The History

The Brasenose Arms is a 17th century country Inn, situated in the heart of Cropredy, a rural village just 4 miles north of Banbury, Oxfordshire. Originally three cottages, it was converted into a Public House in the late 17th century.

The pub was built on land purchased from the Brasenose college, hence the Brasenose Arms, which makes it the only pub in the country with this name. The name is thought to be a corruption of the words brasenhuis or brewhouse, the college having been built on the site of an ancient brewery.

The most likely explanation is that it refers to a brazen (brass or bronze) door knocker in the shape of a nose. For over 550 years the original nose was at Stamford, because in the time of Edward III the students in search of religious liberty migrated there, taking the knocker with them. They were soon recalled but the nose knocker remained at the Stamford property until 1890 when the property was bought by the college and the nose was returned to Oxford.

Local Knowledge:

• The Battle of Cropredy Bridge, an English Civil War battle, often gets a re-enactment by the Sealed Knot.

• Cropredy has always been known for its music and has often been used as a source of fundraising for the church bells.

• The Oxford Canal was opened in 1777 at Cropredy.

• The village is visited by keen walkers.