Burghfield Common
Burghfield Common maps (2 available)
Map of Berkshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Burghfield Common books (10 available)
Burghfield Common memories
Read and share memories of Burghfield Common and Berkshire inspired by Frith photos
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Berkshire memories
The entrance on the left is to Mortimer Station and the house (red brick) just right of centre is the Old Post Office. The white house just left of centre is Street House. The building to the right (and slightly closer to the foreground) is the old water pumping station.
A memory of Stratfield Mortimer contributed by Paul Johnson
Theale..The Birthplace of William Frederick PARSONS
William or 'Billy' as he was known was born in the house at 38 Crown Lane Theale on the 24th. September 1911, the eldest son of Frederick James and Matilda (Gladys) Parsons and there house was along the lane from The Crown Inn which was situated on the corner.
Billy's dad sadly died aged 32 at Crown Lane / Blossom End when Billy was 5 years , his brother Charles was 3 and his mother was pregnant with her third son Herbert who was born a few months after his father's death. Life in those days as a widow with 3 children was very hard and sadly baby Herbert died at 15 days old, causing added great sadness to the family, ...read more here
A memory of Theale contributed by hazel parsons
Great great grandfather
According to the 1871 census my Great Great Grandfather Thomas Downing was the miller. In the census he is living there with his family including his daughter Elizabeth who became my Great Grandmother.
A memory of Theale contributed by Anne Sorrell
My Memories Of Tilehurst
I was born in Theale but my parents moved to Tilehurst when I was 3 years of age where we lived at 16a Norcot Road with my grandparents Edith and Harold Goddard and other siblings to my mother Audrey Parsons, my father was Bill.
I attended Park Lane School from age 5 to 11 years when the Headmistress was Miss Clamp, two other teachers were Miss Norris and Miss Williams . At 11 I attended Norcot School, Tilehurst and the teachers I remember are Mr Saul who was the Headmaster, Miss London, Mr Turner, Mr Drake and Mr Ayres. The team houses in the school were Waltham, Niblett, Deverall and Hellyer,each with their colours of red, blue green and yellow. I ...read more here
A memory of Tilehurst contributed by hazel parsons
Extracts From Burghfield Common & Berkshire books
Viewed across a new orchard is the mansion of Moore Close. The original house, built by Mr Hutchinson Brown,
was bought by Charles Birch Crisp who, in 1910, commissioned newly-qualified architect Oliver Hill to enlarge the
house and design the gardens. Newbold Missionary College moved to the site in February 1946.
An extract from from"Wokingham and Bracknell Photographic Memories".
From its depot in Reading, having stopped at Shinfield, Arborfield, Eversley and Yateley, a Thorneycroft J Type bus operated by the Thames Valley Traction Company has yet to make a pick up in Derby Green before continuing through Blackwater, to its destination in Camberley. It seems a fitting picture to conclude this selection of photographs and illustrate the pace of life in days gone by.
An extract from from"Wokingham and Bracknell Photographic Memories".
The Hope and Anchor, seen here on the right, has changed little in the present day, but now includes the small
gabled building on its left, which had been a blacksmiths for many years. Today the British Legion hall will be found
to the rear of the next building along, which in this photograph bears the name ‘Wokingham Ex-Servicemen’s Club’.
An extract from from"Wokingham and Bracknell Photographic Memories".
The 15th-century building in the foreground has had a variety of uses, including that of a public house named The
Cricketers which ran from the mid 19th century until its closure in 1909. This picture shows it as a fish and chip shop.
In recent years it has doubled as a tailor’s workroom with private accommodation above. The tall narrow building
immediately to the left was at one time home to James Seaward, who was reputedly the inspiration for the character of
Tom in Charles Kingsley’s book ‘The Water Babies’. Beyond is a fine run of 15th- and 16th-century buildings.
An extract from from"Wokingham and Bracknell Photographic Memories".
Opened in June 1860,
the Town Hall cost
£3,505 to build, and
provided space for
the County Police
Station, with cells and
an exercise yard, a
courtroom and council
offices. By this date,
the Fire Brigade were
also housed here and
operated a steam
powered fire engine.
An extract from from"Wokingham and Bracknell Photographic Memories".