Oakley, Dorset
| Oakley | |
| Dorset | |
|---|---|
 The Willett Arms at Oakley | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SZ017986 |
| Location: | 50°47’14"N, 1°58’36"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,400 |
| Post town: | Wimborne |
| Postcode: | BH21 |
| Dialling code: | 01202 |
| Local Government | |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Mid Dorset & North Poole |
Oakley is a village in Dorset, sitting just south of the River Stour, opposite Wimborne Minster. It on the B3073 road, which links Wimborne and Poole, and unforgivingly cut through by the A31.
The village sits beside the new suburb of Merley and the village of Canford Magna to the east and south. Wimborne is a mile to the north across the Stour.
Much of the village is a conservation area within it are the Lady Wimborne Cottages, a set of pretty cottage built in the late 19th Century by Lord Wimborne to house specialist workers from his Estate. The cottages were beautifully designed and so were given the title 'Lady Wimborne' cottages.
Most of the houses in Merley Ways and Oakley Hill were added in the 1930s and 1940s. They range from large, detached, villa-style houses, to more modest bungalow residences for the more elderly residents. The houses at the bottom of Merley Ways have access to the River Stour and many families own rowing boats and canoes. Most houses have large gardens, private garages and some have swimming pools.
Society
The village pub is The Willett Arms, the main landmark in Oakley, standing on the top of Oakley Hill. It originally served travellers on the Wimborne to Poole road, as well as the Southampton and Dorchester Railway, but once the Railway line was closed the pub lost customers, until the newly developed community in Merley was built and Oakley and Canford Magna began to grow. The railway line was converted into the Castleman Trailway and the Pub now serves the community, tourists, cyclists and walkers.
The Merley Community Centre was built in the 1960s It has two main halls and a large community lounge, which houses the Merley Social Club.
Merley House
Merley House is an ancient manor house which belonged to Canford estate and housed Merley Bird Gardens, a collection of exotic birds in a picturesque walled garden, on its estate. It is now a holiday caravan park.
The development of Merley
Merley, a large suburb and housing estate was built alongside Oakley and Canford Magna in the 1970s. Originally the developers wanted to call is 'Oakley Garden Village' but this met with protests from the residents of Oakley and the name 'Merley' was chosen. The new development runs indistinguishably into Oakley.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Oakley, Dorset) |
