Oakley, Dorset
Encyclopedia
Oakley is a village community in Dorset
, England
. Sitting just south of the River Stour
it borders the suburb of Merley
and the village of Canford Magna
to the East and South and the Town of Wimborne 2 km to the North. The B3073, which links Wimborne and Poole, runs through the community.
Oakley has four major roads; Oakley Hill, Oakley Lane, Oakley Road and Merley Ways and approximately 800 individual dwellings. Smaller roads include Ullswater Road, Silverwood Close and Harrier Drive.
Most of the houses in Merley Ways and Oakley Hill were added in the 1930s and 1940s. They range from large, detached, villa-style houses, to more modest bungalow
residences for the more elderly residents. The houses at the bottom of Merley Ways have access to the River Stour
and many families own rowing boats and canoes. Most houses have large gardens, private garages and some have swimming pools.
Silverwood Close, Cruxton Farm and Harrier Drive are the newest roads in the community. The houses are large, detached and modern with those at the bottom of Silverwood Close looking out onto farming fields and the River Stour at the bottom of the hill.
. Once the Railway line was closed the pub became less popular until the community in Merley was built and Oakley and Canford Magna began to grow. The railway line was converted into the Castleman Trailway
and the Pub now serves the community, tourists, cyclists and walkers.
Penny Hughes. The community lounge is home to the Merley Social Club and tends to serve the residents of Merley. Many Oakley residents are members of Canford Magna Golf Club instead.
in the field of Defence, Avionics and Surveillance Systems. Many of the other adults work in Bournemouth
and Poole
, with some commuting to London.
The Independent Canford School
is situated nearby and serves the community alongside Poole Grammar School
for boys, Parkstone Grammar School
for girls and the mixed Corfe Hills School
.
Merley First School sits on the border between Merley and Oakley and many of the communities children are in attendance.
There is no defined border between Oakley, Merley and Canford Magna and only the latter is signposted. Furthering to the confusion, the Oakley Shopping Centre is in Merley, whilst the Merley Community Centre is technically in Oakley.
A simple way of dividing the communities is to take the bottom of Oakley Straight, pronouncing everything south and east of Harrier Drive, Merley, and everything north and west, Oakley.The residents of Oakley frequently use the amenities in Merley, which include a quality butchers, post office, doctors surgery, pharmacy, chinese take away and a convenience store.
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Sitting just south of the River Stour
River Stour, Dorset
The River Stour is a 60.5 mile long river which flows through Wiltshire and Dorset in southern England, and drains into the English Channel. It is sometimes called the Dorset Stour to distinguish it from rivers of the same name...
it borders the suburb of Merley
Merley
Merley is a large housing estate in the borough of Poole, a mile south of Wimborne Minster. Originally called Myrle, Merley was a manor in the tithing of Great Canford...
and the village of Canford Magna
Canford Magna
Canford Magna is a village in Dorset, England. The village is situated just south of the River Stour and lies in between the towns of Wimborne Minster and Poole. The village is the site of the large boarding school - Canford School. The school was previously the mansion and estate of Lord Wimborne....
to the East and South and the Town of Wimborne 2 km to the North. The B3073, which links Wimborne and Poole, runs through the community.
Oakley has four major roads; Oakley Hill, Oakley Lane, Oakley Road and Merley Ways and approximately 800 individual dwellings. Smaller roads include Ullswater Road, Silverwood Close and Harrier Drive.
Buildings and architecture
Oakley sits within a conservation area due to the large number of the much sought after Lady Wimborne Cottages in the community. Oakley Hill, Oakley Lane and Cruxton Farm are all listed as containing Buildings of Local Importance by the Borough of Poole. The Cottages date back to the late 19th Century when they were built by Lord Wimborne to house specialist workers from his Estate. The cottages were beautifully designed and so were given the title 'Lady Wimborne' cottages. Nowadays many of them have been extended, though keeping to the original style and building materials.Most of the houses in Merley Ways and Oakley Hill were added in the 1930s and 1940s. They range from large, detached, villa-style houses, to more modest bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
residences for the more elderly residents. The houses at the bottom of Merley Ways have access to the River Stour
River Stour, Dorset
The River Stour is a 60.5 mile long river which flows through Wiltshire and Dorset in southern England, and drains into the English Channel. It is sometimes called the Dorset Stour to distinguish it from rivers of the same name...
and many families own rowing boats and canoes. Most houses have large gardens, private garages and some have swimming pools.
Silverwood Close, Cruxton Farm and Harrier Drive are the newest roads in the community. The houses are large, detached and modern with those at the bottom of Silverwood Close looking out onto farming fields and the River Stour at the bottom of the hill.
The Willett Arms pub
The largest landmark in Oakley, The Willett Arms is situated on the top of Oakley Hill. Originally a private Public House, the Willett as it is referred to by locals, served travellers on the Wimborne to Poole road, as well as the Southampton and Dorchester RailwaySouthampton and Dorchester Railway
-Planning and Construction:The Southampton and Dorchester Railway, operating in the counties of Hampshire and Dorset, received Parliamentary Assent in 1845 and opened in 1847. The railway was promoted by a Wimborne solicitor, Charles Castleman...
. Once the Railway line was closed the pub became less popular until the community in Merley was built and Oakley and Canford Magna began to grow. The railway line was converted into the Castleman Trailway
Castleman Trailway
The Castleman Trailway is a footpath in Southern England. Portions of the trailway are also a cyclepath but the middle section from West Moors to Wimborne is not cyclable....
and the Pub now serves the community, tourists, cyclists and walkers.
The Merley Community Centre
The centre serves the residence of Oakley, Merley and Canford Magna. Built in the 1960s It has two main halls and a large community lounge. The small hall is home to the Footlight Dance Academy, and the Oakley Art Club. The Val Jones Memorial Hall is home to the Merley Karate Academy, part of the Dorset Goju Ryu Karate Association and led by SenseiSensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
Penny Hughes. The community lounge is home to the Merley Social Club and tends to serve the residents of Merley. Many Oakley residents are members of Canford Magna Golf Club instead.
Oakley House
A small, mental health hospital for older people, Oakley House sits surrounded by fields used by a local dairy herd. The hospital is staffed by the Wimborne & Purbeck team and also provides support for carers. The hospital has a large garden of its own and a small wood in the grounds.Demographics and education
The community is home to mainly Middle and Upper-Middle class families with a proportion of the adults being employed by Cobham plcCobham plc
Cobham plc is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
in the field of Defence, Avionics and Surveillance Systems. Many of the other adults work in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, with some commuting to London.
The Independent Canford School
Canford School
Canford School is a coeducational independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the village of Canford Magna, near to the market town of Wimborne Minster in Dorset, in South West England. The school was founded in 1923. There are approximately 600 pupils at Canford, organised into houses...
is situated nearby and serves the community alongside Poole Grammar School
Poole Grammar School
Poole Grammar School is a selective, all boys grammar school in Poole, on the south coast of England.-Admissions:...
for boys, Parkstone Grammar School
Parkstone Grammar School
Parkstone Grammar School is a selective, all girls state-school in Poole, on the southern coast of England.-Admissions:...
for girls and the mixed Corfe Hills School
Corfe Hills School
Corfe Hills School, is a purpose built secondary school in the urban fringe between Poole and Wimborne, located in Broadstone, Poole, England. In 2001, the school was given Technology College status. The school has over 1600 students and over 100 teaching staff...
.
Merley First School sits on the border between Merley and Oakley and many of the communities children are in attendance.
Relationship with Merley
Merley, a large suburb and housing estate was built alongside Oakley and Canford Magna in the 1970s. Originally the developers wanted to call is 'Oakley Garden Village' but this met with protests from the residents of Oakley and the name Merley was chosen.There is no defined border between Oakley, Merley and Canford Magna and only the latter is signposted. Furthering to the confusion, the Oakley Shopping Centre is in Merley, whilst the Merley Community Centre is technically in Oakley.
A simple way of dividing the communities is to take the bottom of Oakley Straight, pronouncing everything south and east of Harrier Drive, Merley, and everything north and west, Oakley.The residents of Oakley frequently use the amenities in Merley, which include a quality butchers, post office, doctors surgery, pharmacy, chinese take away and a convenience store.