Thamesford

On the Thames River: a village surrounded by open farmland, with London and Woodstock close by in either direction and country quiet in between. Thamesford is the largest village in Zorra, on Highway 2 in the south-west of the township. Lions River Park follows the Thames with a walking and cycling path, fishing spots and a six-hole disc golf course, and the village has a heated outdoor pool, a splash pad, a skate park and the Thamesford District Recreation Centre.

In 1975 East Nissouri, West Zorra and North Oxford townships joined to form the Township of Zorra, and Thamesford became its own ward, with the Township office on Brock Street. Harvey Beaty, a local businessman and councillor, started the Cold Springs plant in the village, and a room at the Thamesford library is named after him. The village celebrates its heritage and history each year with the Calathumpian.

The census counts most of Thamesford in areas of its own, so these figures are close to the village line. They come to about 930 homes, more than nine in ten of them single detached houses. About a quarter were built in 1960 or earlier and about a third between 1961 and 1980. About one in sixteen were built between 1981 and 2000, about one in six between 2001 and 2015, and about one in seven between 2016 and 2021.

Highway 2, Dundas Street, runs through Thamesford, west to London City Hall, about 23 km away by road, a drive of about 30 minutes, and east to Woodstock City Hall, about 23 km and 22 minutes away. Highway 401 is a short drive south.

Lions River Park on 19th Line runs along the Thames with a gentle walking and cycling path, fishing access and a six-hole disc golf course open all year, and Dr. Kosmal Park on Allen Street is a quiet spot by the river. The Thamesford Area Swimming Pool on George Street is a heated outdoor pool with swimming lessons in summer, North Park has the lit main ball diamond and a playground, and Lions South Park on Seldon Street has a splash pad, a pavilion and a second diamond. The Thamesford District Recreation Centre at 85 Middleton Street has an arena seating 350 and a hall, with a skate park, a soccer field and beach volleyball courts beside it, and the off-leash dog park is in Grace Patterson Park on Allen Street. The Thamesford branch of the Oxford County Library is at 165 Dundas Street.

• Thamesford Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public school for Thamesford, on McCarty Street.
• Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school for Thamesford, on Alma Street in Ingersoll.
• Oliver Stephens Public School — Grades 1 to 8 in French immersion. The public French immersion school for Thamesford, on Fyfe Avenue in Woodstock; it also has an English program.
• St. Jude's Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school for Thamesford, on Caffyn Street in Ingersoll.
• Holy Family French Immersion Catholic School — SK to Grade 8 in French immersion. The Catholic French immersion school for all of Oxford, on Oxford Street in Woodstock.
• St. Mary's Catholic High School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school for Thamesford, on Juliana Drive in Woodstock.
• Woodstock Collegiate Institute — Grades 9 to 12. Thames Valley's public French immersion secondary school, on Riddell Street in Woodstock.