The Charming Town of Wantage - Oxfordshire

A charming village filled with half-timber buildings, theburial mounds and one of Britains most impressive
town of Wantage - Oxfordshire is eight milesprehistoric tombs Wayland Smithy and White Horse.
southwest of Abingdon with a population of aboutThe church of St. Peter and St. Paul originate from
10,000. It is nestled under the Ridgeway track, anthe 13th century.
ancient pre-Roman ruin that runs along the Thames.With a thriving social community, Wantage has many
It is thought to be one of the oldest roads in Europe.organizations and clubs. With a brass band and an
The town is made up of buildings from the 17th andoperatic society music is an important part of the
18th century with narrow cobblestone streets. Thetown. In the months of June and July a month long
town market has been in existence for the pastmusic and arts festival is held. There is also a
2,000 years.Dickenson evening prior to Christmas. Poet laureate
Birthplace of King Alfred the Great born in 849 A. D,John Betjeman lived here for many years writing
a statue was erected in his honor in 1877. It waspoetry about the town and surrounding areas.
carved and designed by Count Gleichen a cousin ofExamples are Wantage Bells and On Leaving
Queen Victoria. One of Winston Churchills heroes, heWantage. A memorial park in his honor with a statue
once said he was the greatest Englishman that everand displays of his work are in a wooded area close
lived.to the Wantage Church.
A small Roman settlement the name refers to aWantage - Oxfordshire is changing, since 2007
Saxon phrase meaning decreasing river. Since 1848 ithousing developments have increased the population.
has been home to the Community of Saint Mary theIn the heart of high technology and close to many
Virgin, one of the world largest communities ofsignificant laboratories and research facilities this
Anglican nuns. Steeped in historical sites, above thequaint little village is a mix of the old and the new.
town you can see Iron Age hill forts, Bronze Age