One of the perks of being an FSA (Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London - alongside a fine library at Burlington House that will actually post books out to us in the sticks!) is free entry to Kelmscott Manor, which the SAL look after (https://www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor/). That was of course home to William Morris, and it was his influence, perpetuated by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, universally known as SPAB (https://svbb.org.uk/kelmscott/) that has meant that the 12th/13th century church of St George in the village is wonderfully preserved: a good solution for such a church in a village of 100 souls, where this side of Revival and even beyond there is never going to be much of a congregation or demand for all-singing all-dancing parish church activity.
Star of the show for me were the wall paintings of c.1280 and the one showing Cain's murder of Abel (above) is the most dramatic. Cain's hairstyle says it all.
The manor, church and village make a splendid destination if you're in the Cotswolds and Oxford area: do call in.
