Oaksey, A Village In Wiltshire:Oaksey Village In The Cotswolds

The Village

All Saints, Oaksey Village Church The village of Oaksey was mentioned in the Domesday book and comes from the Saxon WOCHESIE. In 1066 the manor was owned by a Saxon Lord by the name of Brictric. The manor eventually passed into the hands of Henry Bolingbroke, the son of the Duke of Lancaster. Although there is no visible trace of the former manor house it is suggested that the location was situated close to the church.

There is however, a moat and bailey earthworks, the only visible remains of a castle known locally as Norwood Castle, located north west of Dean Farm which can be found on the lane taken from the small roundabout in the village towards Poole Keynes.

Many of the older properties date from around the 17th century onwards, One being a Tudor house north east of the church. On walking around the village you begin to notice the decline of village shops or businesses with properties being converted into homes from their former use, names like the "Old Bakery" or "Old Dairy" begin to appear, acting only as a reminder to days of a previous era. If you are lucky you may still hear the sound of metal on the anvil at the local forge which is still operating. The modern village is a mixture of private and local authority housing with the more modern homes on the village outskirts, although new houses are being built in the village centre.

The village church of All Saints is 13th century with restorations taking place in the 14th and 15th centuries is of the Early English Perpendicular architecture style. Mural wall paintings where discovered in 1933.

Oaksey was the home of author Elspeth Huxley who has written a book, GALLIPOT EYES-A WILTSHIRE DIARY, about the village and her observations of some of the great characters associated with Oaksey. The village still has a great community spirit with several children's groups and successful football club.

Oaksey Woods and the local organic water meadows at nearby Clattinger Farm are a pleasure for local walkers and lovers of nature.