Woolhampton | West Berkshire Villages
Woolhampton is a small village and parish eight miles west of Reading and six miles east of Newbury. Because of its location on the Bath road, Woolhampton was well known for its coaching inns. It is also known for the Kennet & Avon Canal with it's swing bridge. The adjacent settlement of Upper Woolhampton, and the rural area to the north, east and south of the village is generally included in Woolhampton.
There is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) immediately to the east of the village and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the eastern and northern boundaries.
It has a Traditional pub \ restaurant serving fresh food, cask ales and wine and a village shop.
WOOLHAMPTON | WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: AMENITIES & FACILITIES
The village hall is situated just off the A4 Bath Road at the western end of the village. The hall as a venue is used extensively by many local organisations for a wide range of activities. It has an art group, baby and toddler group, the fitness league, lunch club, market, pilates, seniors social club, short mat bowls, stroke care, tea dance, whisht, WI and Zumba. For more information contact Emma Smith loreal1975@hotmail.com
There is a village shop with a cafe.
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: FOOD & DRINK
The two pubs in Woolhampton are The Angel and The Rowbarge.
WOOLHAMPTON | WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: SPORTS
There is a football club and a cricket club. There are also allotments.
WOOLHAMPTON | WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: SCHOOL
There is a Woolhampton C of E Primary School
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: COMMUNICATION
There is a website.
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: CHURCH
There is St. Peter’s Church and a Roman Catholic Church, St Mary’s at Douai Abbey.
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: HEALTH
The local doctor’s are at Chapel Row
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: TRANSPORT
The 1- jet black. Midghmam railway serves Woolhampton.
WOOLHAMPTON| WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: THE PARISH COUNCIL
There is a Parish Council
WOOLHAMPTON | WEST BERKSHIRE VILLAGES: LOCAL HISTORY
Woolhampton was well known for its coaching inns, one of which was the scene of the capture of the infamous highwayman, Captain Hawkes. This man was best known for his vast array of disguises, which he used to discover who was travelling the roads with valuables worth acquiring. It was after one such performance, however, that he was finally caught. He had lulled a pistol wielding gallant into a false sense of security by dressing as a pious quaker at an inn in Slough. The brash young man boasted of his wealth and the power of his guns, but later, on the road in East Berkshire, he found himself unarmed and facing a, familiar, but dangerous highwayman. Delighted with his haul, Hawkes rode on to Woolhampton where he rested at the old Sun Inn. While there, a fight broke out in the bar between two locals. The captain tried to intervene, only to find himself amid red-breasted bow street runners who promptly arrested him. Read more….
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