Oatlands

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For other uses, see Oatlands (disambiguation).

Oatlands is a district in Surrey near Weybridge, which in Tudor and Stuart times was the location of a royal palace.

[edit] History

Henry VIII acquired the house in 1538, and rebuilt it for Anne of Cleves. It subsequently became the residence, at various times, of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, who was later imprisoned here by the army in 1647.

A new house was built in the mid 19th century when the existing house pulled down. The house became a hotel in 1856. During World War I (otherwise known as World War I) the hotel was used to house injured ANZAC troops. Subsequently one of the main streets in Walton-on-Thames was renamed to New Zealand Avenue in honour of these men.

The Oatlands Park Hotel now occupies the site where the royal palace once stood. The hotel is rated 4 stars by the AA and 4 diamonds by the RAC.

For a short period of time the area to the south of Oatlands was known as 'America' as it was over-run with Rhododendron bushes and was likened to the wilderness of the American frontier.

The Parish of Oatlands is served by the Anglican church St Mary Oatlands. Originally a chapel built in 1863 the Parish church was ordained in 1867 when the Parish of St Mary Walton in Walton-on-Thames was divided to reflect the increase in population owing to local industrialisation. The last Vicar, Malcolm Anker, retired in May 2005 and the church is in a period of interregnum whilst seeking a new Vicar.

The district of Oatlands contains an Iron Age burial ground, believed to be in the vicinity of St Mary Oatlands church.