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Explore - Strange History

The White Mark, Watlington Hill

The White Mark of Watlington Hill

11 January 2023

Watlington Chalk Pit (nature reserve)

While Watlington's own huge chalk hill carving might not rival that at Wilmington or Uffington, it has an amusing story behind it that deserved to be more widely known.

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Bix Church

The ruins of St. James's church, Bix Bottom

14 November 2022

St. James's Church ruins, Bix Brand, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6BJ

These atmospheric ruins have been connected with paganism, witchcraft, lay lines and UFOs, as well as being used as a filming location for various horror films.

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The Four Shires Stone

Four Shire Stone - The monument that inspired Tolkien

25 August 2022

Four Shire Stone, near Morton-in-Marsh

This curious monument near Morton-in-Marsh is said to have inspired Tolkien's Three Farthing Stone from Lord of the Rings.

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Chastleton House, Oxfordshire

Secret rooms and daring escapes at Chastleton House

24 August 2022

Chastleton House, Chastleton, Moreton-in-Marsh

Chastleton House hides a secret room that was once the scene of a daring escape by Royalist Captain Arthur Jones during the English Civil War.

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Lincoln College Library

Mass grave beneath Lincoln College Library

30 May 2022

Lincoln College library, High Street, Oxford

When Lincoln College renovated All Saints church into its new library, they were shocked at what they found below.

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A map to The Plain

A roundabout above a graveyard

23 November 2021

The Plain, St. Clement's, Oxford

Travellers across the Plain may not be aware that they are crossing the site of a disused graveyard.

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Grove Street, Oxford

Magpie Lane or Grope Lane? Oxford's rudest road

9 November 2021

Magpie Lane, Oxford

This Oxford street once went by a considerably cruder name than it does today!

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John Haydock

Richard Haydock, fraudulent sleeping preacher of New College

24 September 2021

New College, Holywell Street, Oxford

Richard Haydock became famous for his apparent ability to preach sermons in his sleep, sermons that he claimed to have no memory of when waking.

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