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Pictures of Wheatley

in the county of Oxfordshire

Wheatley, Oxfordshire

About Wheatley

The south eastern Oxfordshire village of Wheatley is about 6 miles from Oxford City and some 50 miles from Central London but because the village is about 60 miles from the nearest seaside resort, it is considered to be one of the most 'inland' areas of the British Isles.

Wheatley was occupied by the Saxons and the Romans dating back to AD260. A Saxon cemetery was discovered in Wheatley during 1883 with some of the 'find' now available for viewing at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. A Roman Villa was also found in 1845 where coins and tiles were discovered.

Perhaps one of the most interesting features in Wheatley is the conical shaped stone 'lock up', a place of temporary detention which was built in 1834. Long ago the village was a place of gambling and heavy drinking due to the stone quarry industry that prevailed and ten or more public houses to choose from! So there was a certain wealth in the village and accordingly it attracted the younger men from Oxford who would spend their cash betting against the locals on bull baiting and cock fighting.

Apart from the stone quarrying for which incidentally the stone was used in the building of Windsor Castle and Merton College, Oxford, other local buildings were erected sometime after the 12th Century. Trades like milling and ochre grinding were taking place at the windmill situated in Windmill Lane, Wheatley which is in the process of restoration. Another local house worth seeing is that of Thomas Archdale who built and owned the so called Wheatley Manor House.

In 1862 the arrival of the railway changed Wheatley with links from the village to Oxford, High Wycombe and London. Today those same routes are covered by road and buses.

The Oxford to London 'stagecoach' ran through the village after crossing Shotover Hill today a Nature Reserve. But these were the days of the highwaymen and Wheatley was a favourite place to stop and rob. The Inns in Church Road and High Street, Wheatley would allow the travellers rest and a change of horses.

Shotover House, originally part of 'Shotover' was the home of Lt. Col Sir John Miller who was Crown Equerry to HM the Queen. During 1888 Sir John Miller's grandmother gifted the 'Merry Bells' situated in the High Street, to the villagers for use as a hotel. It is said she was upset to see the hardship and drunkenness in the village. Today the Merry Bells is the social centre of the village where one might go to discuss local planning details, vote in an election or just meet up with friends for a cup of tea and biscuits.

St Mary the Virgin Church in Church Street, Wheatley, otherwise referred to as 'St Mary's' was designed by G E Street and consecrated in 1857. On the site of the old tannery is the Congregational church which was built in 1842. Wheatley also has a Roman Catholic Church and Granary Hall chapel which is in the old mission hall.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Wheatley

Shotover Country Park(2.0 miles, 3.3 km, direction W)Pictures
The Kilns(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Museum(3.0 miles, 4.9 km, direction W)Pictures
Botanic Gardens of Oxford(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)Pictures
The Radcliffe Camera(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)Pictures
Museum of The History of Science(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)Pictures
C S Lewis Tours(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)Pictures
Bate Collection of Musical Instruments(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction W)Pictures
Christ Church Picture Gallery(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction W)Pictures
Pitt Rivers Museum(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)Pictures
University Museum of Natural History(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)Pictures
Museum of Modern Art(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)Pictures
Museum of Oxford(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)Pictures
Ashmolean Museum(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Long Crendon Courthouse(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction E)Pictures

All attractions in Wheatley
All attractions in Oxfordshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Wheatley

Beckley, in the county of Oxfordshire (4.1 miles, 6.5 km, direction NW)
The village lies in spacious countryside within a short distance of the River Ray where there is boating and fishing.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chislehampton, in the county of Oxfordshire (4.2 miles, 6.7 km, direction S)
Dreamy village where the River Tame is crossed by a 16th-century stone bridge.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Oxford, a Historic City in the county of Oxfordshire (5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)
Oxford's fame is perhaps second only to Windsor, it is an acclaimed seat of learning with a University whose first college was founded in 1249, almost half a century after the first charter granted to the town by Henry II.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Long Crendon, in the county of Buckinghamshire (5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction E)
Long Crendon is a picture postcard village of thatched cottages hung with rich foliage strung out through a myriad of winding...
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Thame, in the county of Oxfordshire (6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction E)
Thame is an ancient market town whose charter was granted by Wulfhere, King of Mercia. It was later mentioned in the Doomsday...
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Clifton Hampden, in the county of Oxfordshire (6.9 miles, 11.2 km, direction SW)
This is a popular Thames side village which was the choice of Jerome K. Jerome for a setting for one of the riotous scenes of his...
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Dorchester-on-Thames, a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire (7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction S)
This is a delightful village set beside the River Thames at a point where the historic river is joined by the lesser known River...
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Abingdon, a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire (8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction SW)
Interesting town, developed around the gates of an abbey founded in 675.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Haddenham, in the county of Buckinghamshire (8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction E)
This is a large sprawling village in the heart of picturesque Buckinghamshire countryside. The village has a long history,...
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Bledlow, in the county of Buckinghamshire (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction E)
This is one of Buckinghamshire most attractive villages. Anyone visiting the area could be forgiven for thinking they had seen it somewhere before because the village has been the setting for scenes in the T.V. drama Midsommer Murders. Take a close look at the Church of The Holy Trinity - in one episode this became St.Michael's church.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Horsenden, in the county of Buckinghamshire (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction E)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Woodstock, a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction NW)
Woodstock will be forever inextricably linked with the great Palace of Blenheim and as birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, one of the greatest Englishmen ever.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Princes Risborough, in the county of Buckinghamshire (12.8 miles, 20.5 km, direction E)
An exquisite feature of the town is the Norman Church of St.Mary, the church shows restoration work from the 13th and 14th centuries and a modern spire built during the early part of the 20th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Nettlebed, a Picturesque Village in the county of Oxfordshire (13.2 miles, 21.3 km, direction SE)
Nettlebed is a lovely English village in the heart of rural Oxfordshire.
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East Hendred, in the county of Oxfordshire (13.8 miles, 22.1 km, direction SW)
East Hendred is one of the spring line villages nestling just below the Downs in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Oxfordshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

M40 Junction 8(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction E)
M40 Junction 8(2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction SE)
Radley Station(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SW)
Oxford Station(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction W)
London Luton Airport(33.7 miles, 54.1 km, direction E)
London Heathrow Airport(34.8 miles, 56.0 km, direction SE)
Wheatley to London(46.2 miles, 74.3 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Wheatley

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Wheatley center
Days Inn Hotel Oxford(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction E)
The Bat & Ball Inn(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction S)
The Otmoor Lodge(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction N)
Mercure Eastgate Oxford(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction W)
The Sportsview Guest House(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)
Victoria House Hotel(5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction W)
Eurobar Cafe & Hotel(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction W)
Linton Lodge - Best Western(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)
White Hart Hotel(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction S)
Royal Oxford Hotel(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction W)
All hotels in Wheatley

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