The Lockinge Estate is a 3,035-hectare (7,500-acre) agricultural and housing estate near Wantage that today includes most of the land and property encompassing the villages of West Lockinge, East Lockinge and Ardington. [1] The current manager of the Lockinge Estate is Thomas Loyd. [2] Almost the entire estate is included within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The ancient Icknield Way passed through the estate, [3] as does the modern-day National Cycle Route 544. [4]
Following consecutive land purchases the between 1859 and 1870, [5] the estate became one of the largest in England. [6] The estate grew in character under the ownership of Lady Harriet and Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage, who significantly improved housing and services for the estate workers and attempted to create a worker's model village. [7] [8] Lord Wantage also had Lockinge House extended and renovated, [8] [9] complete with a large ice house and orangery. [10]
The estate was modernised under Christopher Loyd following World War Two, who had Lockinge House demolished in 1947, [9] established the Lockinge Stud, and established the Lockinge Trust to provide affordable housing. [11] The Lockinge Trust and the Village Housing Charitable Trust continue to manage housing and historic issues on the estate. [1]
51°35′N 1°23′W / 51.59°N 1.38°W