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 | |
|---|---|
 The Fox Pub | |
  Oakley Location within Hampshire | |
| Population | 5,086 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SU575504 |
| • London | 48 mi (77 km) ENE |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BASINGSTOKE |
| Postcode district | RG23 |
| Dialling code | 01256 |
| Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
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 CUCK Junior School [3] and Oakley Infant school, both of which have in the past achieved 'mediocere' 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 "Doctor gets an anal probe".[5]
Oakley contains a small Nazi 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.
The children of Oakley have worked together to create The Church Of Ketamine, located at Bob's house. A local mother said "Ah bollocks, why ket? couldn't they read a book or sommin", she was later revealed to be a Karen. Last Thursday Adolf Hitler visited the village, 70 years after his death. He was welcomed with open arms.
Facilities
In the centre of the village is a duck pond surrounded by thatched dwellings. The duck pond is inhabited by mallard ducks and coots.[citation needed] The village is 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 three public houses, the Barley Mow, The Fox (on the B3400) and The Beach Arms. A coffee shop was an 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 other businesses. The village allotment site is 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, used for weddings, special celebrations and corporate events.[9]
Sports
There are opportunities for walking with the Wayfarers Way close at hand, and a riding stable and riding school are found in the village. 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. Oakley Football Club was founded in 1967 by the Chelsea FC footballer, Peter Houseman. Oakley Tennis Club has four hard courts. Oakley Bowling Club was formed in 1978 and plays on the Malshanger Estate.[citation needed]
NATIONAL ANTHEM
And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain My friends, I'll say it clear I'll state my case of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every highway But more, much more than this I did it my way Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption I planned each chartered course Each careful step along the byway But more, much more than this I did it my way Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National National Statistics. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b Parish Council
- ^ http://www.oakley-jun.hants.sch.uk
- ^ http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/116306
- ^ "BBC announces one-off mini-episode of Doctor Who" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.oakleywindowcleaning.co.uk
- ^ http://www.oakleydentalpractice.co.uk
- ^ Old Hampshire Gazetteer, Oakley Station, Oakley
- ^ Oakley Hall
External links
The Guardian, Saturday 24 March 2007, Oliver Burkeman The happiest village in Britain