Ramsden

Extract from Discovering Wychwood by Charles Keighley

6 km (4 miles) north of Witney, off B4022. From the Old English meaning 'wild garlic valley' (or possibly simply 'rams valley'.) The long and narrow village of pretty stone cottages leads down to a junction where Roman Akeman Street crossed this valley.

• St. James Church, 1872, with picturesque spire. Royal Oak public house with food and accommodation.
• A hilly parish at its highest by Ramsden Heath.
• To the north of the parish are small grassy fields surrounded by prominent hedgerows. To the south of the village are larger arable fields, with occasionally gappy hedgerows. Several blocks of deciduous woods throughout the parish, some ancient.
• Important habitats include scarce acid scrub at Ramsden Heath and limestone grassland to the east of the parish.
• Several footpaths north towards Finstock and east along Akeman St. towards Holly Grove and Wilcote.