 9200 800.