West Challow
West Challow is a village and civil parish about 2 miles (3 km) west of the market town of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse. The village is on Childrey Brook, which is a tributary of the River Ock. West Challow was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred the Vale of White Horse to Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 184.[1]
| West Challow | |
|---|---|
  West Challow Location within Oxfordshire | |
| Population | 184 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU3688 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Wantage |
| Postcode district | OX12 |
| Dialling code | 01235 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of Saint Laurence is part of the Benefice of Ridgeway, along with the parishes of Childrey, Kingston Lisle, Letcombe Bassett, Letcombe Regis and Sparsholt.[2]
Canal
The course of the former Wilts & Berks Canal passes through the parish, skirting the south side of the village. It was extended eastwards from Longcot to Challow in 1807[3] and was completed to the River Thames at Abingdon in 1810.[4] The Wilts & Berks carried small amounts of canal cargo through Challow until at least 1895–96.[5] Traffic on the canal had virtually ceased by 1901 and the route was formally abandoned in 1914. The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is currently restoring the canal.
Manor Farm
Manor Farm is a Queen Anne building with much older inclusions which is currently used to provide bed and breakfast accommodation.
References
- "Area: West Challow (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- Archbishops' Council (2010). "Benefice of Ridgeway". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- Dalby 2000, p. 23.
- Dalby 2000, p. 24.
- Dalby 2000, p. 124.
Sources and further reading
- Dalby, L.J. (2000) [1971]. The Wilts and Berks Canal (3rd ed.). Usk: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-562-4.
- Page, W.H.; Ditchfield, P.H., eds. (1924). A History of the County of Berkshire. Victoria County History. 4. assisted by John Hautenville Cope. London: The St Katherine Press. pp. 222–228.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus (1966). Berkshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 262–263.
External links
Media related to West Challow at Wikimedia Commons
