- published: 05 Aug 2009
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Coordinates: 51°49′19″N 1°19′08″W / 51.822°N 1.319°W / 51.822; -1.319
Begbroke is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Kidlington and 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 783.
Fragments of early pottery have been found in the parish, as well as flints, scrapers, and an axe and arrow head. Aerial photographs show ancient crop marks.
The toponym "Begbroke" is Old English for "Little Brook". This refers to Rowel Brook which runs through the village and was the reason for its early settlement. Rowel Brook is a tributary of the River Cherwell.
Begbroke Manor House was built in about 1700. In the 19th century it became part of the Priory of St. Philip, which until 2000 was the novitiate house for the Roman Catholic Servite Friars in England. It was then sold to a Church of England order of nuns. The brethren of the Servites were well known in the village and served as Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens in World War II.