The Silks - or The Silks on The Downs as it was formerly known - was built in the 1850’s. Originally the site was occupied by both The Wheatsheaf public house and the Axe and Compass beer house, but 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 150 years 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 Valley villages coordinated efforts to purchase, refurbish, and reinstate the pub as their treasured local.

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