The hill is the highest part of the parish, rising to 463 feet (141 m) south of the village near Stow Wood.

On the eastern brow of the hill is Oxford transmitting station, a television relay mast that is a local landmark.

In the 19th century the remains of a Roman villa were found beside the road to Upper Park Farm east of the village.

Until the Norman conquest of England the manor of Beckley was one of many that belonged to Saxon Wigod, thegn of Wallingford.

Thomas supported Philip II of France in his wars against England, so by 1196 or 1197 Richard I seized the de St. Valery estates including Beckley.

When Richard's heir Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall died childless in 1300 his cousin Edward I inherited his estates.

In 1308 Edward II granted Beckley to Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester, who then leased it to Sir John de Hadlow.

Sir Philip had died by 1408, and when Henry V married Catherine de Valois in 1420 he gave her Beckley as part of her dowry.

In 1559 Baron Williams died leaving Beckley and Horton to his daughter Margaret and son-in-law Sir Henry Norreys.

When Bridget died in 1657 Beckley passed to their son James Bertie, 5th Baron Norreys, whom Charles II made 1st Earl of Abingdon in 1682.

When Edward I was fighting the First War of Scottish Independence (1296 onwards) he ordered the park's keeper to repair its wall, pale and ditch.

It lay just east of the present village, where the south-western part of Thomas of St. Valery's park pale still survives.

[4] The Earl of Cornwall had a hunting lodge built near the centre of the park, at the foot of the hill overlooking Otmoor to the north.

After Sir John Williams bought the manor of Beckley he had the present Tudor house built, just outside the moats and adjoining the outermost one.

Nicholas Levet, priest of Westbourne, West Sussex and fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, who is buried in the chancel of the parish church.