Sutton Courtenay is a pretty, historic Oxfordshire village situated on the River Thames, a few miles south of the town of Abingdon.
A major Saxon settlement, Sutton Courtenay was filmed as part of Channel 4 Television’s programme, Time Team, where Tony Robinson and the team tried to find one of the rarest archaeological sites – an Anglo Saxon Royal complex. Aerial photos suggest that an empty field in the village could have been home to royalty over a thousand years ago.
Other historic sites include the medieval Parish Church, the ancient Manor House, the Rectory House (now called The Abbey Sutton Courtenay ) plus many ancient houses throughout the village. It has been said that World War One was declared in the village as the then Prime Minister Herbert Asquith lived here.
He is buried in the local churchyard along with George Orwell (author of 1984), his grave displaying his true name Eric Arthur Blair. Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton live in Lord Asquith’s old house today. Johnny Depp has visited them and all have been seen drinking in ‘The Fish’, a well-known French restaurant. There are many other popular pubs in the village and surrounding area.
Sports clubs include football, cricket and angling. Drayton Park is the nearest golf club which has both 18-hole and 9-hole golf courses plus a floodlit and covered driving range.
Events are held throughout the year and residents can hear about the latest news, events and local information in Sutton Courtenay News, a monthly newsletter delivered locally and published online.
