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 village has an active and vibrant community and is located between the towns of Reading and Newbury, lying on the northern edge of the river Kennet, with many pretty footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways surrounding the village.
Village amenities include an excellent village shop, a modern village hall with an adjacent playing park.
There are a number of excellent pubs in the vicinity; the Angel and the Rowbarge, which is situated alongside the river Kennet next to the swing bridge.
Other pubs and restaurants in the area include The Bladebone at Chapel Row, The Boot Inn at Stanford Dingley, The Royal Oak at Yattendon, and The Pot Kiln at Frilsham, with many serving a range of award-winning real ales from Regegade formerly West Berkshire Brewery.
The M4 is just a few miles away and provides easy vehicular access to London and the West Country.
Midgham train station is just a ½ mile away, which gives fast train connections to Reading and London Paddington. Just along the A4 is Thatcham, which boasts another train station and a fine selection of shops including a Waitrose. Reading mainline train station and Cross Rail connection 11 miles (approx) and Theale station is 6 miles (approx).
There is a wonderful sporting complex open to public membership at Bradfield College with indoor tennis courts, squash, indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, etc. Bradfield College also has a 9-hole golf course and membership is available.
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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