Thatching under way at the Bell Inn, in Hampton Poyle, in 1941
BRITAIN might have been at war, but in some parts of the country life continued much as it always had done.
A thatcher is pictured going about his daily work on the roof of the Bell Inn, at Hampton Poyle, near Kidlington, in March 1941.
This was the year that the Luftwaffe damaged the House of Commons, the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Hood was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck and the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, bringing the US into the war.
The Bell is still open as a pub, restaurant and hotel, although the thatched section of the roof has been replaced more recently with slate.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here