Ardington

Civil Parish in Berkshire Vale of White Horse

England

Ardington

Route 544 to Harwell Campus National Cycle Network Route 544 to Harwell Campus for a short stretch on the bridleway to The Ridgeway — Route 544 to Harwell Campus Credit: Shaun Ferguson

Ardington is a civil parish situated in the county of Berkshire, England. It is located approximately 4 miles northeast of the town of Wantage and about 12 miles south of the city of Oxford. The parish covers an area of about 1,500 acres and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the Berkshire Downs to the south and the Vale of White Horse to the west.

The village of Ardington itself is small and picturesque, with a population of around 500 residents. It is known for its attractive thatched cottages, quaint village green, and historic buildings. The Grade I listed St. Mary's Church, built in the 12th century, is a prominent feature in the village. The church is known for its impressive stained glass windows and medieval wall paintings.

Ardington is also home to the Ardington House, a stately home that dates back to the 18th century. The house is set in a large estate and is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and parkland. It is privately owned and not open to the public, but occasional events and weddings are held on the grounds.

The village has a close-knit community and a strong sense of local pride. It benefits from a village hall, a primary school, and a pub, which serves as a social hub for residents. The surrounding countryside offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and horse riding.

Overall, Ardington is a charming and peaceful village that offers a rural retreat while still being within easy reach of larger towns and cities.

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Ardington Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.587412/-1.371448 or Grid Reference SU4387. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Route 544 to Harwell Campus

National Cycle Network Route 544 to Harwell Campus for a short stretch on the bridleway to The Ridgeway

Shaun Ferguson

Bridleway heading to Ardington

Bridleway between the fields heading to Ardington

Shaun Ferguson

Bridleway to Ardington

Bridleway to Ardington nearing the byway to head on past the tree covered Roundabout Hill

Shaun Ferguson

Ginge Brook

Ginge Brook with a major construction of a bridge (compared to the John Walton 2013 image) carrying the Icknield Greenway Byway

Shaun Ferguson

The road to West Lockinge

Basher Eyre

Walking the dog at East Lockinge

Basher Eyre

Traffic jam in West Hendred

Basher Eyre

Holy Trinity church, Ardington: churchyard (a)

Basher Eyre

Holy Trinity church, Ardington: churchyard (b)

The CWGC grave nearest to me is Private James Alder Link

and the one further up that of Private Hector Cooper Link

Basher Eyre

Farmland, Ardington

With the footpath climbing to Field Barn Farm.

Andrew Smith

Farmland, Ardington

The bridleway at Ardington Wick disappears between hedges.

Andrew Smith

South front of Ardington House

The veranda of four timber columns on the garden side is a later edition to the early Georgian frontage. The pediment over the central three bays displays the arms of the Vernon family who owned the house in the early 19th century.

Tiger

Imperial staircase in Ardington House

As Richard Lethbridge notes in his New Shell Guide of 1988, all the rooms within Ardington House are quite small and intimate apart from the hall, which extends through the whole width of the building and is dominated by this grand staircase beginning as two parallel arms and returning as a single suspended flight, with thin twisted balusters and no visible support. This notable feature, designed by Thomas Strong, is thought to have been influenced by Sir John Vanbrugh’s similar creation at King’s Weston in Bristol ST5477, completed a few years earlier.

Tiger

North front of Ardington House

The twin mounted cannonballs flanking the front door are relics of Lord Wantage's service in the Crimean War, having been fired by the Russian frigate Vladimir at the Battle of Inkerman on 5th November 1854. The kitchen pavilion on the west (right) side was designed in a mock Baroque style in 1961 by Hugh Vaux, and according to the listing citation is "not of special architectural interest".

Tiger

Gazebo at Ardington House

Its domed roof supported on six stone pillars, this gazebo stands on a wooded island in the Ardington Brook and can be reached by a wooden footbridge.

Tiger