Woodley, Berkshire

The name Woodley means 'a clearing in the wood'. That wood may well have been Windsor Great Forest.

One of the most interesting houses in old Woodley was Bulmershe Court, built in 1777 by James Wheble. The garden was said to have been designed by Capability Brown in the Italienate style.

William Pitt was a frequent visitor to the house. George III is also said to have visited the house.

In 1963, the house was demolished. The site is now part of Reading University.

One hundred years ago, Woodley was a small rural community with less than one thousand inhabitants. Fifty years ago, although the population had grown a little, the majority of the homes were not on main drainage and there was little street lighting.

In the early 1930's a Flying School was opened by Philips and Powis of Reading in the 100 Acre Field belonging to Sandford Farm. Charles Lindbergh and Amy Johnson were just two of the famous aeronauts who landed there.

In 1953, Douglas Bader opened the Coronation Hall.

In 1972, the A329(M) was constructed as a feeder road for the M4 motorway and this passed over Loddon Bridge Road, parallel to the railway.

The pedestrianised shopping centre replaced the village shops and Lytham Road was constructed to provide access between Crockhamwell Road and Headley Road.