The ancient village of Horspath, active since before 1066, nestles on the slopes of Shotover, one mile outside the boundary of Oxford City and surrounded by Green Belt land. The old bridle-path joining the London Road through the neighbouring village of Wheatley gave the Anglo-Saxon name of "Horsepadan". In the Domesday Book it was recorded in 1086 that "Gilbert holds of Roger 5 ½ hides in Horspadan". With time "Horsepadan" became "Horsepath", but in 1912 the Parish Council changed to the unique form, "Horspath". The earliest existing Parish Register for "Horsepath" dates back to 1561.

St Giles Church