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Compton

Compton photos (4 available)

Old photo of Compton

Compton maps (2 available)

Old map of Compton

Compton books (10 available)

Compton memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Berkshire below.

Berkshire memories

My dad the police officer

I was born in the 1980s and my father was Alan Prior. He used to work with Jim(or James ) Heath. We lived in the 'police' house with my mother Dawn. I remember being snowed in at one point and a lovely lady in the village let a whole coach full of us (we were supposed to go to school) invade her house and gave us cups of tea. I also remember my mum used to be a horse judge, I think, and we used to go to the stables a lot, and my mother ran the village shop at one point. My dad also was very close to the late 'Mr Chips' who also lived in the village, I cannot ...read more here
A memory of East Ilsley contributed by claire louise prior

I lived in Hampstead Norris from 1945 to 1962

Hampstead Norreys, Forge Hill 1950

I lived in Hampstead Norris as it was known in those days from 1945 to 1962 when I departed for greener pastures(I thought). I have had this longing for a while now to get in touch with people I went to school with in the village and at Compton. If you know my history you may or may not want to contact me. I would really like to hear from anyone who lived in the village at those times. I remember John Smith, Michael Wheeler, Chris Cannings, Angela Jefferys, Frank Ballard, the Simmons family, the Painter family, John, Reg, Roy and Anne Wheeler, Violet Marshall, I think the list is endless when I think about those days and of course my ...read more here
A memory of Hampstead Norreys contributed by David Street

fear of wells

Yattendon, the Royal Oak and Old Well c1965

The well incident at yattendon scared my father. We had heard about it through relatives and we lived in east tytherley at the time. I remember my father spending a weekend tapping floors and trying to lift flag stones in our kitchen because he was convinced that there was a well under our home- there wasnt.
A memory of Yattendon contributed by joy milligan

The Royal Oak

Yattendon, the Royal Oak and Old Well c1965

'The Oak' is the only pub and hotel in the village and in the fifties our next door neighbour was the cleaner there. She would cycle to the village from the farm on a heavy green bicycle in a slow and ponderous manner that has stayed with me to this day. I must have been about nine when the awful event happened that haunted me for years.  Police came to the village school one day to ask our neighbour's daughter where her mum was going that morning as she was not at work.  The doors in the porch of the pub had been sticking for some months and the cleaner had complained and asked for something to be done, to no ...read more here
A memory of Yattendon contributed by Maggi Stamp-Loshak

Extracts From Compton & Berkshire books

Binfield, Newbold Missionary College c1955

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".

Yateley, the Common 1924

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".

Wokingham, Station Road c1955

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".

Wokingham, Rose Street c1955

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".

Wokingham, Town Hall 1906

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".