Tilehurst
Tilehurst History
Tilehurst is situated 3 miles (5 km) west of central Reading and 42 miles (68 km) from London.
The original name was Tigel-Hurst which means “the wooded hill where tiles are made”. From Saxon times up until 1967 tiles had been produced in this area using local clay.
Tilehurst used to cover a vast area in the 17th and 18th centuries and comprised of a number of manors with its main manor house at Calcot Park. In 1911, Tilehurst was absorbed into the Borough of Reading but remained a village until after the Second World War and the need for housing. Building started mostly in the 1950s and since then many new housing developments have been developed in Tilehurst making it a major residential area of Reading. However, in amongst the new houses there are still a few thatched cottages to be found reminding us of that bygone era.
Parts of St Michael’s Church in Tilehurst date from the 13th century but there has been a church on the site since 1189. Up until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, it was served by the monks from Reading Abbey.
During the mid-18th century, Prospect Park was constructed by Benjamin Child, one time Lord of the Manor in memory of his wife, Frances Kendrick who is thought to haunt the area.
A prominent landmark in the area is the Tilehurst Water Tower which was built in 1932 to supplement Bath Road Reservoir. It is in a prominent position and can be see particularly well when approaching Reading from the M4 motorway.
Tilehurst Today
Opened in 1882, Tilehurst railway station is to the north of the area and is on the original line of the Great Western Railway between Oxford and Reading. Journey times are approximately 5 minutes to Reading, 35 minutes to Oxford and just under an hour to London Paddington.
There is also a frequent bus service during week days from Tilehurst to Reading town centre.
Tilehurst Primary Schools
Birch Copse Primary School
Wittenham Avenue, RG31 5LN
Tel: 0118 9427442
office.birchcopse@westberks.org
Churchend School
Usk Road, RG30 4HP
Tel: 0118 937 5450
admin@churchendacademy.com
Downsway Primary School
Warbreck Drive, RG31 6FE
Tel: 0118 942 1362
office.downsway@westberks.org
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School
Dee Road, RG30 4BE
Tel: 0118 901 5466 or 0118 9375468
admin.englishmartyrs@reading.gov.uk
Long Lane Primary School
Long Lane, RG31 6YG
Tel: 01189 427187
office.longlane@westberks.org
Moorlands Primary School
Church End Lane, RG30 4UN
Tel: 0118 901 5505
Park Lane Primary School
School Road, RG31 5BD
Tel: 0118 9015515
Ranikhet Primary School
Spey Road, RG30 4ED
Tel: 0118 9015520
Springfield Primary School
Barton Road, RG31 5NJ
Tel: 0118 942 1797
St Michael’s Primary School
Dee Road, RG30 4AS
Tel: 0118 901 5550
www.stmichaels.reading.sch.uk
St Paul’s Catholic Primary School
City Road, RG31 4SZ
Tel: 0118 942 2003
office.stpauls@westberks.org
The Highlands School
Wardle Avenue, RG31 4SE
Tel: 0118 942 7186
www.highlandsschool.co.uk
Upcroft Primary School
Norcot Road, RG30 6BS
Tel: 0118 9015562
Westwood Farm Infant School
Fulbrook Crescent, RG31 6RY
Tel: 0118 9426113
office.wfi@westberks.org
Secondary Schools
Denefield School
Long Lane, RG31 6XY
Tel: 0118 941 3458
Little Heath School
Little Heath Road, RG31 5TY
Tel: 0118 942 7337
office@littleheath.org.uk
Prospect Secondary School
Cockney Hill, RG30 4EX
Tel: 01189 590466
www.prospect.reading.sch.uk
Special Schools
Brookfields Specialist SEN School
Sage Road, RG31 6SW
Tel: 0118 942 1382
Tilehurst Parks & Leisure
The 26 acre Arthur Newbery Park is named after an eminent Reading furniture shop owner, who donated the land in 1932. It is one of Reading’s oldest parks and was once part of Kentwood Common.
Prospect Park is Reading’s biggest open space and is so called because of the stunning views over the Kennet Valley and beyond, as seen from the Mansion House at the highest point of the park. The mansion, built in the late 18th century, is Grade II listed and is now a restaurant. The site has a host of sports facilities and a well-equipped children’s play area. There is also a mini steam train which runs on weekends during the summer. During the year the park is also the venue for several community events such as the Reading Carnival in May.
Arthur Newbery Park
Amour Hill, RG31 6JP
Ayrton Senna Play Area
Ayrton Senna Road, RG31 4JQ
Blagrave Recreation
Recreation Road, RG30 4UB
Blundells Copse, RG30 4SR
Hardwick Road Play Area
Hardwick Road, RG30 4LH
Lousehill Copse
Tay Road, RG30 4DR
Meadway Copse
The Meadway, RG30 4HB
Prospect Park
Pedestrian access points on Bath Road, Tilehurst Road and Honey End Lane.
Car parking available off Liebenrood Road, by the Mansion House and on Honey End Lane by park entrance.
Scours Lane Picnic Area
Scours Lane, RG30 6AX
Victoria Recreation Ground
Kentwood Hill, RG31 6HT
Public Services
Tilehurst Railway Station
Oxford Road, RG31 6TH
Station Car Park – 110 spaces
Undercover cycle storage
Tel: 0845 700 0125
Tilehurst Library
School Road, RG31 5AS
Tel: 01189 015112
Tilehurst Police Station
6 Corwen Road, RG30 4TA
Tel: 0845 850 5505
Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service
103 Dee Road, RG30 4FS
Tel: 0118 945 2888
Prospect Park Hospital
Honey End Lane, RG30 4EJ
Tel: 0118 960 5000
This is the main hospital in the west of Berkshire for people who suffer from mental illness.
Reading Borough Council
Civic Centre
Reading
RG1 7AE
Tel: 01189 373737
www.reading.gov.uk
West Berkshire Council
Market Street
Newbury
RG14 5LD
Tel: 01635 42400
Email: info@westberks.gov.uk
www.westberks.gov.uk
Doctors
Tilehurst Surgery Partnership
Tylers Place, Pottery Road, RG30 6BW
Tel: 01189 427528
www.tilehurstsurgery.co.uk
Westwood Road Health Centre
66 Westwood Road, RG31 5PP
Tel: 0118 942 7421
www.drgargavandpartners.co.uk
Tilehurst Village Surgery
92 Westwood Road, RG31 5PP
Tel: 0118-945-2612
Tilehurst Medical Centre
5-7 Norcot Road, RG30 6BP
Tel: 0118 9428484
www.drkumarandpartners-reading.nhs.uk
Post Offices
Hildens Drive
27 Hildens Drive, RG31 5HY
Overdown Road
7 The Collanade, RG31 6PR
School Road
8a School Road, RG31 5AL
Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday , Thursday & Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm
Wednesday 9.00am – 1.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 12.30pm
Closed for lunch from 1pm – 2.15pm
