The parish of Radley is situated halfway between Oxford and Abingdon. For centuries it was part of the county of Berkshire. On 1 April 1974 county boundary alterations brought about by the Local Government Act 1972 meant that the parish and others in North Berkshire became part of Oxfordshire. The modern parish covers an area of about 3,000 acres. Local government services are provided by Oxfordshire County Council, the Vale of White Horse District Council and Radley Parish Council. See the Parish Council’s website for information about Radley today.

The River Thames forms the parish boundary on the east side, and can be reached through Lower Radley and thence by public footpaths. Lower Radley is the old part of the village and several houses from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some thatched, still remain. The Oxford–Didcot railway line running north and south divides Lower Radley from the main village, much of which was built in the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s, with smaller developments in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition to the conventional houses, there are four mobile home parks in the parish. The famous public school, Radley College, lies to the west of the parish.

In the very north of the parish is an area of ancient semi-natural woodland now called Radley Large Wood. When Abingdon Abbey held the manor of Radley, this was its enclosed deer park. It was used by later lords of the manor for timber and game. Within its boundary today are three of the parish’s mobile home parks.

Radley has a primary school, a flourishing community shop, a well-used village hall and a popular pub, but sadly no longer a post office. St James the Great Church dates from the end of the 13th century and stands on higher ground away from the main part of the village alongside a vicarage that may be the oldest building in the country to have been in continuous use as the home of a church’s incumbent.

Find out more

You can read a brief history of Radley or, for a more detailed history, buy a copy of the Club’s book The History of Radley. To find out what was happening in the nearby town of Abingdon through the Ages, see the Millennium Timeline created by Abingdon Area Archaeological & Historical Society.

Radley Heritage Walk

Millennium Map

The Millennium Map of Radley shown below was commissioned by Radley History Club in 2000. It is featured on one of a series of five colour postcards of Radley created by the Club and available from Radley Village Shop.