Aims and Intentions
♦ To make the history of Oatlands as a village better understood and more widely known.
♦ To research and compile a history of the village from as many original sources as possible.
♦ To collect and preserve any items relating to the village, its buildings and its people.
♦ To record memories of the village in written or digital audio format.
♦ To investigate the popular 'tales of Oatlands' and determine whether they have any historical basis.
♦ To work with local schools to show how Oatlands fits into a wider historical landscape.
♦ To publish books on the village where it is appropriate and economically sensible to do so.
♦ To create an accessible resource for those seeking to understand Oatlands as a community.
Our intention is to follow the pattern outlined in the diagram below:
Where we have delicate original documents in our possession, these will, after recording and obtaining digital copies, be lodged with the Surrey History Centre at Woking where they can be stored under environmentally controlled conditions to ensure their long-term preservation.
Where we have original documents loaned to us we will copy them and return them to the owner as quickly as is possible. On their return we will offer advice on how best to store them to ensure their preservation for generations to come. In some cases this advice may be that they would be best preserved at Surrey History Centre, though we completely understand that some owners may be less than willing to do so. Incorrect storage of documents can lead to rapid deterioration of historically valuable resources and we have seen many examples of this in the past that have resulted in what is no more than a very fragile item where the writing is no longer legible, the ink (often an 'iron-gall' formulation) having eaten away the material on which it was written.
As research continues it is hoped that we will be in a position to publish various books or booklets of different aspects of the rather unique history of Oatlands as a village. Unlike its neighbours of Walton and Weybridge, Oatlands had no real history prior to the break-up and sale of the Estate in 1846, except as parkland, woodland and farmland - all to the direct benefit of the Estate itself. It is this 'growth from nothing' that makes the village so historically interesting and unique in the area.
All documents, photographs, ephemera and other items are of interest to us and we would be very happy to see anything that you may have relating to the village - no matter what time period it is concerned with.
Oatlands Heritage Group
We are are a small group of current and past Oatlands residents going under the title of the "Oatlands Heritage Group".
Concerned with the lack of recorded history relating to Oatlands as a village and conscious of the rapid changes that now take place within the local community, we decided to begin collecting, researching and recording the story of the village so that it is preserved and available to all that are interested - whether that be a general interest or related to family, local or house history - and ensure that the village has its rightful place within history.
All documents, photographs, ephemera and other items are of interest to us and we would be very happy to see anything that you may have relating to the village - no matter what time period it is concerned with.
History has no beginning or end, it is an ongoing fact of life and no research can ever be 'complete' but the more we can learn, the more comprehensive a picture we can construct of events, properties and the lives of the people who called Oatlands their home.
Oatlands Village Fayre - Saturday 19th May from 12:30 in the Recreation Ground
We will be there, come and meet us and join in for what is a very significant date in Oatlands history...
We are a group of current & past residents and others with an interest in Oatlands, going under the title of the "Oatlands Heritage Group". Membership is open to anyone who shares our aims.
Concerned with the lack of recorded history relating to Oatlands as a village and conscious of the rapid changes that now take place within the local community, we decided to begin collecting, researching and recording the story of the village so that it is preserved and available to all that are interested - whether that be a general interest or related to family, local or house history - and ensure that the village has its rightful place within the historical record.
All documents, photographs, ephemera and other items are of interest to us and we would be very happy to see anything that you may have relating to the village - no matter what time period it is concerned with.
History has no beginning or end, it is an ongoing fact of life and no research can ever be 'complete' but the more we can learn, the more comprehensive a picture we can construct of events, properties and the lives of the people who called Oatlands their home.
Oatlands Village Fayre - Saturday 18th May from 12:30 in the Recreation Ground
We will be there, come and meet us and join in for what is a very significant date in Oatlands history...
Centernary of the Bells of St Mary, Oatlands
Find out what links the church bells to India, Big Ben, The Royal Family and a Double Murder...
View some of our Postcards and Maps, ask us questions
We can't bring everything to the fayre, but we'll have a reasonable selection to give you a taste of the rich history of Oatlands past.
The Guided Walks
If you really want to get a feel for the history and heritage of Oatlands, why not book a place on one of the guided walks that our Research Coordinator hosts on Sunday - come and book on our stall.
Why not join us?
We can help members with house histories and family histories as well as helping you to understand how and why the village of Oatlands is the way it is today and how it all began.