Eynsham Treasures

Eynsham Treasures is a painting of some of the things that give the village of Eynsham, Oxfordshire, its unique character.

• A2 size signed poster prints. 
• Digital file for you to make a single print at a format and size of your choice.
• The original painting in watercolour, size 500 x 700 mm.
• Greetings cards of this painting coming soon.

Uniquely Eynsham

Eynsham is an ancient village of approximately 5,000 people, five miles west of Oxford. It's a place I know and love. In this painting, Eynsham Treasures, I have created a patchwork of some of it's unique features. Roughly, from top left to bottom right:

Top half of Eynsham Treasures

• Gargoyles - from the church. The dog's head gargoyle is late 14th century, possibly from a chapel which was visited by Richard II in 1389.
• Evenlode DIY - one of the finest emporiums I know
• Swifts - they visit the village every summer and are much loved by Eynshamians many of whom encourage them to nest on and in their houses
• Starlings flying over some of the village's notable buildings
• Morris Dancer - the village has an active and well-loved Morris side. As they dance they become the personification of the spirit of the village.
• Eynsham Abbey. It was founded in 1005 but was destroyed in 1538, a victim of the Henry VIII's Reformation
• Aelfric of Eynsham (c955 to c1010) - The first abbot and a prolific writer
• Market Cross
• War Memorial
• Bartholmew Room - the old market hall, now a community space for exhibitions, and the Eynsham Museum
• Pilgrim's Plaque - this 14th century plaque was excavated from the site of the old Abbey. It was probably brought to Eynsham as a souvenir by a monk who had made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas Becket of Canterbury.

Bottom half

• The 'Starter Upper' of Eynsham Carnival's Shirt Race
• Red Kite. You can see and hear them constantly as they swoop around the village
• Hollyhocks - the village comes alive with these fabulous flowers every July
• Eynsham's pub signs: Jolly Sportsman, White Hart, The Swan, The Queen's Head, The Red Lion, The Talbot
• Eynsham Lock and the Thames Path
• St Leonard's Church
• Apple varieties - Eynsham Dumpling and Eynsham Challenger
• Carnival Queen
• The Green Man - the face of the ancient woodland spirit is carved into the font at St Leonard's
• The Eynsham Poacher - a folk song by Fairport Convention, and a dance regularly performed Morris dance
• The Peace Oak - a tree planted in a meadow after WW1. The meadow is now a community association dedicted to nature and includes wildflowers, allotments, a small orchard, a vineyard, and a space for socialising
• The River Thames, a narrowboat, and the Swinford Bridge. The 18th century bridge is privately owned and tax-exempt; it still collects tolls. Love the bridge, hate the tolls! Pay your damned tax like everyone else! It's highway robbery.

I hope that the good people of Eynsham feel I have captured something of the extraordinary history and spirit of the village.