Oakley, Hampshire

Oakley

The Fox Pub
Oakley
Oakley shown within Hampshire
Population 5,086 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid reference SU575504
• London 48 mi (77 km) ENE
Civil parish
  • Oakley
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BASINGSTOKE
Postcode district RG23
Dialling code 01256
Police Hampshire
Fire Hampshire
Ambulance South Central
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament

Oakley is a village in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in Hampshire, England, located around 4.5 miles (7 km) west of Basingstoke. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 5,322. Together with the smaller village of Deane, it forms the Oakley and Deane civil parish renamed as Oakley at the 2011 Census.

Oakley appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Oakley is divided into two districts, East Oakley and Church Oakley. The village sits on chalkland.[2] Its village magazine, Link, is published monthly.

Education and worship

Oakley has two linked educational facilities: Oakley CE Junior School [3] and Oakley Infant school, both of which have in the past achieved 'Outstanding' ratings in OFSTED inspections. In 2015 Oakley CE Junior School's overall effectiveness was rated 'Good'.[4] Pupils of Oakley CE Junior School won a BBC learning competition, to create a Doctor Who mini-adventure. Their winning adventure was entitled "Death Is the Only Answer".[5]

Oakley contains a small Methodist church, and the ancient Anglican church, St Leonard's. The Anglican church (St John's) was recently demolished for safety reasons and has been translated into a garden of remembrance with the war memorial positioned on the site of the altar.

Facilities

In the centre of the village is a duck pond surrounded by attractive thatched dwellings. The duck pond is inhabited by mallard ducks and coots. The village is well supplied with local tradesmen, has a surgery (part of a shared practice with the next village of Overton), a central convenience store with a post office, a local butcher's, estate agent (Blue House), pharmacy, veterinary surgery, a local window cleaner[6] and a dental practice.[7] There are also three public houses, the Barley Mow, The Fox (on the B3400) and The Beach Arms. A coffee shop was a recent addition to the village. Its railway station, originally on the West of England Main Line, closed in 1963, and the buildings are now used by various local businesses. The village allotment site stands next to the old railway station.[8] Situated to the west of the village is Oakley Hall, an 18th-century Georgian manor that is now a hotel, much used for weddings, special celebrations and corporate events.[9]

Sports

Oakley's public sporting facilities include a football pitch (Peter Houseman field), several fields, two tarmac tennis courts, and a set of skateboard ramps. Oakley has many children's football clubs plus adult rugby, table tennis, cricket, tennis and football clubs. There are also ample opportunities for walking with the Wayfarers Way close at hand, and a riding stable and riding school are also found in the village.

Oakley Cricket Club

Oakley Cricket Club was founded in 1849; OCC's grounds are at Oakley Park, where, on 11 June 1961, the Hampshire cricketer Roy Marshall captained a team for a benefit match. This team, which won the match with 246 runs, also included Arthur Milton and Cliff Michelmore.

OCC's three youth teams are known as the Colts.

Oakley Football Club

Oakley Football Club was founded in 1967 by the Chelsea FC footballer, Peter Houseman. The aims stated by Oakley FC are to enjoy their football, and encourage boys and girls to take part from all ages and abilities.

Oakley Tennis Club

Oakley Tennis Club has four hard courts.

Oakley and Deane Parish Council

Oakley Parish Council was formed in 1894. In 1966 the East Oakley ward of Wootton St Lawrence became part of the parish[10] and in 1976 the Deane Parish Meeting also joined the council, at which point it became known as Oakley and Deane Parish Council. The 2016 chairman of the council is Ros Blackman.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National National Statistics. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Parish Council
  3. ↑ http://www.oakley-jun.hants.sch.uk
  4. ↑ http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/116306
  5. ↑ "BBC announces one-off mini-episode of Doctor Who" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.oakleywindowcleaning.co.uk
  7. ↑ http://www.oakleydentalpractice.co.uk
  8. ↑ Old Hampshire Gazetteer, Oakley Station, Oakley
  9. ↑ Oakley Hall
  10. ↑ "Oakley and Deane parish council - history". Retrieved 23 August 2010.

The Guardian, Saturday 24 March 2007, Oliver Burkeman The happiest village in Britain

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