Woodley

Woodley Reading

WOODLEY READING

The name Woodley means ‘a clearing in the wood’, which suggests that it was originally part of Windsor Great Forest.  It is situated between the main Reading-Paddington railway line to the north and the A329(M) road to the south. To the east the boundary mainly follows the River Loddon.

Until the 1930s, Woodley was a very small village until an airfield and flying school opened in the 100-acre field belonging to Sandford Farm. In 1932 the production of the Miles Hawk aeroplane began, leading to the formation of Miles Aircraft Ltd which continued manufacturing aircraft until after the Second World War Charles Lindbergh and Amy Johnson both landed at Woodley and Douglas Bader lost both his legs in an aerobatic accident on the airfield.

After the Second World War, Woodley continued its expansion, with businesses relocating from Reading and the building of new housing developments. In the 1960s the old village shops were replaced by a new town centre and following that in the 1980s, the airfield was redeveloped into a major housing estate. In 1953, Douglas Bader opened the Coronation Hall, Woodford Park was opened in 1964, the Bulmershe Centre, with its swimming pool, sports facilities and youth club, was opened in 1971 and Woodley finally achieved town status in 1974.

MANOR

The first reference to a manor in Woodley was at Bulmershe in 1447 when it was granted to Reading Abbey. After the dissolution of the monasteries it was sold to the poet William Gray and subsequently became the home of the Blagrave family for the next two hundred years. Adjoining the manor of Bulmershe Court was Woodley Lodge, built in 1777 by James Wheble with a garden attributed to Capability Brown.  Both properties were purchased in 1789 by Henry Addington, who was Speaker of the House of Commons and later Prime Minister. He preferred to live in Woodley Lodge and in time the name Bulmershe Court  was transferred to that building and the earlier Bulmershe Court became known as Old Bulmershe Court.

During World War II, the house was used by used by the War Office but was demolished in 1962 and replaced by a teacher training college which is now part of the University of Reading.

Old Bulmershe Court was restored in the 1920s after falling into disrepair and was renamed Bulmershe Manor. It is now a Grade II* listed building.

TODAY

Woodley today is a diverse community with weekly markets, a bustling shopping area and numerous leisure opportunities such as the annual Woodley Carnival which is a huge event hosting a week-long timetable of events which culminates in the Carnival Day and procession.

WOODLEY TOWN COUNCIL

The Oakwood Centre
Headley Road
RG5 4JZ
Tel: 0118 9690356
admin@woodley.gov.uk
www.woodley.gov.uk

PARKS & RECREATION

Ashenbury Park,  Tippings Lane

Southlake,  Kingfisher Drive

Vauxhall Park, Vauxhall Drive

Sandford Park,  Hurricane Way

Mannock Way, Alderwood

Badgers Rise

Blanchard Close

Enstone Road

Hearn Road

Mollison Close

Redwood Avenue

Southlake Crescent

Crockhamwell Road Woodley Shops

WOODLEY LEISURE CENTRES

Bulmershe Leisure Centre
Woodlands Avenue
RG5 3EU
Tel: 0118 9268733
Email: bulmershelc@woodley.gov.uk

Woodford Park Leisure Centre
Haddon Drive
RG5 4LY
Tel: 0118 9216969
Email: woodfordparklc@woodley.gov.uk

WOODLEY LIBRARY

Headley Road
RG5 4JA
Tel: 0118 969 0304

MUSEUM

Museum of Berkshire Aviation
Mohawk Way (off The Bader Way), RG5 4UE
Tel: 0118 944 8089

WOODLEY CAR PARKS

Kingfisher Drive Car Park – Long stay

Pitford Road Car Park – Long stay

Rickman Close Car Parks – Long stay

Hudson Road Car Parks – Long stay

Lytham Road West Car Park – Short stay

Lytham Road East Car Park – Short stay

Wallace Close Car Parks – Long stay

Headley Road Car Park – Long stay

Crockhamwell Road Car Park – Short stay

WOODLEY SCHOOLS

Beechwood Primary School
Ambleside Close
RG5 4JJ
www.beechwood-primary.ik.org
Tel:  0118 9695976

Highwood Primary School
Fairwater Drive
RG5 3JE
www.highwood.wokingham.sch.uk
Tel:  0118 926 5493

Rivermead Primary School
Loddon Bridge Road
RG5 4BS
Tel:  0118 9540770

South Lake Primary School
Campbell Road
RG5 3NA
www.southlake.ik.org
Tel:  0118 969 1672

St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School
Western Avenue
RG5 3BH
www.st-dominicsavio.wokingham.sch.uk
Tel:  0118 969 1606

Willow Bank Infant School
Duffield Road
RG5 4RW
www.willowbankinfant.ik.org
Tel:  0118 9695452

Willow Bank Junior School
Duffield Road
RG5 4RW
www.willowbankjunior.com
Tel:  0118 969 1556

Woodley CofE Primary School
Hurricane Way
RG5 4UX
www.woodleyce.ik.org
Tel:  0118 9693246

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Bulmershe School
Chequers Way, Woodley, Reading
RG30 3EP
www.bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk
Tel:  0118 935 3353

Waingels College
Waingels Road
RG5 4RF
www.waingels.wokingham.sch.uk
Tel: 0118 969 0336

SPECIAL SCHOOLS

Addington School
Woodlands Avenue
RG5 3EU
www.addington.wokingham.sch.uk
Tel:  0118 954 0444