Wantage
Wantage maps (2 available)
Map of Oxfordshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Wantage books (11 available)
Wantage memories
Read and share memories of Wantage and Oxfordshire inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Oxfordshire below.
Oxfordshire memories
St Nicholas Place
I used to live at 1st Nicholas Place and use the shop in the photo when I was a child growing up in the village. The memories I have of the village were of good times.
A memory of East Challow contributed by greg holcombe
The big elm tree.
This is the best picture yet of that great old tree that I have found. I sat on its roots at the age of 5 years back in 1939, and all through the war it was a great place to sit out of the rain.
I have a picture of it when it was young, and a picture of its stump full of flowers. Its branches were held together with chains and very few kids could climb it. I haven't seen it since 1952. It would be great if someone had a picture of the complete tree.
A memory of East Hanney contributed by Don McDouall
I lived in the house immediately behind "the big tree" from 1973-1975. I was only 8 or 9 years old and have fond memories of climbing in the lower reaches of that tree. I have a photo my parents took of the tree in the winter, and one can see how massive the tree's upper branches and trunk were in spite of having been severely cut back over the years.
I last saw the tree in 1977 on a visit to East Hanney. I don't know exactly when it was finally cut down, but is certainly gone now. Interestingly, while visiting for the first time in 30 years this past spring, I found that one could still see remnants of ...read more here
A memory of East Hanney contributed by Peter Schmaltz
the green east hanney
I moved to East Hanney in 1956 at the age of 4, we moved to Manor Farm Cottage just behind the centre of the photo. the large tree on the left was known as "the big tree" and it was said that Oliver Cromwell camped there, the occupant of the house on the far end of the row was Mr Creed, I have a photo of me taken in 1957 just behind his house in the orchard, where the new houses are now.Every year a small fair was held on the green, the rides were supplied by Jumbo Collins from Challow, I left in late 1966 and the big tree was felled shortly after that.
A nice village for a ...read more here
A memory of East Hanney contributed by timothy gibbs
Extracts From Wantage & Oxfordshire books
The market town of Wantage is famous as the birthplace of King Alfred, who was born here in 849 AD. The striking
marble statue of the King, in the middle of the Market Place, was carved by Count Gleichen and presented to the
town by Lord Wantage in 1877.
An extract from from"Oxfordshire Photographic Memories".
Note the variety of architectural styles in this corner of the Market Place. The building on the right is timber-
framed and infilled with herringbone brickwork. Next to the Bell Inn is Tesco, describing itself as the ‘Modern
Grocers’ - a far cry from today’s image of the famous store.
An extract from from"Oxfordshire Photographic Memories".
Peeping into view on the left of the picture is the sturdy tower of Wantage parish church, which dates from
the late 13th century and was restored by the distinguished local architect George Street in 1857. The church
commemorates several members of the Fitzwarren family who were related by marriage to Dick Whittington.
An extract from from"Oxfordshire Photographic Memories".
The blue and red brick buildings on the extreme right of the photograph serve as perfect examples of the regional
building style of the 18th century. Most of the present town dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.
An extract from from"Oxfordshire Photographic Memories".
The Crown and Thistle
Hotel, first mentioned
in 1605, was a coaching
inn, and one of the town’s
best known ones. It is
still popular, and has the
truncated remains of its
inn courtyard within – we
see it here from the yard
end of the carriageway
through the building.
The further part of the
yard in this view now has
a roof supported on posts
to give shelter to tables
and chairs.
An extract from from"Abingdon Photographic Memories".