Built-up area in South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England
| Coordinates: | 51.645, -1.168 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SU 57 94 |
| Dialling code: | 01235 (Abingdon) |
Dorchester, usually known as Dorchester-on-Thames, is a compact village and parish in South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England, set on the south bank of the River Thames where it meets the River Thame, only a short drive south of Oxford. It has deep roots - a substantial Roman settlement and an Anglo‑Saxon religious centre once stood here - and its historic core, centred on the impressive Dorchester Abbey, still reflects medieval and monastic architecture and considerable archaeological interest.
Today the village combines a rural economy of farms and small businesses with a steady stream of visitors who come for riverside walks, birdlife and boating; a number of residents commute to Oxford. Local life is focused on community activities, the village pub and school, and the steady attention of historians and archaeologists attracted by the layers of Roman, Saxon and medieval remains that make Dorchester disproportionately interesting for its size.
OX10 7LA, OX10 7JH, OX10 7JP, OX10 7JJ, OX10 7HZ, OX10 7LH, OX10 7LG, OX10 7JB, OX10 7HR … See all