Sitting in the Brecks, at the edge of the Fens, Oxborough bears witness to practically every era in human history,
From pre-history to the present day, this includes its famous Bronze Age dirk, Roman coins, Anglo-Saxon cemetery, and thriving medieval town with its seven gilds, its fairs, ferry, port, pillory and gallows.
Plus five WW1 bombs, which thankfully caused no damage!
Since the arrival here in 1482 of the staunchly Catholic and Royalist Bedingfeld family – as major landowner and employer in the area, and building Oxburgh Hall as the family home – the history of the Hall, Church, and Village have been inextricably linked.
From 1951 the Hall has been owned and managed by the National Trust, and opened to the public, but the Bedingfeld family – some 500 years on – still live here, their occupation more than half a millenium interrupted only by ransacking of the Hall, confiscation of their property and time spent in The Tower on account of their beliefs.
The Oxborough History Group holds a wealth of material associated with the village and continues to welcom old photographs, documents, memories and objects of local interest. If you wish to submit any of these, please contact us via the link at the top of the page. Your details will be passed to The Oxborough History Group who will then be in touch via email.
Whilst regular events in the village hall remain on pause for the time being, a new website is being constructed to house more of the material held, and the link will be posted here once up and running.
Text courtesy of Bar Pritchard.
