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Aconite, an extract of Aconitum napellus, or monkshood, is a lethal poison and has been labelled, “herbal arsenic”. It may be what killed the Roman Emperor Claudius. He could have died from natural causes, but the general consensus is that he was poisoned by, or on the orders of,...
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This month is not so much of a walk but more of a short, two mile stroll to get back into shape following the Christmas break! However, we do meet the lead singer from a 1960s band, get a chance for a game of cricket and look for James...
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Whenever you think of Father Christmas I’m sure the first image that comes to mind is that of a rosy cheeked, jolly fat man riding a sleigh pulled by reindeer and he travels the globe delivering presents to good children everywhere. But, the origins of this image are far...
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There’s been a serious outbreak of grottoes nationwide, and the Four Shires have not been spared. The epidemic started in mid-November and has been gaining momentum ever since. These grottoes are usually made of plastic and range in form from huge inflatable bouncy sofas to turreted castles, taking in...
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Mary Ann Horton wasn’t a looker. She acknowledged as much herself, and a woman in 19th century London was married if not for her looks, then for her money, and Mary Ann had plenty of that. She was a wealthy heiress and was astute enough to realise that she’d...
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In the October issue of the magazine we were lucky enough to meet Adam Henson at his farm just outside Stow-on-the-Wold. Adam is famous for co-presenting the BBC TV programme Countryfile. Here he gives us the low down on his Four Shires’ business; When did the business start and...
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Are you wearing wool today? You may have to think about it, but two hundred years ago the answer would almost certainly have been, “yes” with no hesitation necessary. The likelihood is that at this time of year you’d have been wrapped up in wool from your underwear to...
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A furtive dark clad figure creeps through the undergrowth. His eyes are accustomed to the night and he’s alert to the slightest sound. He’s on a risky mission, intent on bagging a few brace of pheasant to feed his family, and maybe to sell, no questions asked, to a...
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What started as a fascination with looking at watches in catalogues and magazines has led to Stephen Couldry becoming a highly skilled watchmaker and handling watches for a living. . Stephen works in a newly completed workshop at Michael Jones Jeweller on the High Street in Banbury. He has...
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In April 1891 a group of bicycle riders assembled in front of the Town Hall for the inaugural ride of the newly formed Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club. On their first trip out they decided to head for Middleton Cheney in nearby Northamptonshire. 125 years later they did very much...
Aconite, an extract of Aconitum napellus, or monkshood, is a lethal poison and has been labelled, “herbal arsenic”. It may be what killed the Roman Emperor Claudius. He could have died from natural causes, but the general consensus is that he was poisoned by, or on the orders of,...
This month is not so much of a walk but more of a short, two mile stroll to get back into shape following the Christmas break! However, we do meet the lead singer from a 1960s band, get a chance for a game of cricket and look for James...
Whenever you think of Father Christmas I’m sure the first image that comes to mind is that of a rosy cheeked, jolly fat man riding a sleigh pulled by reindeer and he travels the globe delivering presents to good children everywhere. But, the origins of this image are far...
There’s been a serious outbreak of grottoes nationwide, and the Four Shires have not been spared. The epidemic started in mid-November and has been gaining momentum ever since. These grottoes are usually made of plastic and range in form from huge inflatable bouncy sofas to turreted castles, taking in...
Mary Ann Horton wasn’t a looker. She acknowledged as much herself, and a woman in 19th century London was married if not for her looks, then for her money, and Mary Ann had plenty of that. She was a wealthy heiress and was astute enough to realise that she’d...
In the October issue of the magazine we were lucky enough to meet Adam Henson at his farm just outside Stow-on-the-Wold. Adam is famous for co-presenting the BBC TV programme Countryfile. Here he gives us the low down on his Four Shires’ business; When did the business start and...
Are you wearing wool today? You may have to think about it, but two hundred years ago the answer would almost certainly have been, “yes” with no hesitation necessary. The likelihood is that at this time of year you’d have been wrapped up in wool from your underwear to...
A furtive dark clad figure creeps through the undergrowth. His eyes are accustomed to the night and he’s alert to the slightest sound. He’s on a risky mission, intent on bagging a few brace of pheasant to feed his family, and maybe to sell, no questions asked, to a...
What started as a fascination with looking at watches in catalogues and magazines has led to Stephen Couldry becoming a highly skilled watchmaker and handling watches for a living. . Stephen works in a newly completed workshop at Michael Jones Jeweller on the High Street in Banbury. He has...
In April 1891 a group of bicycle riders assembled in front of the Town Hall for the inaugural ride of the newly formed Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club. On their first trip out they decided to head for Middleton Cheney in nearby Northamptonshire. 125 years later they did very much...