The Silks on the Downs - or The Silks as it’s more commonly known - was built around 1900. Originally, the site was occupied by both a pub and a beer house, The Axe and Compass. With the closure of the beer house in 1937, the pub as it stands today thrived as both a village pub for locals and a coaching inn for those travelling across country.

After more than a century of serving patrons, the doors of The Silks closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the local parish council and an army of volunteers from the Ogbourne villages coordinated efforts to purchase, refurbish, and reinstate the pub as their treasured local. In 2022, after a significant fundraising effort, the pub was proudly reopened and staffed with local volunteers.

In 2024, with growing demand from both locals and travellers, the community entrusted the next chapter of The Silks to publican and MasterChef Champion, Thomas Frake. Thomas’ mission is simple, to run a warm and welcoming pub that offers Great British food and drink from local and seasonal suppliers.