CHARNEY BASSETT

Charney Bassett is an attractively compact village on the River Ock, well away from any main roads, in more or less in the centre of the Vale.

In the centre of the village is a small triangular green and the village pub and the remains of what was probably an ancient preaching cross, although only the stump remains. This is now the village war memorial.

The name Charney is thought to be derived from Churn or Charn, believed to be the Celtic name for Ock and the 'ey' indicates an island settlement in the marsh. It is thought that Bassett may be from either Ralph Bassett, a local C11/C12 landowner, or a corruption of Bass, the name of an early copyhold tenement in the village.

The village church is St. Peter's Church. It is built on the foundations of a Saxon church and it is thought that there could have been a Christian community locally since the seventh century. The Saxon church was rebuilt by the Normans but little of the original Norman church remains now. For the history and full information about St. Peter's Church click here.

Charney Manor was built as a grange and belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of Abingdon. It is now owned by the Society of Friends and is used by them as a Meeting House, and also a guest house and conference centre.

Near the church is the Grade II listed C19 Charney Watermill. It is thought that a mill has been on this site since the 12th century. The present mill has been undergoing restoration by the Vale of White Horse Industrial Archaeology Group since around 1975 and has all its machinery intact.

Charney Bassett is about 2.5 miles east of Stanford in the Vale.