Oare is a small village in the east of the county of Wiltshire, England. The village lies about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Pewsey, on the A345 road towards Marlborough, and falls within the civil parish of Wilcot, Huish and Oare.
| Oare | |
|---|---|
 Oare in 1932, by Fred C. Palmer | |
  Oare Location within Wiltshire | |
| OS grid reference | SU158629 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Marlborough |
| Postcode district | SN8 |
| Dialling code | 01672 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | www |
History edit
Oare was anciently a tithing of Wilcot parish. With effect from May 2021, the parishes of Wilcot and Huish were merged to form the parish of Wilcot, Huish and Oare.
Geography edit
The area is popular with walkers and the Mid Wilts Way long-distance footpath passes through the village.[1] The Giant's Grave at the eastern edge of the village offers views over the village and Vale of Pewsey.[2]
A heart-shaped tree plantation was created in 1999, below Huish Hill in the southeast of Huish parish, near Oare.[3] The heart is a geoglyph, but not a hill figure like the many surrounding "white horses" such as the Marlborough White Horse.
Church edit
The Goodman family inherited the Oare House estate in 1796 and held it until it was broken up in 1893.[4] In 1857–8 Mrs M Goodman, widow of Reverend Maurice Hillier Goodman who had been vicar of Wilcot, paid for the construction of the Church of the Holy Trinity on a site west of Oare House, as a chapel of ease for Wilcot.[5] She engaged the prolific architect S. S. Teulon, who designed an apsed church in Romanesque style, mostly in red brick with some mildly contrasting colours. The nave and chancel are under one tiled roof, and there is a south porch and west bellcote.[6]
An ecclesiastical parish was created for the church in 1892, formed from part of Wilcot parish together with areas which had been detached parts of Alton Priors chapelry (in Overton parish), Huish and North Newnton.[7]
In 1924 the benefices of Huish and Oare were united, with the parsonage house to be at Huish.[8] Wilcot was added in 1962.[9] In 1972 the parishes of Huish and Oare were united and a team ministry was established for the local area.[10] Today the church is part of the Vale of Pewsey Churches, a group of 16 churches.[11]
Buildings edit
Oare House, built in 1740 on the western edge of the village, is Grade I listed.[12] It was largely remodelled in the early 1920s by Portmeirion architect Clough Williams-Ellis. Its gardens, which include a summerhouse also designed by Williams-Ellis,[13] are listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[14] To the west of the gardens stands the Oare Pavilion, completed in 2003 and the only British building designed by I. M. Pei.[15]
At the northern edge of the village is Rainscombe House, built circa 1810 and Grade II listed.[16] Its grounds, in the valley between Oare Hill and Martinsell Hill, are the location for the annual Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally, held in June or July.[17]
Oare Church of England Primary School was built in 1914 in the north of the village, replacing an 1850s building near the church.[18] Pupils came from a wider area after 1969 when falling pupil numbers led to the closure of Wilcot school.[19] The school at Oare was remodelled and extended in 2003.[18]
References edit
- ^ "Wiltshire". Mid Wilts Way: A New Long Distance Walking Route for Wiltshire. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ This Giant's Grave is not to be confused with Parc Cwm long cairn
- ^ Jones, Sarah (1 February 2010). "Heart shaped wood mystery at Oare". BBC News: Wiltshire. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ Baggs, A.P.; Crowley, D.A.; Pugh, Ralph B.; Stevenson, Janet H.; Tomlinson, Margaret (1975). Crittall, Elizabeth (ed.). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 10 pp190-204 – Parishes: Wilcot". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Oare: Holy Trinity: About Us". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of the Holy Trinity (1364676)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "No. 26269". The London Gazette. 18 March 1892. pp. 1597–1598.
- ^ "No. 32910". The London Gazette. 22 February 1924. pp. 1553–1554.
- ^ "No. 42864". The London Gazette. 21 December 1962. p. 9981.
- ^ "No. 45614". The London Gazette. 3 March 1972. p. 2705.
- ^ "Churches". Vale of Pewsey Churches. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Oare House (1035754)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Summer House to south garden, Oare House (1364675)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Historic England. "Oare House (1001241)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ "Summer house architect wins top award". BBC News. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ Historic England. "Rainscombe House (1035750)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Oare Church of England Primary School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Wilcot Church of England School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
External links edit
- "Wilcot and Huish with Oare Parish Council". Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- "Oare village website". Retrieved 30 August 2017.
