Stanford in the Vale is a village located centrally in the Vale of the White Horse (formerly north Berkshire) situated just north of the River Ock, an upper tributary of the River Thames. The name “Stanford” is commonly believed to derive from the “stone ford” which may once been nearby, though no evidence of any such crossing has been found. The name more likely originates from the Celtic Ys Tan Fford (“corn end road”) or San Da Fford Inga (“the cattle water adjoining the road”) which would explain the curious spelling of Sandfordinga, the first written reference to the area in a charter of 931AD1. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 2,093 with the parish bounds, however this has increased significantly in recent years. The conservation area covers almost 20 hectares and contains 34 individually listed buildings.
Stanford’s nearest major urban centre is Faringdon, about 4 miles north-west, connected by the A417. Following the road southeast leads to Wantage and the Ridgeway beyond.
The village is surrounded by smaller villages and hamlets; Shellingford to the west, Hatford to the north, Charney Bassett to the east, and Goosey to the south, all separated by active farmland.
19 Wayfinder stones have been placed around the village with QR codes assigned to look up the history of Stanford in the Vale (map of locations and links to each stone are below).
The stones that mark the Wayfinder trail originate from Hatford Quarry at Sandy Lane near Faringdon. The stones were kindly donated by Earthline Ltd who have operated the quarry since 2003. As of 2026 the quarry continues to operate providing sand and stone to the local construction industry. The quarry is now also being restored using inert material and will eventually be returned to agricultural use.
The stones are limestone and come from the Corallian Group, a 150-million-year-old ridge of Jurassic rock. This area features a highly fossiliferous, non-uniform mixture of sands, clay and limestone locally known as the “Golden Ridge” due to its rich coral content. The sands and limestones are famous for yielding abundant marine fossil, particularly corals, gastropods and sponges.
The Parish Council extends its thanks to Shellingford Quarry for the donation of the stones, and to Abi Brown, The Arts Development Officer at Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils for her guidance and assistance with the councils planning and funding applications.
Any information you may feel is incorrect, please email bob.kent@standfordinthevale-pc.gov.uk
With thanks also to the artist for the mosaics inlaid on the stones, Rob Turner (https://robturners.blogspot.com):
- Stone 1: BRICK WORKS AND HAMLET OF BOW
- Stone 2: UPPER GREEN AND PAM AYRES
- Stone 3: FIRE INSURANCE SIGN
- Stone 4: JUBILEE GREEN – QUEEN VICTORIA
- Stone 5: OLD FIRE STATION – FIRE SHED
- Stone 6: ST. DENY, CHURCH GREEN
- Stone 7: MILLENNIUM GREEN
- Stone 8: CROMWELL HOUSE
- Stone 9: COX’S HALL SILVER GOBLET
- Stone 10: BEAR HOUSE ANVIL COURT
- Stone 11: WILLOW TREE AND FAIRIES
- Stone 12: AIRFIELD
- Stone 13: POPPIES WAR NAMES
- Stone 14: HARE CHEESE
- Stone 15: RECREATION GROUND FOOTBALL CLUB
- Stone 16: AGRICULTURE AND FARMING
- Stone 17: OLD NURSERY AND FLOWERS
- Stone 18: COFFIN TRAIL
- Stone 19: QE2 FIELD & COMMUNITY AREAS
Additional notes of thanks go to:
- White Horse Print and Signs – for the Wayfinder Trail Tote Bags
- Berkshire Hiab Services – for collecting and placing the stones around the village