South Oxhey
| South Oxhey | |
| Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
 Oxhey Chapel | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ115925 |
| Location: | 51°37’13"N, 0°23’27"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Watford |
| Postcode: | WD19 |
| Dialling code: | 020 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Three Rivers |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South West Hertfordshire |
South Oxhey is a town in Hertfordshire, serving as a suburb of Watford, within the Watford Rural parish. It lies in the south-western corner of the county, close to the boundary with Middlesex.
South Oxhey is a large estate almost exclusively made up of council-built properties. This is in stark contrast to the neighbouring estate of Carpenders Park, whose dwellings were predominantly privately built.
Churches
Oxhey Chapel is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
All Saints Church was opened in 1957 to serve the new estate of South Oxhey which the London County Council built after the Second World War. The church was demolished and rebuilt in 2000.
History
South Oxhey was built on land that was formerly part of the Oxhey Hall Estate.[1] There was a manor house here, Oxhey Place, and a chapel.[2] The manor house was owned by the Blackwell family of Crosse and Blackwell fame. It burnt down in 1955. Oxhey Chapel dates from 1612 and is still standing to the south of the parish church, All Saints.[3][4]
The estate was built after the Second World War to help alleviate the housing pressures thrust upon London during the Blitz as well as general inadequate housing. South Oxhey was originally built and managed by the London County Council and later the Greater London Council.
In 1980 the ownership and management of the estate was transferred from the GLC to Three Rivers District Council, who retain ownership.
Since the introduction of the nationwide right to buy policy in 1980, many South Oxhey residents have bought their homes from the local council, and now some 70% of houses on the estate are privately owned.
Big Society
South Oxhey Army Cadets Detachment, 3 Coy, Gosforth Lane
- Oxhey Jets football club
- 2384 Bushey and Oxhey squadron (Gosforth Lane) - Air Cadets
- South Oxhey Choirs
South Oxhey Choirs
The South Oxhey Community Choir and the South Oxhey Youth Choir are two groups that were assembled by as part of the BBC television series The Choir: Unsung Town[5] filmed at nearby Merchant Taylors' School.
As part of the TV series, the choirs performed at venues including the Watford Colosseum, St Albans Abbey, and headlining at Sox Fest '09 in May 2009.[6] In April 2009, the Community Choir made their debut recording at Abbey Road Studios.[7] The choirs continue to make regular performances about 3 to 4 times per year at events around Hertfordshire and the South East of England.[8]
Local facilities
- Oxhey Library (Bridlington Road) [9]
- The Centre (Gosforth Lane) - A community and leisure facility[10]
- Sir James Altham Pool (Altham Way)[11]
- Carpenders Park railway station
References
- ↑ Map of Oxhey, early 20th century
- ↑ Watford - Manors (British History online) accessed 4 May 2008
- ↑ Churches Conservation Trust accessed 4 May 2008
- ↑ satellite view from Google maps accessed 4 May 2008
- ↑ South Oxhey Choirs
- ↑ South Oxhey Festival
- ↑ .The South Oxhey Community Choir record The Beatles at Abbey Road, Watford Observer Friday 24th April 2009
- ↑ South Oxhey Choirs Forthcoming Events
- ↑ hertsdirect.org Oxhey Library
- ↑ hertsdirect.org The Centre, South Oxhey
- ↑ hertsdirect.org Sir James Altham Pool, South Oxhey
Further reading
South Oxhey : "a giant on their doorstep" by Rose McNamara-Wright (a brief history of South Oxhey for children growing up during the war as told through the author's own experiences)