Wargrave Local History Society

How to obtain these books

Copies of the books are on sale in the village from Victoria News.
They are on sale at meetings of the Society.
They can be ordered through the book trade.
We can also provide a limited mail-order service.

The Illustrated Book of Wargrave

The Illustrated Book of Wargrave is a collection of historical images, showing the village over the past 140 years.

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.

I	EARLY HISTORY	Wargrave - a Brief Background History; Life in Mediaeval Wargrave; The Black Death in Wargrave; The Wargrave Area in the Civil War Period; The Wargrave Workhouse; Wargrave District School; Rebecca's Well
II	WARTIME HISTORY	Wartime Wargrave; Twin Evacuees Remember
III	THE CHANGING VILLAGE	Adapting to Change; Local Farming - Spot the Difference
IV	VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS	Village Social, Cultural & Recreational Activities; The Wargrave Guides; The Wargrave Scouts; The Youth Club; The Village Theatre Groups; The Wargrave Womens Club; The Bowls Club; The Cricket Club; The Football Club; The Tennis Club
V	HARE HATCH	History of Hare Hatch; Hill House; Old House; Scarlett's Farm; Memories of Hare Hatch
VI	PEOPLE AND PLACES	Boating and the River; The Wynmalens and Kingswood House; Nurse Olive Cameron; Alfred James Beckford; Clifford Maidment and W H Easterling's; The Croft; The London Children's Hospital Link; Tussaud in Wargrave
VII	COMMUNICATIONS	Whither that Old Grove by the Weir?; Bus and Coach Services Through Wargrave
VIII	PERSONAL REMINISCENCES	The Diary of George Beck; Memories of the Sansom Family; Story of a Car Crash ; But I Remember When ...! ; High Cockett
IX	HISTORICAL DATA	Lay Subsidy Roll, Hearth Tax and Land Tax; The Value of the Pound; Wargrave Scout and Cub Leaders; Wargrave Rangers; Wargrave Roll of Honour

Want to know more about our village? If so, you need the Local History Society booklet with its selection of walks covering most of the interesting places within easy walking distance of the centre. Each takes an hour or less to complete and there are four to choose from:

Victoria Road and its surroundings
The High Street
The Loddon
St Mary's Church

Learn about interesting buildings and features along the way, hear about major happenings and 'meet' notable villagers from long ago.

Written by local historian, Peter Delaney, the booklet also has a brief history of the village, three sketch maps and numerous pen and ink illustrations by David Ball.

The Book of Wargrave Originally published in hardback in 1986; reprinted in softback in 1999 ISBN:978 0 9511878 4 5		Price £10
The Second Book of Wargrave Originally published in hardback in 1998 ISBN: 978 0 9511878 3 8		Price £16
The Illustrated Book of Wargrave Originally published in hardback in 2011 ISBN 978 0 9511878 5 2		Price £9.95
Historic Wargrave Walks Booklet Originally published in 2001		Price £2.50