Wootton, Vale of White Horse
Encyclopedia
Wootton is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse
about 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Abingdon
. It was part of Berkshire
until the 1974 boundary changes
transferred it to Oxfordshire
. The parish of Wootton includes the hamlets
of Henwood
and Lamborough Hill and the western part of Boars Hill
.
of Saint Peter
was built in the 14th century, from which time the Decorated Gothic east window of the chancel
survives. In the 15th century the nave
was rebuilt with Perpendicular Gothic windows. The south door and porch are 16th century and the chancel arch may have been rebuilt in the 18th century.
Until the 19th century Wootton was part of the parish of Cumnor
. The first vicar of Wootton was appointed in 1885. Wootton was united in a single benefice with St. Helen's, Dry Sandford
in 2000.
primary school.
The village is the site of the newly refurbished Wootton Business Park, and two new housing estates. There are a few shops in Wootton, including two convenience stores, a pharmacy
, and a chip shop
. There is also a dentist
, general medical practice
, a hairdresser, a bathroom shop, a carpet shop and Sign-a-Rama. Wootton's social amenities include the Bystander public house
, a Royal British Legion club, and a community centre where various activities take place, such as local school fêtes and a local bingo.
The post office
used to be next to the fish and chip
shop but closed in September 2008. Now the post office is inside the Co-Operative
store.
Vale of White Horse
The Vale of White Horse is a local government district of Oxfordshire in England. The main town is Abingdon, other places include Faringdon and Wantage. There are 68 parishes within the district...
about 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
. It was part of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
until the 1974 boundary changes
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
transferred it to Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. The parish of Wootton includes the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Henwood
Henwood
Henwood is a hamlet about south-west of Oxford, England. Henwood is in Wootton civil parish in the Vale of White Horse District.Historically Henwood was a single farm in the parish of Cumnor, until Wootton was created a separate parish in the 19th century. Since then there has been ribbon...
and Lamborough Hill and the western part of Boars Hill
Boars Hill
Boars Hill is a hill hamlet southwest of Oxford, straddling the boundariy between the civil parishes of Sunningwell and Wootton. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-History:...
.
History
The Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
was built in the 14th century, from which time the Decorated Gothic east window of the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
survives. In the 15th century the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was rebuilt with Perpendicular Gothic windows. The south door and porch are 16th century and the chancel arch may have been rebuilt in the 18th century.
Until the 19th century Wootton was part of the parish of Cumnor
Cumnor
Cumnor is a village and civil parish west of the centre of Oxford, England. The parish of Cumnor includes Cumnor Hill, , Chawley , the Dean Court area on the edge of Botley and the outlying settlements of Chilswell, Farmoor and Swinford...
. The first vicar of Wootton was appointed in 1885. Wootton was united in a single benefice with St. Helen's, Dry Sandford
Dry Sandford
Dry Sandford is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse about north-west of Abingdon. It is one of two villages in the civil parish of St Helen Without. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire....
in 2000.
Amenities
The village has a Church of EnglandVoluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
primary school.
The village is the site of the newly refurbished Wootton Business Park, and two new housing estates. There are a few shops in Wootton, including two convenience stores, a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, and a chip shop
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
. There is also a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
, general medical practice
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, a hairdresser, a bathroom shop, a carpet shop and Sign-a-Rama. Wootton's social amenities include the Bystander public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, a Royal British Legion club, and a community centre where various activities take place, such as local school fêtes and a local bingo.
The post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
used to be next to the fish and chip
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
shop but closed in September 2008. Now the post office is inside the Co-Operative
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
store.