About KBS

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor is situated 10 miles south-west of Oxford at the junction of the A420 and A415.

The parish lies on the 'Golden Ridge' of Corallian limestone which runs from Cumnor to Faringdon. Its fertile soils have nurtured farms famous for their fruit and hops. The name comes from de Bachepuise, a Norman family who controlled the estates after the Conquest. The building of a bypass has encouraged recent development and the population is 3,903 Population [2021 Census] The village shops and services are used by many neighbouring communities.

History of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor has a long and varied past, shaped by thousands of years of settlement, major estate families, wartime activity, and the gradual merging of two neighbouring communities.

Early Settlement

Archaeological discoveries show that the area was inhabited from prehistoric times. Mesolithic and Neolithic flints, a Bronze Age knife, and Iron Age pottery have all been found locally. The Romans also left a significant presence, including a villa on Kingston Hill and a hoard of more than 2,000 coins dating from around AD 307.

Saxon and Medieval Period

The village appears in Saxon records as Cingestun. In 970, the parish was described as a long, narrow strip of land stretching from the River Thames to the River Ock. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the manors of Kingston were granted to Norman lords, and the first church on the present site was built between about 1076 and 1099.

Over time, Kingston Bagpuize became divided into several manors, which were eventually united in 1543 by John Latton. Draycott Moor (now Southmoor) was originally part of Longworth and belonged to Abingdon Abbey until 1538. It was later granted to St John’s College, Oxford, in 1574.

18th and 19th Century Village Life

Kingston House, the main estate house, was built between 1660 and 1670 and remodelled in the 18th century. Both Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor remained small agricultural communities. Southmoor centred on its Town Pond, while Kingston Bagpuize grew around Kingston House. The Inclosure Acts of 1805–06 and 1844 reorganised local farmland and changed the layout of both settlements.

From 1863 to 1935 the Old Berkshire Hunt was based in the parish, bringing employment and activity to the area.

20th Century Transformation

In 1917 the estate was sold, and in 1935 most remaining estate lands and houses were auctioned following the owner’s bankruptcy. During the Second World War, up to 3,000 American troops were stationed in the parish in large hutted camps. After the war, these sites housed displaced people and workers until new homes were built.

Major housing development in the 1960s and 1970s filled the space between the two formerly separate villages, more than doubling the population.

Formation of the Modern Parish

1971: The parishes of Kingston Bagpuize and Draycott Moor were united to form the civil parish of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor.
1974: The parish was transferred from Berkshire to Oxfordshire during national boundary changes.
1992: The A420 bypass opened, reducing through-traffic and helping connect the community more closely.
Continued development in the late 20th and early 21st centuries completed the joining of the two villages into one continuous settlement.

Today

Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor is a thriving community with deep historic roots. From prehistoric settlements and Roman farms to medieval manors, wartime camps and modern housing, the parish has continually evolved while maintaining a strong sense of identity and heritage.