The Ancient Village of Milton in the Vale of White Horse District, Oxfordshire, England
Milton is a civil parish and village in the Vale of White Horse District, Oxfordshire, England around 3 miles west of Didcot and approximately 3 miles south of Abingdon. The name of the village has evolved from Middletune, the middle of the villages of Steventon, Drayton and Sutton, in the 10th to the 13th century, to Middelton in 13th to the 15th century, and to Mylton from the 15th to the 17th Century.
This small village has, at its doorstep, the great Milton Park Trading Estate but it once was the centre of the wool industry in the area. In fact, the parish church is dedicated to the patron saint of wool combers, St Blaise. The history of the church of St Blaise could be traced back to early 14th century but was rebuilt extensively in the mid 19th century. The site of the church was formerly a Saxon building.
Food, Shopping and Accommodation
Milton may just be a small village, but it boasts of two restaurants, the Bull Inn, a cosy traditional English pub serving well-prepared and “home-cooked” traditional English fare. The other restaurant is Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a hotel and restaurant set in a beautiful building surrounded by a fabulous garden.
Things to See and Do in Milton
A place of interest in the village is the Manor House and its park. The house itself is a mid 17th Century red-brick structure, and the park has two lakes and beautiful old trees plus stables and a walled garden. The manor house is now the famous “Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons” of the acclaimed chef Raymond Blanc. The park is open to the public where pony rides and cart rides are available.
This ancient village is a charming mix of small and large old cottages and houses some of which have thatched roofs, and modern houses, bungalows and affordable housing. Lining the high street are large houses and wide grass verges, and at the other end of the village, there are some historic houses near the church.