Wantage
About Wantage
Welcome to the Wantage edition of The Oxford Magazine.
This historic market town that was historically part of Berkshire, Wantage is a very sociable place to be on Friday and Saturday evenings in summer, when its many pubs and restaurants around the market are particularly animated.
The most famous son of Wantage has to be King Alfred the Great who was born here in 849 and ruled the Kingdom of Wessex until 899. There’s a statue of him in the middle of the market place, sculpted by Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, a cousin of Queen Victoria.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days, and you should also browse the Vale and Downland Museum, in a 17th-century clothmaker’s house. And should you happen to around in December, the incredible Dickensian Evening is not to be missed.
Local news & stories
Wantage-based community action group benefits from developer’s Community Champions scheme
A Wantage-based community action group with sustainability at the core is the latest beneficiary of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme.
National Trust plans to fatten up Bronze Age White Horse chalk figure
Investigations by archaeologists from the National Trust and Oxford Archaeology discovered that the important chalk figure at Uffington, Oxfordshire, has shrunk over time.
Have a splashing good time at splash pads across the Vale this summer
Preparations are ramping up as the splash pads in the Vale of White Horse District are being prepared to be switched on for the summer.
Debate continues over future of Wantage Community Hospital
The future of Wantage Community Hospital remains at the heart of a fierce debate with campaigners concerned over provision for south west Oxfordshire.
Undercroft car park in Wantage transformed with young people’s art
In October last year, the council’s car park team decided to revamp the area with the help of a local youth group, The Sweatbox, and two local artists – Nor and Lisa.
The Star Inn in Sparsholt to reopen after extensive refurbishment programme
The historic Star Inn in Sparsholt will reopen on Wednesday 15 June after an extensive programme of refurbishment carried out by the team behind Newbury’s Michelin-starred restaurant, The Woodspeen.
Hospitality mogul Alastair Storey purchases award-winning The Star Inn in Sparsholt
The 80-cover pub, with a detached converted barn providing eight letting bedrooms, was extensively renovated and refurbished when it was bought by Ian and Caron Williams nine years ago.
Williams Racing commits to becoming climate positive by 2030
Building on progress in the global motorsport industry in recent years, Williams Racing goes further than any other race team in committing to becoming climate positive by 2030.
Council leaders issue statement to mark World Homelessness Day on 10 October
Leaders of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, Councillors Sue Cooper and Emily Smith, have issued a joint statement to mark World Homelessness Day on 10 October.
Williams Advanced Engineering and Nyobolt collaborate on next-gen batteries
The engineering and systems integration partnership is designed to support and advance a new class of niobium-powered lithium-ion battery technology.
