St Michael and All Angels Church
The church, which stands in the centre of Bampton, contains many interesting features and curiosities. The church you can see today in part dates from the early twelfth century but this replaced a religious building that had been there much earlier. Keep an eye out for a stone tablet at the base of the tower with an unusual inscription, an original late Saxon window arch, traces of medieval wall decoration and three green men among other interesting details. You can even see the old town stocks which were reportedly last used in 1862 to improve the mind of a man who had over-indulged in alcohol.
In the churchyard you will find two ancient yew trees which are thought to have been planted over 500 years ago. Yew trees are poisonous to livestock so the trunks of these specimens are encased in stone to stop grazing cattle from nibbling them.
The church is also home to the Heritage & Visitor Centre which features fascinating local artefacts and lots more information about the town’s rich heritage. You can visit the church during the Heritage Centre’s opening hours. These times may occasionally change due to church services.