Oxshott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oxshott | |
  Oxshott shown within Surrey |
|
| Population | 1,501 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Elmbridge |
| Shire county | Surrey |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Leatherhead |
| Postcode district | KT22 |
| Dialling code | 01372 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Esher and Walton |
| List of places: UK • England • Surrey | |
Oxshott is a village in Surrey, England with a growing population of around 1,500. It is situated in fields and woodlands between Esher and Leatherhead on the A244, five minutes by car to both the A3 (Portsmouth Road) and the M25 London Orbital motorway. It is situated in London's stockbroker belt and the area consequently has some of the highest property prices in the UK - it was voted as the most expensive suburb to live in, by the Daily Telegraph on 26th December, 2007.
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[edit] History
Oxshott means "Ocga's corner of land", from the Old English personal name Ocga and sceat (related to modern 'shoot') "corner of land". The first element does not, contrary to popular belief, have anything to do with oxen. The name was recorded in 1179 as Occesete. At this time Oxshott was a hamlet of about 200 people earning their living from forestry, farming and the keeping of pigs.
For 600 years Oxshott was in an isolated position, which was surrounded by heath and scrubland and connected to nearby villages only by footpaths.
In 1885 the nature of the village was changed forever with the building of the railway.
The railway allowed both day trippers and wealthy residents quickly to appreciate the area's scenery.
The following 30 years saw Oxshott expand to meet their demands and in doing so it acquired all the characteristics of a stereotypical English village.
The Crown Commissioners limited early housing development to mansions suitable for occupation by wealthy families. Examples of these include Danes Hill, Broom Hall and Bevendean. Subsequently the village has expanded to include all types of housing, but it has retained a degree of prosperity.
The religious needs of the growing population were met by the consecration of St. Andrew's Church in 1912. Oxshott became a parish in its own right in 1913. The high street expanded from an initial nucleus of three shops: a draper's, a tobacconist and a set of tea-rooms. Industry arrived in Oxshott when John Early Cook set up his brickworks in 1866. Production continued until 1958, with the famous and distinctive chimney being demolished in 1967.
Today, Oxshott is a thriving residential and commercial community, thanks to its relative proximity to London coupled with its semi-rural location.
[edit] Transport
Oxshott is served by commuter trains and is 30 minutes from Waterloo Station in London, with local bus services also available. Oxshott railway station is situated just off Oxshott Heath, to the south of Oxshott Woods. Oxshott Heath is interesting geologically as it has an escarpment where the London clay and sand strata emerge from the ground. For this reason, Oxshott had a brickworks from 1866 to 1958. The brickworks was served by a branch line that ran from the station, West (towards Guildford). This is why the footbridge at the end of Sheath's Lane (this is the proper, historic spelling) can span three tracks.
At Cook's Crossing, the railway crossing had three lines: two for the electrified main line to Guildford via Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon and a single track to the brickyards. This latter track is still in evidence if one looks hard, and the old hand-operated gates were still there less than 5 years ago. This single track now disappears into the houses built on the brickyards on Somerville Road. Many people have signed petitions to have a proper bus route. Currently there is one arriving in Oxshott every three hours.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Oxshott has one, Anglican, church, St. Andrew's. Oxshott has its own Primary School, the Royal Kent, named because it was opened by the Duchess of Kent at the beginning of the 20th century. There is also the private preparatory school, Danes Hill, and its pre-prep school, Bevendean. Another school located near Oxshott is Reed's School that caters for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18.
There is also a very active sports club, which has expanded from the village cricket club founded in 1896. Oxshott also has two public houses: The Victoria and The Bear. Both used to be Courage Brewery houses, but now only The Victoria continues that alliance.
The village has a large number of expatriates, due in part to the nearby ACS Cobham International school.
The local newspapers are the Cobham News & Mail & Esher News & Mail
Oxshott is featured in the popular Confessions of a Shopaholic novels by British author Sophie Kinsella, as the hometown of the series' narrator, Becky Bloomwood.
[edit] Famous residents
- John Terry - Chelsea and England captain.
- Ashley Cole - Chelsea and England Left Back.
- Cheryl Cole - member of British girl band Girls Aloud, Wife of Ashley Cole.
- Jamie Redknapp - ex-Liverpool midfielder.
- Louise Redknapp - wife to Jamie and ex-singer.
- Colin Montgomerie - Professional Golfer
- Salomon Kalou - Professional Footballer
- James Peacock - Subject of "Challenge Peak"
- John Obi Mikel - Professional Footballer
- Didier Drogba - Professional Footballer for Chelsea
- Graeme Le Saux - ex Professional Footballer
Max Clifford - PR Guru
A number of professional footballers have recently moved to Oxshott because of the proximity of the Chelsea Football Club training grounds at Stoke D'Arbernon.
