Shilton, in West Oxfordhire almost on the border with Gloucestershire, is a Cotswold Parish of three communities: Shilton, Stonelands and Bradwell Grove Shilton is the old heart of the area and is sited on the banks of the Shill Brook that feeds into the River Thames which runs six miles to the South. This ancient and glorious village remains hardly spoiled from its identity as a farming village and has been awarded Conservation Area Status for its location and appearance. Shilton is rare amongst Cotswold villages to have retained its meadows that sweep down to the heart of the village in a way that binds the settlement with its surrounding country.

Bradwell Grove, three quarters of a mile to the west is a most successful newly developed village that has been built over recent years on the site of a old military hospital. Equal in size to "Old Shilton" this thriving new village is also the location for an Elizabeth Finn care home. Close by Bradwell Village is the famous Cotswold Wildlife Park run by the owners of the Bradwell Grove estate.

Stonelands is at the opposite end of the parish and it is thought the name of this hamlet is derived from the name Sworn Lains, a reference to its use as a retreat for fallen women to give birth to their children outside any church parish boundary - in the 17th century this corner of the country was in a space between the boundaries of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. All that remains of the old hall are some of its outlying buildings and dwellings. The site of the Old Hall is now a gaping hole where the a quarry company makes its neighbours lives a misery with dust, noise, lorry traffic and blasting. A Brief History of Shilton ( By courtesy of the Shilton History Group)

 Roman Akeman Street runs through the west of the parish of Shilton but, other than a couple of coins, there have been no other indications of a Roman settlement here. Shilton emerges from the Dark Ages as a Saxon tun - a village on a ledge or bank - belonging just before the Norman Conquest to the Godwin family.

Through Harold Godwinson, who was killed at Hastings on 1066, it passed to the crown under William the Conqueror. As crown property Shilton was not included in the Domesday Book so the next reference to it is in 1203 when King John planned to give his manor of Faringdon to the Cistercian monks.

When the Cistercians finally established themselves at Beaulieu in the New Forest, King John granted them the Faringdon Manor including Shilton in 1205. Around 1220 Ralph of Shilton granted more land from Shilton to the Cistercians by several charters and this was confirmed by his second wife Juliana and his son Robert.

 The centre of Cistercian land in Shilton was situated in the area of the Old Manor. From the evidence we have it appears to have been a typical manorial economy. What remains is part of the tithe barn, now Headford House, the grange, now the Old Manor, the Dovecote, stewpond, Conyger and water meadow.

Apart from the church, the barn and grange would have been the main stone buildings in Shilton at that time. The other houses would most likely have been wood or wattle and daub. When the Cistercians finally established themselves at Beaulieu in the New Forest, King John granted them the Faringdon Manor including Shilton in 1205. Around 1220 Ralph of Shilton granted more land from Shilton to the Cistercians by several charters and this was confirmed by his second wife Juliana and his son Robert. The centre of Cistercian land in Shilton was situated in the area of the Old Manor. From the evidence we have it appears to have been a typical manorial economy. What remains is part of the tithe barn, now Headford House, the grange, now the Old Manor, the Dovecote, stewpond, Congyer and water meadow. Apart from the church, the barn and grange would have been the main stone buildings in Shilton at that time. The other houses would most likely have been wood or wattle and daub.

It is unlikely that there would have been monks living in Shilton. A reeve and lay brothers would have administered the land. We are lucky enough to have the Beaulieu accounts for Shilton for the year 1270 and these provide a fascinating glimpse of life in Shilton in that year. For example we learn that there were 20 oxen on the land, one of which died of murrain. Every animal is accounted for as well as the arable crops and all living expenses and income. .........