Wargrave

Wargrave
High Street
Wargrave  Wargrave shown within Berkshire
Population	3,910 (2001)
OS grid reference	SU7878
Civil parish	Wargrave
Unitary authority	Wokingham
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Reading
Postcode district	RG10
Dialling code	0118
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Royal Berkshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Wokingham
List of places: UK • England • Berkshire

Wargrave is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, which encloses the confluence of the River Loddon and the River Thames. It is in the Borough of Wokingham. The name Wargrave is derived from 'Weir-Grove', 'Weregreave', rather than a literal meaning of War Grave and the village dates back to medieval times.

History

Church Street, c. 1888 by Henry Taunt

The first documentary evidence of the settlement was recorded in 1061. The Domesday Book of 1086 records the settlement as having a population of 250. In the 13th century the current High Street was lined with plots and backstreets developed. The village continued to develop into its current form in the 18th century growing up the hill from the High Street eastwards so that by the end of the 19th century this axis, now Victoria Road, was fully settled.

In the 20th century the village's population grew significantly, especially in the 1970s and 80s as new developments on farmland inside the parish boundaries responded to demand for housing for commuters working in and on the western outskirts of London.

Geography

The village encloses the confluence of the River Loddon and the River Thames. It is on the A321 road between Twyford and Henley-on-Thames. On the opposite bank of the River Thames are the villages of Shiplake and Lower Shiplake.

Wargrave railway station is on the Henley Branch Line between Twyford and Henley-on-Thames. This railway provides a year-round direct link across the river to Shiplake and on to the end of the line, Henley-on-Thames, and allows connection for commuters to the regional centre Reading and to London. A large proportion of the residents in employment commute to outlying areas, as the village itself supports a small range of shops and businesses, but not enough to support the population.

Religious sites

St Mary's Church

The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary dates from the 12th century and is part of the parish of Wargrave with Knowl Hill. It is off the High Street on Mill Green and was notably set on fire and gutted in 1914 as part of a mistakenly targeted direct action by the Suffragette Movement. The north door remains from the 12th century, the tower from 1635 and the remaining structure was built following the fire. In the gardens of the Churchyard is the Hannen Columbarium, built to house the remains of the Hannen family. It was designed by Edwin Lutyens and is considered an interesting example of his early work

The Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of Peace was built in 1963 and is supported by the Parish of Saint Thomas More of the neighbouring village, Twyford.

The River

River Thames in Wargrave

There are marinas and Wargrave Boating Club for those who use the River Thames for leisure and sport.

In August, the Wargrave & Shiplake Regatta is held over two days on the Shiplake riverbank opposite. The regatta combines serious and light-hearted racing in canoes, dinghies, dongolas and skiffs. It is the largest community event of the year having taken place since 1867. The event ends with a large firework display on the Saturday night.

Amenities

At one time there were seven public houses on High Street, serving the stage coaches travelling between Henley-on-Thames and Reading, there are now only four. The pubs remaining today are The Bull, The Greyhound, The St George and Dragon, and The White Hart. There is also The Queen Victoria public house in Upper Wargrave.

Wargrave has its own primary school, which is split into the infant school and junior school, and a secondary academy school - The Piggott School before a comprehensive school now an academy. Each is a Church of England voluntary controlled school and are also feeder schools to each other. They are all named after a man called Robert Piggott.

Notable people

• Dave Allen, comedian
• Raymond Baxter, television presenter
• Angela Baddeley, actress
• Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore
• Paul Daniels, magician
• Peter Davison, actor
• Sandra Dickinson, actress
• Mary Hopkin, singer
• Nicholas "Beau" Hannen, actor (son of Sir Nicholas Hannen)
• Sir Nicholas John Hannen, Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
• Robert Morley, actor

External links

• Wargrave website
• Wargrave Parish Council
• Wargrave with Knowl Hill Churches
• Berkshire History: Wargrave
• Wargrave Football Club website