Waterperry

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Waterperry, Oxfordshire
by William Alfred Delamotte (1803)

Waterperry is a village in Oxfordshire, England. It lies close to the border with Buckinghamshire, near the village of Wheatley, and 7 miles east of the city of Oxford.

The church of St Mary the Virgin has Saxon origins and notable medieval stained glass, sculptural memorials, Georgian box pews and memorial brasses.

Waterperry House is a 17th century mansion, remodelled around 1820, with extensive grounds. It operated as the Waterperry School of Horticulture under Beatrix Havergal until 1971. Waterperry Gardens are now a thriving horticultural business and tourist destination. The 3.2 Ha (8acre) of gardens contain one of the best purely herbaceous borders in the country, which flowers from May until the first frosts. However there is also a great deal more to interest the keen gardener. Including rose and alpine gardens which include the NCCPG collection of Kabschia Saxifrages, a formal knot garden, trained fruit and nursery beds as well as a pleasant riverside walk. The grounds also include nurseries, orchards, plant centre, teashop, and gardening courses are still taught here. The grounds are also the location of the annual "Art in Action" festival of art and craft every July.

Notable Waterperry residents include comedian Rowan Atkinson and respected equestrian writer/trainer Tina Sederholm.

Waterperry has recently (Feb 2008) launched a campaign to secure its independence from the UK.