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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Clun Castle in South Shropshire

Clun

in the county of Shropshire

Threlkeld Village, Cumbria, with Blencathra (Halls Fell and summit)

Threlkeld

in the county of Cumbria

River Irwell, Salford

Salford

in the county of Greater Manchester

Pictures of Wheatley

in the county of 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.

Recommended towns & villages near Wheatley

Radcliffe Square, Oxford

Oxford (771 Pictures) a Historic City in the county of Oxfordshire

(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W of Wheatley)

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...

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Clifton Hampden (28 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Oxfordshire

(6.9 miles, 11.2 km, direction SW of Wheatley)

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 "Three Men in a Boat" and it is easy to see just.....

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Abingdon (98 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire

(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction SW of Wheatley)

Interesting town, developed around the gates of an abbey founded in 675...

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Ewelme (52 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Oxfordshire

(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction S of Wheatley)

Ewelme is a quiet place particularly noted for its historic parish church...

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Woodstock (94 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire

(11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction NW of Wheatley)

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Distant views of Cowley, Oxfordshire.

Shotover Country Park (52 Pictures)

(2.0 miles, 3.3 km, direction W)

Shotover Country Park covers 117 hectares on the southern slopes of Shotover Hill, and is very popular with walkers, joggers, dog.....

Home of C.S. Lewis

The Kilns (23 Pictures)

(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction W)

C S Lewis' former home known today throughout the world as the Kilns was built in 1922. The area surrounding it was in fact a.....

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Botanic Gardens of Oxford (7 Pictures)

(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)

Situated on the banks of the River Cherwell is the peaceful settings of the beautiful Botanic Gardens of Oxford. The gardens are.....

A picture of Pitt Rivers Museum

Pitt Rivers Museum (2 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)

An impressive storehouse filled with the richest examples of human creativity and imagination. Masks peer down from the high.....

A picture of University Museum of Natural History

University Museum of Natural History (7 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)

Opened in 1860 as a home for the teaching of natural science in Oxford. The Museum, with its glass-roofed court, naturalistic.....

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Ashmolean Museum (1 Pictures)

(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction W)

Built in 1845 as the university Galleries, this Museum became home to the Ashmolean collection in 1894. The museums present.....

Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire.

Long Crendon Courthouse (2 Pictures)

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Long Crendon is a beautiful Buckinghamshire village which is possibly best know for its stunning 15th century Courthouse, given.....


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