History of Water Use
- Up until 1953 when Little Wittenham had its water mains supply installed, water came from standpipes fed by the springs·
- On the south side of Castle Hill (by present Clumps Car Park) a well at least 60 feet deep was used to draw water for cattle.
- Hill Farm has its own water well and is still used today providing water for the Northmoor Trust's offices and Project Timescape.
- The Domesday book refers to a mill at Little Wittenham. This was presumably a water mill, perhaps on a side stream of the River Thames. Two water mills operated in Long Wittenham during the 13th and 14th century. Overy Mill on the tributary river Thame at Dorchester shows use of water-power until recent times.
- Oxford Canal opened in 1790 and allowed coal to be brought by barge from the Coventry coalfields via Oxford and led to a dramatic drop in its price. There was a rise of local industries using coal eg Lucy's Ironworks Oxford from 1825 and foundries at Shillingford and Wallingford.
