Editing Wantage

{{Short description|Town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England}}
{{About|the English town|the town in the United States|Wantage Township, New Jersey}}
{{distinguish|Wantagh, New York}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type                     = [[Town]] and [[civil parish]]
| official_name            = Wantage
| static_image_name        = Wantage Market Place.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Wantage Market Place with its statue of<br /> [[Statue of Alfred the Great, Wantage|King Alfred the Great]], born in Wantage
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.589|-1.427|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| label_position           = top
| os_grid_reference        = SU3987
| london_distance          = {{convert|57|mi|km}}
| population               = 13,106
| population_ref           = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Wantage |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/admin/vale_of_white_horse/E04012874__wantage/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
| civil_parish             = Wantage
| shire_district           = [[Vale of White Horse]]
| shire_county             = [[Oxfordshire]]
| region                   = South East England
| country                  = England
| post_town                = Wantage
| postcode_district        = OX12
| postcode_area            = OX
| dial_code                = 01235
| constituency_westminster = [[Didcot and Wantage (UK Parliament constituency)|Didcot and Wantage]]
| website                  = [http://www.wantage.com/ Wantage.com Gateway to Wantage]
}}
'''Wantage''' ({{IPAc-en|'|w|ɒ|n|t|ɪ|dʒ}}) is a historic [[market town]] and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Vale of White Horse]], [[Oxfordshire]], England. Although within the boundaries of the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Berkshire]], it has been administered as part of Oxfordshire since 1974. The town is on [[Letcombe Brook]], {{convert|8|mi|km}} south-west of [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]], {{convert|24|mi}} north-west of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], {{convert|15|mi|km}} south-west of [[Oxford]] and {{convert|14|mi}} north-west of [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]].

It was the birthplace of [[Alfred the Great|King Alfred the Great]] in 849.<ref name=Wood>{{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Michael |title=Domesday, A Search for the Roots of England |date=1986 |publisher=BBC |location=London |isbn=0-563-20500-8 |page=30}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:St Peter and St Paul, Wantage - geograph.org.uk - 1547576.jpg|thumb|left|[[Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wantage|Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church]]]]
Wantage was a small [[Roman Britain|Roman]] settlement{{cn|date=March 2025}} but the origin of the [[Toponymy|toponym]] is somewhat uncertain. It is generally thought to be from an [[Old English]] phrase meaning "decreasing river".{{cn|date=March 2025}} King [[Alfred the Great]] was born at the royal palace there in the 9th century,<ref name=Wood /> in what was originally known as Wanating.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hamerow |first1=Helena |title=The Oxford Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xucNJfS42PwC&q=wanating&pg=PA995 |access-date=19 February 2020 |page=995|isbn=9780199212149 |date=31 March 2011 |publisher=OUP Oxford }}</ref> Wantage appears in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086. Its value was £61 and it was in the king's ownership until [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] passed it to the [[Earl of Albemarle]] in 1190. Weekly trading rights were first granted to the town by [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] in 1246.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Markets are now held twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.<ref name=market>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxtowns.co.uk/wantage/info.html |title=OXTowns: Wantage Local Information |date=2003 |publisher=OXLink Ltd |access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref> [[Cavalier|Royalist]] troops were stationed in Wantage during the [[English Civil War]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In the 19th century, [[Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage|Lord Wantage]] became a notable local and national benefactor.{{cn|date=March 2025}} He was very involved in founding the [[British Red Cross]] Society.{{cn|date=March 2025}} In 1877 he paid for a marble statue of King Alfred by [[Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg|Count Gleichen]] to be erected in Wantage market place, where it still stands today.{{cn|date=March 2025}} He also donated the [[Victoria Cross]] Gallery to the town.{{cn|date=March 2025}} This contained paintings by [[Louis William Desanges]] depicting deeds which led to the award of a number of [[Victoria Cross|VCs]], including his own gained during the [[Crimean War]]. It is now a shopping arcade.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Wantage is home to the [[Community of Saint Mary the Virgin]], founded by the vicar of Wantage [[William John Butler]] in 1848; it was once one of the largest communities of [[Anglican]] [[nun]]s in the world. Wantage once had two breweries which were taken over by [[Morland Brewery|Morlands of Abingdon]].  In 1988 the town was thrust into the headlines after a ''Brass Tacks'' programme entitled "Shire Wars" exposed the drunken violence that plagued the town and surrounding villages at that time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shire Wars (1988)|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b793a2e42|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102085529/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b793a2e42|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2017|website=British Film Institute|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Wantage civic hall - geograph.org.uk - 1637968.jpg|thumb|The Beacon, Portway: Community centre and headquarters of town council]]
There are three tiers of local government covering Wantage, at [[civil parish]] (town), [[non-metropolitan district|district]], and [[non-metropolitan county|county]] level: Wantage Town Council, [[Vale of White Horse District Council]], and [[Oxfordshire County Council]]. The town council is based at the council offices at The Beacon on Portway, formerly known as the Civic Hall, which also serves as an events venue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk/contact-us/ |website=Wantage Town Council |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref>

Wantage is part of the [[Didcot and Wantage (UK Parliament constituency)|Didcot and Wantage constituency]] which is currently represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by Liberal Democrat MP [[Olly Glover]] who was first elected in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Didcot and Wantage results |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001197 |access-date=7 July 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The constituency was first contested at the 2024 general election after the former [[Wantage (UK Parliament constituency)|Wantage constituency]] was abolished following the completion of the [[2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South East |url=https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/2023-review-volume-one-report/the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-england-volume-one-report-south-east/page/7/#lg_final-recommendations |website=Boundary Commission for England |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
[[File:Former Wantage UDC (Council) Offices, Portway, Wantage, Oxon.jpg|thumb|Orchard House, Portway: former offices of Wantage Urban District Council]]
Wantage was an [[ancient parish]] in the [[List of hundreds of England#Berkshire|Wantage hundred]] of Berkshire. The parish was subdivided into four [[Township (England)|townships]], being Charlton, [[Grove, Oxfordshire|Grove]], [[West Lockinge]], and a Wantage township which included the town itself. Such townships were all declared to be separate [[civil parish]]es in 1866.<ref name=VoB>{{cite web |title=Wantage Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10008566 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref>

Wantage was sometimes described as a [[ancient borough|borough]], particularly in the 18th century, but it lacked the bodies and powers that boroughs typically had. A body of [[improvement commissioners]] for the Wantage township was established in 1828 in order to provide local government functions. Such improvement commissioners' districts were reconstituted as [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]]s under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ditchfield |editor1-first=P. H. |editor2-last=Page |editor2-first=William |title=A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4 |date=1924 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=319–332 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp319-332#h3-s2 |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wantage Improvement Act 1828 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo4/9/90/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref> 

The urban district was enlarged in 1934 to absorb Charlton.<ref name=VoB/> The urban district council established its offices at Orchard House on Portway.<ref name="Port">{{cite web |url= http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/45400/pages/6478/page.pdf|publisher=[[London Gazette]] |title= Wantage Urban District Council  |access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref> Between 1894 and 1974 there was also a [[Wantage Rural District]] which administered the rural area surrounding the town; the rural district council was based at Belmont.<ref name="Belmont">{{cite web |url= http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/45888/supplements/1057/page.pdf |publisher=[[London Gazette]] |title= Wantage Rural District Council |access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref>

Wantage Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], which also transferred Wantage from Berkshire to Oxfordshire.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=22 September 2022}}</ref> A [[successor parish]] covering the area of the former urban district was created in 1974, with its council taking the name Wantage Town Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1973/1110/made|title=The Local Government (Successor Parishes) Order 1973|publisher=[[legislation.gov.uk]]|accessdate=7 August 2024}}</ref> A new Civic Hall was built on the former gardens of Orchard House during 1974; the building opened in January 1975 and was later renamed The Beacon.<ref>{{cite news |title=New hall opened – late and expensive |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=Reading Evening Post |date=6 January 1975 |page=7}}</ref>

==Geography==
Wantage is at the foot of the [[Berkshire Downs]] [[escarpment]] in the [[Vale of White Horse|Vale of the White Horse]]. There are gallops at Black Bushes and nearby villages with racing stables at [[East Hendred]], [[Letcombe Bassett]], [[Lockinge]] and [[Uffington, Oxfordshire|Uffington]]. Wantage includes the suburbs of Belmont to the west and Charlton to the east. [[Grove, Oxfordshire|Grove]] to the north is still just about detached and is a separate parish. Wantage parish stretches from the northern edge of its housing up onto the Downs in the south, covering [[Chain Hill]], Edge Hill, Wantage Down, Furzewick Down and Lattin Down. The Edgehill Springs rise between Manor Road and Spike Lodge Farms and the [[Letcombe Brook]] flows through the town. Wantage is home to the [[Vale and Downland Museum]]. There is a large market square containing a statue of King Alfred, surrounded by shops some with 18th-century facades. Quieter streets radiate from it, including one towards the large [[Church of England parish church]]. Wantage is the "Alfredston" of [[Thomas Hardy]]'s ''[[Jude the Obscure]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Davison|first1=Steve|title=Walking in the Thames Valley|date=2008|publisher=Cicerone Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exg-qonlm8EC&q=Wantage+is+the+%27Alfredston%27+of+Thomas+Hardy%27s+Jude+the+Obscure&pg=PT91|access-date=1 January 2017|isbn=9781849655378}}</ref>

==Transport==
Wantage is at the crossing of the B4507 valley road, the [[A417 road]] between [[Streatley, Berkshire|Streatley]] and [[Cirencester]], the [[A338 road]] between [[Hungerford]] (and junction 14 of the [[M4 motorway]]) and Oxford, and the B4494 road to [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Getting to Wantage|url=http://wantage.com/transport-wantage/|website=Wantage.com|date=14 May 2012 |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

Wantage is well connected by bus services linking the town with Oxford and other nearby towns and villages.<ref>{{cite web |title=GETTING TO WANTAGE |url=https://www.wantage.com/transport-wantage/ |website=Wantage.com |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> [[Stagecoach West]] run the S9 service up to every 20 minutes between Oxford, [[Botley, Oxfordshire|Botley]], [[Cumnor]], [[East Hanney]], [[Grove, Oxfordshire|Grove]] and Wantage.<ref>{{cite web |title=S9 |url=https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/Oxford_Timetables/S9_current.pdf |publisher=Stagecoach West |date=3 December 2023 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> [[Oxford Bus Company]] run the X1 service up to every hour between Oxford, Abingdon, [[Marcham]], East Hanney, Grove and Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/oxfordbus/OXBC/X1-timetable-20240901-173a237c.pdf|title=X1/NX1 |publisher=Oxford Bus Company |date=1 September 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> [[Thames Travel]] run both the X35 service up to 30 minutes between Didcot, GWP North, [[Harwell Science and Innovation Campus|Harwell Campus]], [[East Hendred]], Wantage and Grove, and the X36 service up to every 30 minutes between Didcot, [[Milton Park]], [[Steventon, Oxfordshire|Steventon]], East Hanney, Grove and Wantage Monday to Saturday daytimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/oxfordbus/THTR/X24-timetable-20240901-4d3633b2.pdf|title=X35 |publisher=Thames Travel |date=1 September 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/oxfordbus/THTR/X36-timetable-20240901-abc7ec23.pdf|title=X36 |publisher=Thames Travel |date=1 September 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> and Pulham's Coaches run both the 67 service up to every hour between Wantage, [[East Challow]], [[Stanford in the Vale]] and [[Faringdon]], and the 68 service 2-4 times a day between Wantage, East Challow, [[Childrey]], [[Uffington, Oxfordshire|Uffington]] and Faringdon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images-oxfordbus.passenger-website.com/downloads/67%20leaflet%20feb25%20v1%20web.pdf|title=67 |publisher=Pulhams Coaches |date=23 February 2025 |access-date=2 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://images-oxfordbus.passenger-website.com/downloads/68%20tt%20mar25%20v1%20web.pdf|title=68 |publisher=Pulhams Coaches |date=30 March 2025 |access-date=14 March 2025}}</ref> There are up to seven buses per hour operating between Wantage and Oxford, and up to four buses per hour operating between Wantage and Didcot. [[Night service (public transport)|Night buses]] NS9 and NX1 also operate on Friday and Saturday evenings, providing late night services between Wantage, Abingdon and Oxford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wantage |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/wantage |website=bustimes.org |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Wantage Tramway Company.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The former head office of the [[Wantage Tramway]] Company in Mill Street]]
Wantage does not have a railway station; [[Didcot Parkway railway station|Didcot Parkway]], 8 miles to the east, is the nearest station, with services towards Reading, Oxford, London, Bristol and Cheltenham. The [[Great Western Main Line]] is just north of Grove (2 miles north of Wantage) where the former [[Wantage Road railway station]] used to be. It was closed during the Beeching cuts in 1964.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wantage Road station and Oxfordshire's lost railway|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8859000/8859509.stm|access-date=1 January 2017|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The [[Wantage Tramway]] used to link Wantage with Wantage Road station. The tramway's Wantage terminus was in Mill Street and its building survives, but little trace remains of the route.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Wantage Tramway|url=http://wantage.com/the-wantage-tramway/|website=Wantage.com|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> One of the tramway's locomotives, ''Shannon'', alias ''Jane'', is preserved at [[Didcot Railway Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No.5 – Shannon/Jane|url=http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/5/5.html|website=Didcot Railway Centre|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> [[Oxfordshire County Council]] have ambitions to open a railway station on the former Wantage Road site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wantage and Grove station |url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/roadworks/future-transport-projects/wantage-and-grove-station |website=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> In 2018 a feasibility study was carried out for a new Wantage & Grove Parkway station with the hope that the proposed station could be served by a new service operating between [[Bristol]] and Oxford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wantage & Grove Station Statement of Opinion - Report |url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/roads-and-transport-connecting-oxfordshire/report-statementofopinion.pdf |website=Oxfordshire County Council |publisher=SLC Rail |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> The proposed station received backing from [[Network Rail]] in 2021 after a new Oxfordshire rail study was published, which recommended a new station at Wantage/Grove, subject to additional main line infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Future of Oxfordshire rail network mapped out in new study |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/future-of-oxfordshire-rail-network-mapped-out-in-new-study |website=Network Rail |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref>

A section of the [[Wilts & Berks Canal]] passes through the parish.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Canal / Interactive Map|url=https://www.wbct.org.uk/the-canal/interactive-map|website=Wilts & Berks Canal Trust|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:King Alfred's School - geograph-2577522-by-Bill-Nicholls.jpg|thumb|right|Front of King Alfred's Academy Centre Site]]
There is one state secondary school in Wantage, [[King Alfred's Academy]], and approximately ten primary schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools List|url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/schools/list/all|website=Oxfordshire County Council|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> The secondary school converted into an academy in 2011 and was rated Outstanding by [[Ofsted]] in that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilkinson|first1=Ben|title=King Alfred's specialist sports college in Wantage moves to become academy|url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/8751537.King_Alfred_s_move_to_become_academy/|access-date=1 January 2017|publisher=The Herald Series}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=King Alfred's (Specialist Sports College) Inspection Report|url=http://www.kaacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Feb-2011-Inspection-Report.pdf|website=King Alfred's Academy|publisher=Ofsted|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

Between 1873 and 2006, an Anglican private girls' school, [[St Mary's School, Wantage|St Mary's School]], was located in Wantage. The school closed in 2006 when St. Mary's merged with [[Heathfield School, Ascot]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.heathfieldschool.net/about-us/about-us-history/|website=Heathfield School|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> A former independent preparatory school, St Andrew's, established in 1926, closed permanently in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=St Andrew's prep school, Wantage, faces closure in the summer|url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/4846844.Prep_school_faces_summer_closure/|access-date=1 January 2017|publisher=The Herald Series|date=12 Jan 2010}}</ref>

Fitzwaryn School, a school catering for children with special needs aged 3–19, is situated in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to The Fitzwaryn School|url=http://www.fitzwaryn.oxon.sch.uk|website=Fitzwaryn School|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref> The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fitzwaryn School – School Report|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2431039/urn/139322.pdf|website=Ofsted|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref> It is named after the ancient [[lord of the manor|lords of the manor]] of Wantage, the [[Baron FitzWarin|FitzWarin]] family, powerful [[Marcher Lord]]s seated at [[Whittington Castle]] in Shropshire.

In October 2013, the Vale Academy Trust was created when King Alfred's Academy, Charlton Primary School and Wantage CE Primary School came together to form a partnership.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Vale Academy Trust|url=http://www.vale-academy.org/about-vale-academy-trust/|website=Vale Academy Trust|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> The trust was founded by local heads, governors and other stakeholders in the hope of creating quality partnerships among the schools to ensure higher quality education for the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Ethos|url=http://www.vale-academy.org/about-vale-academy-trust/our-ethos/|website=Vale Academy Trust|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> Since the trust was formed in 2013, three other primary schools in the area have joined.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Academies|url=http://www.vale-academy.org/our-academies/|website=Vale Academy Trust|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>  The Vale Academy Trust announced plans in September 2016 to build a brand new [[Free school (England)|free school]] in Grove for children from the ages of two to sixteen. The school is planned to have a capacity of up to 1,000 students and hoped to open in 2019 in preparation for large scale housing developments that are planned for Wantage and Grove but has not yet been built (March 2021).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Pete|title=Vale Academy Trust, Wantage, reveals plans to open new secondary school in Grove|url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/hswantagenews/14741375.King_Alfred__39_s_academy_trust_to_open_new_all_ages_school_in_Grove/|access-date=1 January 2017|publisher=The Herald Series|date=14 September 2016}}</ref>

== Media ==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South]] and [[ITV Meridian]]. Television signals are received from the [[Oxford transmitting station|Oxford]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford | title=Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref>

Wantage's local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Oxford]] on 95.2 FM, [[Heart South]] on 102.6 FM.

Local newspapers are the ''Wantage & Grove Herald''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-se/wantage-grove-herald/ |title=Wantage & Grove Herald |publisher=British Newspapers Online |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> and ''[[Oxfordshire Guardian]]''.

==Architecture==
[[File:HSBC Bank in Market Square - geograph.org.uk - 2018045.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Old Town Hall, Wantage]], completed in 1878]]
Wantage has been the site of a church since at least the 10th century and the present [[Church of England]] [[Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wantage|parish church of Saints Peter and Paul]] dates from the 13th century, with many additions since. Saints' Peter and Paul contains seventeen 15th-century [[misericord]]s.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

King Alfred's Grammar School was designed by the architect [[John Clacy|J. B. Clacy]]<ref name=Pevsner254>Pevsner, 1966, page 254</ref> of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]<ref>{{Cite book |editor1-last=Brodie |editor1-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Felstead |editor2-first=Alison |editor3-last=Franklin |editor3-first=Jonathan |editor4-last=Pinfield |editor4-first=Leslie |title=Directory of British Architects 1834–1914, A–K |url=https://archive.org/details/directorybritish00brod |url-access=limited |date=2001 |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group|Continuum]] |location=London & New York |isbn=0-8264-5513-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/directorybritish00brod/page/n405 375] }}
</ref> and built in 1849–50<ref name=Pevsner254/> but incorporates a highly carved [[Norman architecture|Norman]] doorway<ref name=Pevsner254/> from a demolished [[chantry]] chapel that formerly stood in the churchyard.{{cn|date=March 2025}} The [[Old Town Hall, Wantage|Old Town Hall]] in Wantage was completed in 1878.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lovewantage.uk/Wantage_Walk_3.pdf  |title=Wantage Area Walks|page=1|publisher=Love Wantage|access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref>

==Developments==
In recent years four or more significant housing developments have been constructed. At least one development (including the new health centre) has been on a [[Greenfield land|greenfield]] site adjacent to the [[A338 road]] towards Oxford. The other three, however, have been on [[brownfield]] sites, converting a scrapyard next to the Letcombe Brook.

In 2006, a commercial development began construction with a [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket as a focus. This supermarket is double the size of the previous one and was intended to have a significant impact on the town by drawing more visitors from outlying villages. The impact was projected as being positive, aimed at preventing the town becoming a [[commuter town]] and retaining some commercial activity. An action group, ''Wantage Rejuvenated'', is being sponsored by the town's [[chamber of commerce]] to try to bring business back into the area and inject new life into the town.

There was activism in the town regarding development in 2011, with a campaign to stop the demolition of a building close to the town centre by Vanderbilt Homes, who initially gained permission to convert an early Georgian bank of shops into a mixed commercial and residential block. Vanderbilt applied to have the buildings completely demolished, prompting a local petition and campaign for the application to be refused at the discretion of the Town Council, as although the building is old, it is not listed.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Wantage and Grove Review Issue No 401|date=3 October 2011}}</ref>

Another area of development which has provoked local protest has been on the north of the town, where a 1,500-home estate is proposed, increasing housing in the town by 35%. Residents launched petitions and the then local MP, [[Ed Vaizey]], raised concerns, especially regarding the ability of local road infrastructure to cope. The town is served by the A338 and A417, which are single-carriageway roads. The proposed Wantage development is one mile from a similar mass of 2,500 homes proposed for the village of Grove and which will use the same road network.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anger as Wantage is chosen for 1,500-home development | first=Ben |last=Ellery |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4783848.Anger_as_Wantage_is_chosen_for_1_500_home_development/ |date=8 December 2009 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref>

In 2014 Wantage was nominated for the Government's Great British High Street Award whereby Wantage won the award for Britain's Best Town Centre beating several other towns nominated for the award.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/11594354.Team_effort_wins_Wantage_award_for_best_town_centre |title=Team effort wins Wantage award for best town centre |newspaper=The Herald |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>

==Sport and leisure==
Wantage has a [[non-League football]] club: [[Wantage Town F.C.]], who play at [[Alfredian Park]] in the [[Southern Football League]]. Grove is also the home to [[Formula One]] constructor [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Contact|url=http://www.williamsf1.com/pages/contact|website=Williams F1|access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

Wantage & Grove Cricket Club's first recorded match was in 1863. The club has three teams and play in Charlton, Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wantage and Grove Cricket Club|url=http://www.wantagecc.co.uk|website=Wantage and Grove Cricket Club|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

On 12 September 2014, cyclists competing in the 2014 [[Tour of Britain]] passed through Wantage during Stage 6 of the event. The participants entered Wantage via the B4494 road and left via the [[A417 road|A417]] towards [[Harwell, Oxfordshire|Harwell]] and then on towards the end of the stage at [[Hemel Hempstead]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tour of Britain 2014 route revealed|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-of-britain/tour-britain-2014-route-launched-119567|access-date=1 January 2017|publisher=Cycling Weekly|date=31 March 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024936/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-of-britain/tour-britain-2014-route-launched-119567|url-status=dead}}</ref>

White Horse Harriers AC is an athletics club based in Wantage and [[Grove, Oxfordshire|Grove]]. They organise the annual White Horse Half Marathon, which starts and finishes in Grove.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whitehorseharriers.uk/halfmarathon/ |title=White Horse Half Marathon |date=2 December 2014 |publisher=White Horse Harriers |access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>

Corallian Cycling Club was founded in 2016 and organises regular sociable cycle rides from Wantage Market Place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corallian Cycling Club|url=http://corallian.cc|website=Corallian Cycling Club|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:Statue of King Alfred in Wantage Market Square.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Statue of Alfred the Great, Wantage|Statue]] of [[Alfred the Great]], by [[Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]]]]
*[[Alfred the Great|King Alfred the Great]] (ca.848/849 – 899), [[King of the Anglo-Saxons]] from 886, born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alfred the Great (849 AD – 899 AD)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_the_great.shtml|website=BBC History|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[John Betjeman]] (1906–1984), [[Poet Laureate]] from 1972 to 1984, lived in Wantage and his book ''Archie and the Strict Baptists'' is based in the town. Wantage has a memorial park named after him, which includes extracts from his poems in a peaceful wooded area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Betjeman in Wantage|url=http://www.wantagebetjeman.com/betjeman-in-wantage/|website=Wantage (not just) Betjeman Literary Festival|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[James Brooks (architect)|James Brooks]]  (1825–1901), [[Gothic Revival]] architect, born in [[Hatford]]. 
*[[Joseph Butler]] (1692–1752), [[Bishop of Bristol]], [[Bishop of Durham]], and author of ''The Analogy of Religion'', was born and educated in Wantage.<ref name=rbhjb>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jbutler.html |title=Joseph Butler, Bishop of Bristol (1692–1752) |author=Ford, David Nash |date=2003 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Butler, Joseph | volume= 4 |last1= Adamson |first1= Robert |author1-link= Robert Adamson (philosopher) |last2= Grieve |first2= Alexander James |author2-link= Alexander James Grieve |pages = 882&ndash;885 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[William John Butler]] (1818–1894), Vicar of Wantage, Dean of Lincoln.<ref>{{cite web|title=William John Butler Vicar of Wantage 1847 – 1881|url=http://wantage-museum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/William-John-Butler.pdf|website=Vale & Downland Museum|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*Alice FitzWarin, wife of [[Richard Whittington|Dick Whittington]] (ca.1354–1423), three-time [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]], grew up in Wantage.<ref name=rbhaf>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/afitzwarin.html |title=Alice FitzWarin (c.1375-c.1410) |author=Ford, David Nash |date=2003 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> Her father's [[Monumental brass|brass memorial]] is in the church.<ref name=rbhif>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/ifitzwarin.html |title=Sir Ivo FitzWarin (1343–1414) |author=Ford, David Nash |date=2001 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref>
*[[John Harris (anti-slavery campaigner)|Sir John Hobbis Harris]] (1874–1940), missionary, politician and campaigner against slavery
*[[Isaac Kimber]] (1692–1755), born in Wantage, Baptist minister, biographer, historian and journalist.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Richards|first1=William|title=A Review of the Memoirs of the Protectoral-House of Cromwell by the Rev. Mark Noble|date=24 December 1787|publisher=R.Marshall|page=69|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqNVAAAAcAAJ&q=Isaac+Kimber+wantage&pg=PA69|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Archie Loyd|Archie Kirkman Loyd]] (1847–1922), former MP, lived in Wantage.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cook|first1=Chris|title=Sources in British Political History 1900–1951: Volume 4: A Guide to the Private Papers of Members of Parliament: L-Z|date=1977|publisher=The Macmillan Press Ltd|page=24|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DuvCwAAQBAJ&q=Archie+Kirkman+Loyd+wantage&pg=PA24|access-date=23 August 2017|isbn=9781349157624}}</ref>
*[[Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage]] (1832–1901), soldier, politician, philanthropist and benefactor to Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Loyd-Lindsay Lord Wantage of Lockinge|url=http://wantage-museum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Robert-Loyd-Lindsay.pdf|website=Vale & Downland Museum|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Mother Maribel of Wantage]] (1887–1970), Anglican nun, artist and sculptor<ref>Sister Janet, ''Mother Maribel of Wantage'', Published by SPCK, London (1972) {{ISBN|0281027285}}</ref>  
*[[Frances O'Connor]] (born 1967), actor, born in Wantage, emigrated aged two to [[Perth]], Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frances O'Connor Biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640323/bio|website=IMDB|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Katharine Georgina Pearce]] (born 1950), botanist and forest ecologist, lives in [[Kuching]], Malaysia.
*[[Lester Piggott]] (1935–2022), jockey, born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lester Piggott|url=http://www.lambourn.info/racing/famous-racing-personalities-from-lambourn/lester-piggott/|website=Lambourn.info|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Thomas William Shore]] (1840–1905), geologist and antiquarian, born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite DNB12|wstitle=Shore, William Thomas|volume=3}}</ref>
*[[Ed Vaizey|Ed Vaizey, Baron Vaizey of Didcot]], (born 1968), politician, media commentator; Govt. minister and MP for [[Wantage (UK Parliament constituency)|Wantage]] from 2005 to 2019.
*[[Caroline Voaden]] (born 1968), [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] former [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]].<ref>{{Cite book|chapter=English in the European Parliament: MEPs and their Language Repertoires|date=2007-01-13|editor-last=Ammon|editor-first=Ulrich|publisher=Walter de Gruyter – Max Niemeyer Verlag|isbn=978-3-484-60506-0|editor2-last=Mattheier|editor2-first=Klaus J.|doi=10.1515/9783484605060.151|title=Sociolinguistica Jahrbuch (2007)|journal=Sociolinguistica|volume=21|pages=151–165|s2cid=151106389 }}</ref>

=== Sport ===
*[[Leigh Bedwell]] (born 1994), former goalkeeper for [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] (currently playing for [[Didcot Town F.C.|Didcot Town]]), was born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leigh Bedwell Profile|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/leigh-bedwell|website=Aylesbury United Football Club|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Roy Burton]] (born 1951), former [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] and [[Witney Town F.C.|Witney Town]] goalkeeper, was born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dream Team!|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2007/09/19/dreamteam_feature.shtml|website=BBC Oxford|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Edward Cawston]] (1911–1998), former English cricketer, born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Edward Cawston|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/11067.html|website=ESPNcricinfo|publisher=ESPN|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Hugh Johns]] (1922–2007) former [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] football commentator, born in Wantage.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Keating|first1=Frank|title=Hugh Johns|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/19/guardianobituaries.broadcasting|access-date=23 August 2017|work=The Guardian|date=19 July 2007}}</ref>

==Town Crier==
Wantage reinstated its Town Crier position in the 2010's. A voluntary and ceremonial position, the Town Crier attends local events such as Alfred's Day, November Remembrance Parade and Christmas Eve carols in the square to promote local culture and history.
The striking red and gold uniform is adorned with the goldern wyvern of Wessex.

David Richardson served as Town Crier from 2019 to 2024.
Liam Downes took over the position from December 2024 to current.

==Twinning==
Wantage is [[sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Wantage Twinning|url=http://wantage.com/wantage-twinning/|website=Wantage.com|access-date=23 August 2017|date=14 April 2012}}</ref>
*[[Mably, Loire|Mably]] in France since 1990
*[[Seesen]] in Germany since 1979

==Nearby places==
{{Geographic location
|title     = Destinations from Wantage
|Centre    = Wantage
|North     = [[Grove, Oxfordshire|Grove]]
|Northeast = [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]], [[Oxford]]
|East      = [[Didcot]], [[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]], London
|Southeast = [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]]
|South     = [[Hungerford]]
|Southwest = [[Lambourn]]
|West      = [[Swindon]]
|Northwest = [[Faringdon]], [[Carterton, Oxfordshire|Carterton]], [[Witney]]
}}

==See also==
* [[Icknield Way Morris Men]], a traditional dance troupe in Wantage.

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |last1=Aston |first1=Michael |author1-link=Mick Aston |last2=Bond |first2=James |year=1976 |title=The Landscape of Towns |series=Archaeology in the Field Series |place=London |publisher=[[J.M. Dent]] & Sons Ltd |isbn= 0-460-04194-0 |page=96 }}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Page |editor1-first=W.H. |editor1-link=William Henry Page |editor2-last=Ditchfield |editor2-first=P.H. |editor2-link=Peter Ditchfield |others=assisted by John Hautenville Cope |year=1924 |title=A History of the County of Berkshire |volume=4 |series=[[Victoria County History]] |place=London |publisher=The St Katherine Press |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp319-332 |pages=319–332 }}
*{{cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |author-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |year=1966 |title=Berkshire |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides#Buildings of England|The Buildings of England]] |place=Harmondsworth |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |pages=252–256 }}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Wantage}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk Wantage Town Council]
* [https://www.wantage.com/ wantage.com Welcome to Wantage]
* [http://lovewantage.uk/ Love Wantage: Places to Eat, Drink, Shop, Stay, & Things to See & Do]

{{Vale of White Horse}}
{{Oxfordshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wantage| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Vale of White Horse]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Oxfordshire]]