History

A History of Boraston

 

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the village of Boraston was founded. However, a consideration of the derivation of the name would suggest that a settlement may have existed here during the Anglo-Saxon period.

​

The name Boraston appears to derive from three Saxon terms; ‘bor’ (or bur), ‘ast’ and ‘ton’. ‘Bor’ is thought to refer to a fortified settlement; ‘ast’ is a term used to signify east and ‘ton’ refers to a dwelling. Thus, we could construe the name Boraston, in Saxon times as meaning a ‘fortified settlement, or dwelling, in the east’ possible to the east of Burford.

​

At the time of the Domesday Book, 1086, there is reference to Burestone (Boraston) as being ‘two hides of land held by the Prior of Worcester by gift of a predecessor of William de Stuttville, a lord of the manor of Burford’. The term ‘hide’ derives from the Saxon word for ‘family’, and was an area of land sufficient to support a family, probably about 30 modern acres. The prior of Worcester at that time was probably Prior Thomas, who was appointed in 1180. The ‘predecessor of William de Stutteville’, was probably Osbern fitz Richard (1045-1100), who was the second Baron of Burford; suggesting that Boraston was probably part of the Burford Manor at that time.

​

From an ecclesiastical point of view, we know that the church at Boraston was originally a ‘chapel of ease’ of St Mary’s church at Burford. The building of St Mary’s was commenced in 1175, and it may be assumed that Boraston church was commenced about the same time, or shortly after, as there is evidence of Norman architecture in the form of blocked doorways in both the north and south walls of the church. Furthermore, in the Domesday Book, Burford is described as having ‘a church and two priests’; this may signify two church buildings in the parish. Thus, it may be assumed that the settlement at Boraston was, by this time, large enough to warrant the building of such a chapel.

​

Thus, at the time of Domesday (1086), we can see that Boraston may have been an area of land sufficient to support two or more families, implying that there was a small settlement here. Towards the end of the 12thcentury Boraston was large enough to warrant the construction of a chapel linked to the main church of St. Mary’s at Burford.

​

The Peacock Inn, at Boraston, was first built in the 14th Century, and was probably called ‘The Cock’ at that time. Thus, by the mid-1300s Boraston had grown big enough to warrant a hostelry! There is, however, no record of other dwellings from this time in the Boraston area.

​

The earliest house in the village that is still standing is probably the house now known as ‘Holmside’, thought to have been built in the middle of the 15th Century. Subequently, Myddle House, Lower House and Rose Cottage were built in the middle of the 16th Century and the major part of further building took place from the 17th Century onwards.

​

Boraston became a civil parish as a result of the Poor Law Reform Act (1866) and the Parish Meeting, as a statutory body, by virtue of the Local Government Act (1894).