Wargrave On Thames history
Wargrave is a Thames-side village which has been a settlement since 900AD.
The first mention of the Manor of Wargrave comes in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 from the reports of groups of Commissioners. They had been sent out by William the Conqueror to find out who owned the land, how it was used and what was its value, together with details about its inhabitants and livestock. They recorded that Wargrave was owned by the King himself and that Queen Edith, wife of Edward the Confessor had owned it before 1066. The size of the Manor was around 5,000 acres with a population of approximately 250-300 people.
Wargrave valued at £27 6s 8d was one of the richest and most populous settlements in East Berkshire at that time. There was a Mill on the Loddon and three “fisheries”, these would have been “weirs” or eel traps across the river.
Wargrave stood on the edge of Windsor Forest, its boundaries being the rivers White Water, Loddon and Thames; the earliest village surrounded by a grove or thickets of trees and bushes. Thus the early name Weirgrove was formed. Other spellings over the centuries have included Werregrave, Wargrave, Weregrava and Welgrove.
The first documentary evidence of the existence of a Church in Wargrave is in 1121, when Henry 1 took the Churches Of Wargrave and Cholsey away from the Abbey of Mont St Michel in Normandy (giving it other lands in Devon in return). He gave the Church of Wargrave as part of his endowment to the newly founded Reading Abbey and it remained part of the Abbey property until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1534.
Many of the larger houses in the village were built during the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods, when Wargrave was a fashionable riverside summer resort for those escaping London.
Adjoining H’ARTISAN is one of the most important buildings in Wargrave. Timber Cottage (which used to be a tea parlour and bike repair shop !) is the oldest surviving house in the village and is a very fine mid 14th century timber framed house. Timber Cottage was built during the reign of the House of Lancaster.
Interesting facts about Wargrave High Street
- Early records indicate a Market in Wargrave in 1218
- The earliest mention of a shop in Wargrave is 1800
- Wargrave used to have 2 bakers, a grocer, a butcher, a chemist, several carpenters shops, fishmonger, shoemaker, 4 blacksmiths, a plumber, a wheelwright, a coal merchant, a laundry and a basket maker. Over recent years there was a tailor, hosier and breech-maker, James and Sons and tobacconist. Wargrave even had WH Smith, Barclays Bank and the Wargrave Telephone Exchange. Timber Cottage adjoining went from being a Tea Parlour to a cycle shop run by Claude Batty who also ran dancing classes above International Stores (now H’ARTISAN)
With thanks to the Local Wargrave History Society
- Interestingly – In the 1970’s a local gentleman named John Weatherlake acquired the current building (now H’ARTISAN) (formerly trading as International Stores at the time) and renamed it High Street Stores. Post his acquisition he launched the Wargrave News in October 1978 to “help breathe life back into the High Street” and he arranged for the Wargrave News to be delivered to all Wargrave Households – The Wargrave News was born !
Wonderful article written by Sophie Drew about Wargrave on Berkshire Live website…see full article here.
Wargrave Community Groups:
XBridge in the Sansom Room
Join us for Bridge in the Sansom Room. Really friendly and welcoming group. Every Thursday from 2 pm until 4 pm. Tutor lead with prepared hands from September through until June, £6.50 per session (first session is free), plus an annual membership of £5.
Contact me if you are interested in coming along at r.d.fernley@btinternet.com or pop the library and I can tell you more about it.
Sorry not running at present.
X1st Wargrave Rainbows
Rainbows is for girls aged 5 to 7 and is all about developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun.
We can be contacted via email 1stWargraveRainbows@gmail.com
X2nd Wargrave Brownies
Brownies is for girls aged 7 to 10. They learn new hobbies, play music, explore other cultures, get adventurous outdoors and much more.
Please send us an email if you would like more information
2ndWargraveBrownies@gmail.com
XWargrave Gardeners’ Club
We welcome everyone whether you have been gardening for years or just starting out in the wonderful world of flowers, shrubs, trees and… slugs and weeds. We are a friendly and lively group and enjoy outings to places such as Kew, Highgrove and Wisley as well as local places of interest.
We usually meet on the last Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm in the Hannen Room. Meetings are currently suspended but will resume as soon as these are possible.
If you would like more information and/or to be included on the mailing list for updates, please contact membership secretary Caroline Davies at caroline.davies173@gmail.com
XWargrave Library
Wargrave library forms a part of the Wokingham Borough Libraries service and is located Church Street, very close to The Bull pub.
Although we’re a small community venue with part time opening hours, we provide a great selection of books and CDs for adults and children.
We feel very honoured and privileged, as our library is often one of the first places children visit independently.
We hold many regular activities and all of our members have access to our online material and virtual events with authors, poets and book chats. There are also many regular online children’s events.
As for additional services, we supply brown gardening sacks, blue rubbish bags and green food recycling bags.
For help or assistance, please call 0118 940 4656 or email ros.fernley@wokingham.gov.uk.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Wargrave Library – 0118 940 4656
Opening Times
Mon 2 pm to 5 pm Wed 9:30 am to 1 pm 2 pm to 5 pm Fri 2 pm to 5 pm Sat 9:30 am to 1 pm 
XWargrave Parish Trust
A local charity which provides grants to individuals and families of the Parish of Wargrave that are in financial need.
Contact: Bob Austen at austenrobert@hotmail.com
XThe Piggott Trust.
A local charity which provides grants to young people of the Parish of Wargrave for their further education, and also provides annual grants to the four local schools for particular projects.
Contact: Bob Austen at austenrobert@hotmail.com
XWargrave User Group
(otherwise known as WUG)How it all began
WUG was formed in November 2014 at a Saturday morning on-the-patio bacon sandwich meeting of eight or so fed up regular users of trains out of Wargrave.Philip Meadowcroft, who called the meeting, had been invited to join the Henley Branch User Group (HBUG) in October 2014 to represent Wargrave’s interests. It quickly became evident to him that HBUG’s primary objective to persuade GWR to operate a 30-minute service (to replace the then 45-minute frequency) was not in Wargrave users’ best interests. Why ? Because GWR said it was possible for such a service but only by excluding Wargrave as a stop on every other service. HBUG felt that was acceptable. Philip didn’t. So he formed WUG and a few months later was sacked from HBUG apparently because he was considered disruptive.
WUG was well and truly born and has been sustained by a regular emailed WUGGER Update to members who represented 70 households within Wargrave and adjacent hamlets.
The first task was to achieve a 30-minute weekday service without any station being missed. Through careful monitoring of the actual times trains needed to travel between Twyford and Henley, and checking their punctuality, enough data was assembled by WUG to present GWR, Network Rail, and our MP, Theresa May, with an analysis that showed it could be done. A collaborative and friendly working relationship was established with GWR and this continues to flourish. Eventually, after some tricky moments, all the sign-offs were obtained and the 30-minute service is now possibly the most reliable performer on the entire GWR network. Well done GWR for being willing to change its mind.
The loss of the through services to Paddington was painful but proved non-negotiable so the focus then switched to seeking to achieve the best possible connections, in both directions, at Twyford. WUG is also concerned about the uncomfortable seats on the TfL stopping everywhere services and also the reform of the anomalous ticketing rules.
In April 2019, Edward Marshall postmaster@edwardmarshall1.plus.com
took over as leading WUGGER and the regular WUGGER Update continues as well as a regular feature in the Wargrave News.WUGGERS also have green fingers and ably led by Judi Rowlands and Chris Bennett judirowlands@talktalk.net chrisb21721@gmail.com
they have transformed the verge along the railing at the station by subdividing it into 15 plots along with four planters fixed to the railings. Gratitude is due to the neighbour living nearby for keeping the planters watered.WUG has no constitution, everything is done voluntarily, and there are no membership fees. Generous and kind grants from Wargrave Parish Council and GWR, together with private donations, have all been applied purely to the green-fingered department’s splendid work.
XWomen’s Institute
Come and join the WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. You can make a difference and enjoy a social gathering.
There are two WIs in the Wargrave area; Cockpole Green and Mill Green
Cockpole Green meets in Crazies Hill Village Hall during the afternoon on every third Wednesday of the month except for our garden party, August when we have an outing and when we celebrate Christmas with a meal. For further information please contact
Judi Rowlands (President) 07786 948650
Mill Green WI meets on the first Wednesday of the month. Most meetings are in the Hannen Room, other than our Garden Meeting, our Outing and our Christmas Meal. For further information please contact
Frankie Macmillan (President) 0118 9320262
There are 11 meetings a year with a speaker or activity and refreshments. It is a chance to meet in our community, to support each other, to be involved in the wider WI’s campaigns both here and overseas. Collectively the WI has a big voice. Why don’t you join and be part of it?
- X
Women’s Institute
Come and join the WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. You can make a difference and enjoy a social gathering.
There are two WIs in the Wargrave area; Cockpole Green and Mill Green
Cockpole Green meets in Crazies Hill Village Hall during the afternoon on every third Wednesday of the month except for our garden party, August when we have an outing and when we celebrate Christmas with a meal. For further information please contact
Judi Rowlands (President) 07786 948650
Mill Green WI meets on the first Wednesday of the month. Most meetings are in the Hannen Room, other than our Garden Meeting, our Outing and our Christmas Meal. For further information please contact
Frankie Macmillan (President) 0118 9320262
There are 11 meetings a year with a speaker or activity and refreshments. It is a chance to meet in our community, to support each other, to be involved in the wider WI’s campaigns both here and overseas. Collectively the WI has a big voice. Why don’t you join and be part of it?
Wargrave Businesses:
Wargrave Social:
X
About the Henley Arts Trail
Looking for a unique and inspiring way to spend your May Day bank holiday weekend? Look no further than the Henley Arts Trail; a vibrant and inclusive celebration of art and creativity.
Join us for a free event like no other, where you can discover the work of over 100 talented artists and explore the beautiful town of Henley on Thames and the surrounding villages. From paintings, prints and photography to sculpture, ceramics, glass, textiles and everything in between, the Henley Arts Trail offers a diverse range of art and crafts to suit every taste
Take a stroll along the trail and explore the 33 different venues, from studios and galleries to homes and public spaces. Meet the artists, learn about their techniques, discover the inspiration behind their creations and buy direct from the makers. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply curious the Arts Trail offers a unique opportunity to engage with the local arts scene.
But the trail is not just about viewing art, it’s about getting involved too. Take part in our program of events, including workshops talks and demonstrations to discover your own potential
With some thing for everyone the Henley Arts Trail is the perfect Way to spend a day or the whole bank holiday weekend exploring with family and friends. Mark your calendar – 29th April to 1st May and join us for an unforgettable experience.
For more information and to download a map of the trail visit www.henleyartstrail.com
H’ARTISAN would love to hear your feedback
Please send us a message with your comments and anything new you would like to see at H’ARTISAN
