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| THE MANORS Although Bicester is believed to have been established by the west Saxons in the sixth century the first authentic reference to it is in the Norman Doomsday survey of 1086 when it is recorded as Berencestra, its two manors of Bicester and Wretchwick being held by Robert d'oily who built Oxford Castle. By the thirteenth Century two further manors are mentioned, Bury End and Nuns Place, later known as Market End and Kings End respectively. The latter was acquired in 1584 by the Coker family. The Lord of the manor of Market End was the Earl of Derby who, by the end of the sixteenth century, had leased it to the inhabitants together with the market rights. In 1182 Gilbert de Bassett, Lord of Bury End, founded an Augustinian Priory which stood on the site of the present Old Place Yard. This Priory contained the shine of St. Edburgs which is now in a church at Stanton Harcourt. In 1489 the prior ordered the destruction of the hamlet of Wretchwick in order to and his eight cannons accepted Henry VIII in 1534 as the supreme head of the church, it did not save their establishment from dissolution two years later. Most of the buildings were afterwards demolished MARKETS & FAIRS It is recorded that William de Longspee obtained the grant for a market at Bicester from Henry III in 1239. Thirteen years later the Town received a licence for a three day fair at the Feast of St Edburg i n July. In 1441 another Market was Granted for Market End and has continued to the present time. During the eighteenth century Bicester had seven annual fairs, the Kings End Fair in August specialising in leather and the statute fairs in October were for hiring labour.
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