Woodcote
| Woodcote | |
|---|---|
 Woodcote
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| Woodcote shown within Oxfordshire | |
| Area | 7.11 km2 (2.75 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,715 (2001 census) |
| • Density | 382/km2 (990/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU6481 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Reading |
| Postcode district | RG8 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Welcome to Woodcote |
Woodcote is a village in the civil parish of South Oxfordshire, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Wallingford and about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Reading, Berkshire. It is in the Chiltern Hills, and the highest part of the village is 600 feet (180 m) above sea level.
Woodcote lies between the Goring Road and the A4074. It is centred on the village green and Church Farm, with the village hall centred on the crossroads.
Prehistoric artefacts have been found in the area, including a polished hand-axe from about 3000 BC found in the nearby hamlet of Exlade Street and on show in Reading Museum and a 28cm carved stone head Romano-Celtic, probably 1st - 2nd century, with typical protruding eyes, exaggerated lips and flattened nose.The folds of skin on the neck and musculature at the back of the head have been carefully detailed. It is of white oolite limestone, and was found at Wayside Green, Woodcote. and is now in Reading Museum (Ref 401-78).
The toponym Woodcote means "cottage in the wood". Woodcote was first documented in 1109, when it was a dependent settlement of South Stoke, which in turn was a possession of Eynsham Abbey. At the time of the Hundred Rolls in 1279, Woodcote had 14 freeholders and 20 tenants. Woodcote's population grew thereafter but then declined, perhaps as a result of the Black Death. In 1366 as a result of depopulation 15 virgates of land at Woodcote were vacant.
Woodcote Manor may date from the 12th century. In 1550 it was called Rawlins Manor.
There is a Jacobean barn in the grounds of Woodcote House. Woodcote House itself is a Georgian country house built in 1733. It was remodelled by the architect Detmar Blow in 1910. Since 1942 it has been the premises of The Oratory School, a Roman Catholic day and boarding independent school.
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Wikipedia