Oare, Wiltshire


Oare is a small village in Wilcot parish in the east of the county of Wiltshire, England. The village lies about north of Pewsey, on the A345 road towards Marlborough.

Geography

The village is within the civil parish of Wilcot and lies within the Devizes parliamentary constituency.
The area is popular with walkers and the Mid Wilts Way long distance footpath passes through the village. The Giant's Grave at the eastern edge of the village offers views over the village and Vale of Pewsey.
A heart-shaped tree plantation was created in 1999, below Huish Hill in the southeast of Huish parish, near Oare. The heart is a geoglyph, but not a hill figure like the many surrounding "white horses" such as the Marlborough White Horse.

Buildings

on the western edge of the village, built in 1740, is Grade I listed. It was largely remodelled in the early 1920s by Portmeirion architect Clough Williams-Ellis. Its gardens, which include a summerhouse also designed by Williams-Ellis, are listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. To the west of the gardens stands the Oare Pavilion, completed in 2003 and the only British building designed by I. M. Pei.
At the northern edge of the village is Rainscombe House, built circa 1810 and Grade II listed. Its grounds, in the valley between Oare Hill and Martinsell Hill, are the location for the annual Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally, held in June or July.