Wargrave Local History Society

The Book of Wargrave - Reprint

First Book of Wargrave (Reprint)

In 1998, the Wargrave Local History Society published "The Second Book of Wargrave". In response to many enquiries, the Society has produced a reprint in paperback form of the earlier volume "The Book of Wargrave". This was launched at the Village Fete on June 19th 1999.

The reprint is available for purchase at a price of £10. The content of the book is similar to "The Second Book of Wargrave", but covers rather more of the "basic" elements of the village history and the characters that have contributed to it since the time of The Domesday Book.

Around 60 copies were purchased at the Fete - thank you very much for your support of this venture. Copies of the book are available in the village from Victoria News, and the Garden Shop at Hare Hatch Sheeplands; also by ordering through the book trade. We can also provide a limited   mail-order service. It is also on sale at meetings of the Society.

Standard Edition ISBN: 0 9511878 4 8

Contents

I EARLY HISTORY AND GROWTH The landscape and geology; Origins and development; Village buildings; St. Mary's Church; The Chapel; The Roman Catholic Church.
II BENEFACTORS The Piggott Family; Mrs Smith and The Woodclyffes.
III THE SCHOOLS Foundation and growth; Life in school.
IV WORKING THE LAND Changes in farming at Upper Culham; George Bayliss and the Chalk Pit; The Floral Mile.
V VILLAGE LIFE Markets, fairs, shops and tradesmen; Domestic servants; Doctors, nurses and health.
VI THE RIVER THAMES The river and riparian houses; Willow Lane.
VII COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICES Railways; Public Services.
VIII RECREATION Inns and Alehouses; Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta.
IX MAJOR EVENTS The Church Fire; World War II.
X PERSONAL REMINISCENCES Dorothy Pring; Edie Fry; Peter Dover; Queenie Rideout.
XI PEOPLE AND PLACES Folklore; Sir Moris Ximenes and the Wargrave Rangers; Jane Austen; Thomas Day; Hare Hatch; The Remnants and Bear Place; Sir Morell Mackenzie; Henry Kingsley; Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens; Eccentric Vicars.