Tadley T ackS Tadly 	F: ctS
A Walker's guide to iradley & Distr·
-

PRICE
£1·20

AT
READING  WAREHOUSES

Stake your  claim to a share  of  the  rich   pickings to be  found   at  our  massive  40,000 sq.ft.  premises   in Tadley.  We  have around £750,000  of   household goods in stock, just waiting for you  to choose from. We  offer  the  lowest   prices around for   top   quality Furniture, Radio, Nand Electrical Goods, Clocks, Wotc hes,Photographic Goods, Cut I ery, Col c ul a tors, Chino and  Glassware,  Toys,   Cycles,
Hardware, lawnmowers, Tools, Books, Venetian and  Roller  Blinds, Bedding, Linen, Etc.,  Etc.

Don't forget   - for  value for money, choice and service  it  must  be
READING  WAREHOUSES fi rst

ReadingWarehouses

NE\1\1 ROA01 TAOLEY1 HANTS .
wlephone  TA OLEY £ 073561 4188 rs  Io nes)

Tadley Facts

Eight country rambles, a  little history  and somewhat  more conjecture,
based  on Tadley  and  its surroundings

Written and   Published  by

Roger Searing

Pat Minter

FOREWORD

The growth of Tadley riuring the  past thirty  years has changed  it from a quiet  village to a community larger  than many small  towns,  with a population of around 12,000.
Perhaps because  it has become,  to some extent, a dormitory  for surrounding  towns,  it seems that some newcomers to Tadley  find  it difficult to identify  with the area  or to appreciate its uniquenes and its character.
I   welcome  this  venture  as part of the  process of bridging  the  gap between  the  old ond  the  newer Tadley communities, and  I   believe  it will  make us all  more aware  of the  beauty  which surrounds  us, and  of our own local  history.

Nora    Goody
Chairman, Tadley  Parish Council
March 1982

2

Foreword

Introduction

CONTENTS

Page

2

4

Tadley  on Ordnance Survey  Mops

Tad!ey  Footpaths

Walks  Preface

Walk  No.1	Tadley  Churches

Country  Code

Walk  No.2	Baughurst and  Back

Notes  on  Photographs

Photographs

5

8

15

17

19

21

24

25,  26,  27,  28

Walk  No.3	St.  Peters and  Wyeford 	29

Walk  No.4	Pember Forest and  Old  Tadley 	32

Walk  No.5 	Silchester and  Pomber Forest 	35

Walk  No.6	Welshman's   Pool and  Silchester	40

Walk  No.7	Wasing Forest and  The Kennet 	45
Walk  No.8	West Heath  and  Ewhurst Park	49

An Apocryphal  Tale 	51

Ac know!edgements 	52

3

INTRODUCTION

Friends of  yours  and  mine passing  through Tad ley  from  'The  Fighting Cocks' to
'The  Falcon', gain  the  impression of a  minor  ribbon  development without charm, interest or  heritage.  This book  is intended to  help the  reader to enjoy Tadley and  to  help him answer  any  criticisms of  'Tadley God  Help  Us'.   With the  aid  of  walks  beginning in  Tadley and  passing  through   the  neighbouring parishes, the  beauty, the  variety and  restfulness of the  countryside will  be revealed. 	.

In order  to  convince critical  friends of all  the  glories that  the  area  possesses,
the  reader may  have  to do  better than  wave  an  arm and  say  'Isn't it  wonderful?'. Once their inte[est is aroused by the  woods and  copses, the  fields, the  excited
I  ittle streams on  their way  to  London,  the  scorched but  triumphant common  and
all   the  little corners which  are  neither one  nor the  other, they  will  want  to know  more.
Their  questions need  to  be answered with  authority for  your  task  to succeed,  so you  will  need  to knew  something of  the  flora  and  fauna, to  have  an  acquaint­
ance with  the  small  cottages and  old  buildings, to  have  a  framework of  the 	E
post and  to  have  a feeling for  the  traditions, the  legends, the  myths  and  the
stirring tales of  the  'lads'.  The walks  shown  in this  book  are  annotated  with
this  need  in  mind.	B

The abundance of  trees and  wild  flowers, the  common  and  rarer  birds  to  be seen  and  the  shy  creatures both  large and  small  {whose  presence in  large numbers  is only  appreciated in snaw  time)  cannot be fully  covered,  but enough is provided to  impress  the  reader's companions.  Landmarks  both natural and  man-made are   described, but  when  it  comes  to  Tadley's place in the  history  of  England it  is a   matter  of  using  the  imagination.
The area has  no claim to fame  or  notoriety in  English  history, no great event took  place here, but  perhaps better still,  people,many people both  great and humble, have  been   pqssing  ta  and  fro  throughout the  centuries,  following the maze  of  ancient paths.
It requires only  a  little imagination to experience the  company of  the  local inhabitants of  the  post.   So walk  where  the  Stone  Age  people, having acquired their flints near  Basingstoke, came  to get  their clay and  food; encircle the  Tumuli  as  they  did  1,000 years  B.C., march  with  the  Romans along Portway  to  'The  Fighting Cocks' and  wander around   Silchester with  the citizens of  nearly twenty centuries ago.   Stroll  where  the  straggling  Saxons and  Danes  retired from  battle, go with  the  monks from  Pember  Priory  to  their
farmlands and  their carp-filled  ponds;   survey  the  land  with  the  lord  of  Tadley
Place and  take pride  in  all  you survey  with  Reuben  Hicks,  'King  of  Tadley' in  the  I est  century.
Some of  the  walks  suggested are  quite short, but, walking a  long  distance does  not  bring  necessarily greater enjoyment.  Explore  a  little of Tadley and
its environs and  you  will  saon  be extolling the   joy and  interest af  the  country­
side  which  surrounds us,  and  wanting to  know  more of  the  quiet corners, full of secrets,  changing splendours and  peacefulness just around the  corner from the  A340.

Ewl
Hol

ORDNANCE  SURVEY MAPS OF  TADLEY COMPARED

The first Ordnance Survey map of  North  Hampshire was published  in 1817, based on a survey carried out  between  1808 ond 1817.  Only  minor changes were made to this mop during  the  rest of the century, other  thon  the
addition of roilwoys- evidence of the slow rote of change in rurol  oreas
during  the  nineteenth century.
On  pages  6  ond  7 we reproduce  similar  sections of the  mops of the  Todley oreo, which  resulted  from the 1817 ond 1980 surveys.     It is interesting to compare  the two.
The 1817  mop gives a general   impression of a more open, sparsely  populated countryside .. The village of Todly  wos confined  to whot  is now commonly known as  'Old  Tadley'.  Main  Rood and  Winstone  Avenue  with  the  connecting lanes  ore  readily  identifiable.  Presumably the  'Bowling  Green' is now The Green, but whatever happened  to  'Frome Green'?  Pember Forest has apparently swallowed  that.
Todley Common was clearly much more extensive in all  directions and some of the  tracks  which are  shown to cross it con  be related to modern  roods (Mount  Pleasant, Gutteridge Lone).    Others  hove disappeared completely.
The route-lines of the  principal   roods in the 1817  map can  still  be identified, although  that  part of the  A340 which  now leods  westwards from the  'Falcon'
is not shown,  even  as a  path.

It is interesting too,to see  thot some former roods are  now paths:  for example the  rood which  led  westward  from the  Basingstoke road olong  what  is now Skates  Lane ond followed  the  line  of the  present  path 22 to Church  Rood, north of St. Peter's  Church.
In the  Boughurst oreo similar  comparisons con  be mode.    The present  rood pattern  moy easily  be recognised  on the  older  mop,  but again  some farm roods,  near  Browning Hill ond close  to the  Wellington Arms,  have  become footpaths.   The old cottage just north of the  Wellington, known as the  Old
Post Office (which  presumably  it wos),  is shown on the  old  mop as a  Turnpike. The New  Inn ot  Boughurst is named on the 1817  map where  it still  stands, although   not as  'new' as it wos and, sadly, recently renamed  'Badgers  Wood'. In contrast, the  Red Lion at  Stoney  Heath  is now o  private  dwelling.

TADLEY 1817  - from the first edition of the
'one inch'  Ordnance  Survey N\ap

TADLEY, 1980   - extracted from the
1:50,000 Ordnance Survey  Map

TadleY. Roads and  FootP-Qths

H...-st

j

•

tI	•..:J

Cl) etc.  Walk Start  Point

'.99\
.Qo(/-.rt,

.

Jc:,...

Parish  Boundary

Registered  Footpath 	-- -- --

Y"':  ...	OtherPathsandTracks  ---·----------

····· "',.,_,	j";_:c.",REtiSTERED  FOOTPATHS IN TADLEY   - BRIEF  DESCRIPTIONS

v:

;;:    ·. Q"',_l.;.: ::·": /·There  are  32 footpaths in the  Parish of Todley  which  were  registered in the 1964  footpath review.   Such  reviews ore  port  of  the  Notional

P-'

27   ty?®•

28' .    Parks and Access  to the  Country  Act.  The registered paths  ore

:·I

./	described in the  pages  which  follow.
In 1978/i' a  new register was prepared but  had  not  been  published
Iwhen  this  book was written.   So for as  Todley  is concerned, the

J 	;

?(;/ '.

I changes are  insignificant and  the  map and  descriptions ore  still relewnt.
of the  footpaths e .g. numbers 13 to 17 incl usi ve, c rou  the

Some
Recreation Ground.   As this  is in effect common  land, there is no need to keep  to the  paths  in this area.
There are  no bridleways in Tadley.
8

Path 1 {Ordnance Survey  Map Reference:  SU 583624  - 584623)
This path leads  aff  Heath  End Road 100 yards south af the  county  boundary.   Walk eastwards along  a gravel  road {Pinks Lane) for 100 yards then  turn right  along  a  path  enclosed by hedges and fences, to reach  Shyshock  Lane.
Path 2 (SU 584623  - 585621)

From Shyshack  lane, opposite  the end of path 1, walk along  a  narrow gravel   path  between hedges  to Heath  End wood.    The true  I  ine of the  right  of way then  turns left, and after
50 yards,  right, along  the  boundary of the  wood,  but an easier route  is found  by walking directly ahead  from the  enclosed  section  along  an  unregistered path  through  conifer wood­ land  for about .150 yards,   until  a group of garages is reached.  Turn left  and  walk  through the garages to Wigmore Road.

Path 5 (SU 598621  - 596611)

This right  of way,  which  includes the  whole length  of Mount  Pleasant  and  Gutteridge lane, is clearly no longer  a footpath  as we would define one  in this  book,  and  will  probably  be removed from the  footpath  register  in the  next  review.
Path 6 ( SU 600617)
This is a very short  path  linking  Swains Close  to the A340 on Mulfords  Hill, next  to the petrol  filling station.
Path 8 (SU 587611  - 583612)

This path starts  on Shaw lane about  50 yards north east  of the  end of footpath II, at  a field  gate.  However,  there  is also  a stile  opposite  the  end of footpath II  which  will  give access to this  path  but does not lie  on the  true  line  of the  right  of way.    The path  leads
across  the field, over a stile, along  the  boundary  of the  next  field  with  the  fence  on
the  left, through  a gap or gate  and along  the right  hand edge  of a copse  and  through a field  gate  to the  Baugnurst Road.
Path 9 (SU 588613- 591612)
The path  begins  in Bishopswood lane about  I 00 yards south of the golf  course  clubhouse. Cross the stile  and walk  SE across  the g lf  course  to another stile  in the  fence bordering New  Road and  beside a raised  golf tee  green  {which will  then  be on your  left).  We would advise  caution   in walking  this  path;   dogs must be kept  under close  control, walkers  must keep  to the  I ine of the  right  of way,  and of course  it is only  good  manners and  sensible
self  preservation not to impede  the golfers:
Path 10 (SU 591612- 590608)

The starting point  is on the south side of  New  Road 300 yards east  of the  junction  with Bishopswood lane {see path 9).    Cross the stile  and  set out directly across  the  field.  At the far boundary  of the field  cross a ditch. and a -stile  into  the  next  field.  Walk ahead across  the  field  and after  about  150 yards there  is a hedge  on the  right.   Follow  the  hedge line.  At the far side  is a stile.  Cross this into a metalled lane.
Path 11 (SU 587611  - 592612)
This path  begins at  a field  gate  on the south side of Shaw lane about  I 00 yards southwest of one end of footpath  8.  It .is marked by a footpath fingerpast.   Cross the stile  alongside the  gate  and walk southwards along  a grass track  for 100  yards,  into a  field.  Turn left and  walk along  the  left  hand field  boundary.   Pass through  the gate at  the  further  end of the field  and  turn left  onto  an earth  path  which  runs northwards  between  hedges.   After
I 00 yards the  path ends at  New road,  near  the golf course.

MULFORDS HILL, TAD LEY

Wallpapers, Paints and  Decorators'  Sundries and  Everything for the  D. I. Y.  Enthusiast

Hand and  Power Tools
Prepared  Timbers	Roof Insulation Hardboards,  Chipboards,  Etc. Glazed  Tiles and Ceiling  Tiles
Electrical  Fittings   - Glass cut  to size
Garden  Tools  - Lampshades  - China and  Glassware

JOHN WOODS
L.I.O.B.  A.M.I.B.C.O.
Building Consultant

Plan Drawing 	Bill of Quantities

Estimating 	Surveys

Improvement Grants 	Building Supervision 	Etc.

3 MOUNT PLEASANT DRIVE, TADLEY
Tel.: Tadley 2766

10

Path 12 (SU 589608  - 585605)

The path starts  at  Rimes Barn.   Just  past the  barn on the  same side,  walking towards Baughurst,  there  is a stile  a few feet  from the  road and  rather  hidden  by bushes.    Cross the stile and  turning  left, fallow  the  left  hand  boundary  of the  field.  At the  far  end  there  is
a stile by a field  gate.  Cross this and  when in the  next  field, turn  left  and  walk  far 50
yards with a hedge  close  on the  left, then  turn  right  and  cross to the  far  side  of the  field. On  reaching the  further  hedge  turn right again  and  walk a further  50  yards,  at  which  point the  path  ends at  a stile in the  left  hand hedge.   In fact  you can  continue by crossing  this hedge  and  walking  ahead  on Baughurst footpath No.16 to reach  Baughurst  Road about  150 yards  north of the  Wellington Arms.
Path 13 (SU 599620- 601617)
The western  end  (A340) of Blake's  Lane marks one  end of this  path.  Walk eastwards along Blake's  Lane and  where  it emerges  onto  Tadley  Recreation Ground  (the  Common) bear  right and  take  a diagonal course  away  from the  lane.  After 400  yards the  path  meets  a gravel track  (footpath 14).   Turn right  onto  the  track  and after  a few yards  turn  right  again on the for side  of a large  hedge.   Walk along  the  line  of the  hedge  which  is now on your  right. Continue past the  hedge  alongside a ditch  bordering  a housing  estate, and  after 400  yards
reach  the  A340 main  road once  more at  the  Salvation Army Chapel.
Path 14 (SU 602624- 605617)

This path starts  at  the  junction  of Silchester Road and  Tadley  Common Road.   Walk south­ wards along  Broadhalfpenny Lane with the  Common (Recreation Ground) on your  left, initially.  After 400  yards the  lane  leaves  the common and  continues between fences and hedges  for a further  150 yards,   until  it turns sharply  to the  left.  At this  point  walk  straight ahead  through  a gate  into and  through  Giles Green  Allotments.  At the  for side  turn  left, and after  a few yards mount a short flight  of steps  to reach  Hylton  Court, which  is in a
cul-de-sac off Bowmonts Road. Path 15 (SU 602621  - 605621)
This path starts  from the  eastern  side  of path 14 (Broadhalfpenny Lane) a few yards  south  of
the  junction  of Broadhalfpenny Lane with  the  old  concrete road  which  is an  extension of Blakes Lane.    As you walk southwards  from that   junction  the  path  is on the  left  and  runs between the gardens of two adjacent properties.  The line  of the  footpath leads  straight across  the  Common (Recreation Ground) to meet  Tadley  Common Road opposite the southern  boundary  of Tadley  Court.   If  the footpath is obstructed by the  growth  of gorse  it is of course  open  to  you to take  any  convenient route  as you are  on common  land.

Path 16 (SU605622)
This is a short  path  which  starts  on Tadley  Common Road opposite the  end of path  15.  It runs eastwards  along  the southern  boundary  of Tadley  Court  for about  100  yards,   to meet path 17.
Path 17 (SU 607624  - 605620)

The path starts  from the  southern  side  of Silchester Road 250 yards  west of the  junction
'with  Pember Heath  Road.   It leads  southwestwards across  Tadley  Common towards  Tadley Court, p ssing  between  the  boundary  of this  property  (on your  right)  and  a detached house.    Walk ahead  through  a gulley  over  a crossway  of tracks  and  after 200 yards, the path  ends on Tadley  Common Road.
Path 18 (SU 605619  - 604618)

This is a short  track  which starts  on the  western  side  of the  sharp  bend  in  West Street.   It
I eads  southwestwards  for 150 yards to meet  path 14.
11

Path 19 (SU 605618- 605617)
Another  short  path  which starts  just off West Street  on the track  of path 18.    Walk south­ wards along  a metalled   track  between  hedges,  then  past houses.    Immediately  past the houses the  path turns right and  in a few yards reaches  Hylton Court, opposite one end  of path 14.
Path 20 ( SU 604612  - 606611)

This path starts  on the  A340 on the eastern  side of Tadley Hill 300 yards  up the  hill  from the  junction  with  Rowan Road.   Follow the gravel  track  away  from the  main road,   past the Swedish Houses.   The path soon turns sharply  to the  right  between  hedges  and  then  left  to reach  Fairlawn  Road.
Path 21 (SU 597609  - 600609)

At the  time of writing, this  path was impassible  because  of building  activities (part  of
the  plan for the com pi ete  suburbanisation of Tadley).    The path  begins on the  eastern  side of Church  Road 250 yards south of its  junction  with  New Road.   It runs between  hedge  and fences  for 250 yards at  which  point  there  was formerly a stile.  If  you turned  right  to cross the stile  there  was a clear grossy slope  leading  uphill  towards Gravelly Close, with commanding  views over  north Tadley.  At the tap of the field  a second  stile  led onto  a narrow path  between  gardens  which soon reached  Gravelly Close.
Path 22 (SU 597602  - 606606)

This path starts  from Church  Road about  150 yards south of the  junction  with Church  Brook. The path leads  eastward  between  hedges for 200 yards (warning:   this section   is muddy in places  except  in the driest  weather), then  enters  /1/loor  Copse.    In  the copse  follow  the
path  round to the  left  and soon reach  the edge  of the wooded area.  Ahead,  the  path
leads  between  hedges and  bushes.   After about  50 yards turn  right  to cross a stile  into  a
.field.  Follow the  left  hand field  boundary to the far corner  of the field, where  there  is a field  gate, at  the  junction  of this  path with one end of path 23.    The line  of path 22 turns left  at  this  paint.  Cross one fence  and after  a few yards another.  (These fences  and  the associated field  boundaries  mark the track  of the old road which  linked  Church  Road with Skates  Lane and  the  Tadley to  Basingstoke road.     The line  of  path 22 follows  the  track
of this  road from Church  Road to this  point).     Having crossed the second  fence,  turn
right and  then  left, keeping  to the  right  hand boundary of the field  until  you reach  its far corner, where  there  is a stile.  Cross the stile  onto a narrow path  between  fence and hedge.  After about  I 00 yards the  path diverts  from its I ine to cross a stream.   On  the far side  of the stream cross a  fence  and  walk straight  ahead, uphill  across a field.  At the  far side of the  field, near a white  house,  turn right along  the fence  and after  50 yards reach
a stile  next to a field  gate.  Cross the stile  and turn right onto a gravelled lane.   After
100 yards the  path ends at  its  junction  with  Main Road. Path 23 (SU 597599  - 603603)
The western  end of the  path is on Church  Road next to the southern  boundary  of St. Peter's Church  churchyard.  Turn left off the  road and  pass through a gap  into a field.  Walk away  from the  road,  with the field  boundary on you left.  After about  200 yards the  path enters  a copse.  Walk through  the copse and then across a field  in which  the  line  of the path  is usually  well  defined.  At the field  gate  on the opposite  side of the field  turn  left and  follow  the  right  hand hedge  to the far boundary of the field  where there  is a fence. Cross the fence, turn right and again  keep  to the  right  hand edge  of the field  until  you reach  the further  earner, where  the  path ends at  its  junction  with  Na.22.

Path 24 (SU 604602  - 602600)
One  end of this path  is at  Skates  Farm at  the  western end of Skates  Lane.   At the  end  of
12

the  lane  pass through  the field  gate  on the  left, then  walk  through  the  field  into  which  it leads  with  the  hedge  on your left.  After 250 yards reach  another field  gate  where  the  path ends at  its  junction  with  path 23.
Path 25 (SU 597596  - 603594)

This path starts  on Church  Road about  300 yards south of St. Peter's Church, on the  eastern side  of the  road.  Walk down the  track  which,  after  300 yards enters  a copse  (Walkner's Firs).   The path ends 200 yards into  this wood at  the  parish  boundary, where  it continues as  Pamber path 6.
Path 26 (SU 593595  - 586595)

The path  begins on the  western side of the  road about  I 00 yards south  west of Tadley  Place. To one side of a field  gate  is a gap through  which  walkers  may pass.   The first  section of the path  leads  you through  attractive mixed woodlands.   At the  further side  of this  woad cross a gate, a ditch  and  then  a fence  into a field.  Cross directly over  the  field  to the  fence opposite  and  turn  left.  Walk along  the field  boundary  with  the  hedge  and  fence on your right.  On  reaching the  furthermost  corner  of this field  the  path ends at  the  parish  boundary, at  a stile,  continuing as Baughurst path 23 (Walk 3).
Path 27 (SU 588583  - 585583)

The eastern  end of this  path  is the  junction  of Old  Vyne  Lane in West Heath  with  the  main road through  West Heath.   Walk westwards along  Old  Vyne  Lane until  you reach  the  far
end.  Cross a stile  and  walk ahead  across  the  field.  (You may have  to cross growing  crops­
the  landowner  has a statutory right  to plough  the  land  without  re-instatement of the  path). The line  of the  path  lies  between  E  and  ESE.   It ends at  the  parish  boundary  which  is about I00 yards short of the  far side  of the field.  If  you continue to the far side  you are  on Baughurst path  No.26 which  meets  Baughurst 51 beyond  the  field  boundary.
Path 28 (SU 593584)

This path is about  I00 yards long.    It runs from Witch  Lane,  northeast  to the southern  end of Pamber footpath No.3.   The first  part has a metalled surface  and  passes through  a  pair of gates, the  latter part  is an earth  track  ending  at  a field  gate, with  a stile  on the  right hand side  of it.
Path 30 (SU 585623  - 588623)

The western  end of this  path  is at  the  Tadley  end of Shyshack  Lane.    It has a metalled surface  and  leads  eastwards  across open  heathland (open at  the  time of writing, but the area  is scheduled for housing development).   After  200 yards  bear  left  onto a  metalled track  and  in a further  I00 yards,  meet  Hangar  Road.
Path 31  (SU 587586)

This,  like  No.28, is a very short  path.     It extends  from the  western  end of Hollybush  Lane in West Heath  northwards  to a field  gate  at  the  parish  boundary.   Its total  length  is about
30 yards.
Path 33 (SU 602608  - 597607)
The path  begins  near  the southwestern  corner  of Tadley  Green.  Walk westward  from this point along  the  metalled road and  where  the  road turns right, walk ahead  along  a gravel track  which  soon becomes an earth  path  between  fences.  To the  left  is a fine  view  across open countryside to Basingstoke,  and  beyond and to the  right  across  North  Tad ley.   After
400 yards the  path  passes over  the crest  of a ridge and  descends  into  a  pleasant  valley, soon reaching Church  Road.

Path 34 (SU 593623  - 593624)
Another  short  path,  perhaps 150 yards long.    It begins in Franklin  Avenue, almost  opposite the northern  end of Newtown, and  runs almost due  north until  it reaches the  county boundary with  Berkshire at  a  junction  with a  pat}l whkh  runs along  the  boundary.
Path 35 (SU 593619- 594619)

A short  path which  runs along  the southern  edge  of the  playing  field  in Southdown  Rood, from Southdown Rood to the  junction, at  the south eastern  corner  of the field,  with footpath  37.
Path 36 (SU 605615  - 606613)

The northern  end  of this  path is on Rowan Rood at  the  north eastern  corner  of the  Spiers Green  Allotments.  Cross the stile  and  walk ahead  with the  boundary  hedge  on your left, then  uphill  across  the open  field, along  a track  and finally reach  Fairlawn  Rood at  a field gate  and stile.
Path 37 (SU 593620- 595619)

The path  leads  south eastwards  diagonally across Southdown Rood playing  field, from a point on Southdown  Rood near some ploy equipment.   At the south eastern  corner  of th . playing  field  turn left  (this  is the  junction  with path  No.35).  The path  is now enclosed between  fences  and soon  Newtown  is reached.  On  the opposite  side of  Newtown  the second  port of the  path leads  from a  pedestrian  barrier  across a field  through  a gop  in a hedge, then  turns right  to run southeast  between  hedges to reach  Mount  Pleasant, near  the junction  with  Pleasant  Hill.

KEY to the  Walk Mops
WALK  ROUTE (over metalled road) (on   footpath or  track)
OTHER   FOOTPATHS  OR TRACKS OTHER ROADS
WOOD OR  COPSE

--- ---
-·	--

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

    II  > 	

STILE, FENCE  OR GATE
WALK  SECTION, AS  WALK DESCRIPTION USUALLY   MUDDY

14

PREFACE TO  THE WALKS (A  'PRE-AMBLE'?)

There  are  eight walk  descriptions and  maps.  Three  of  the  walks are offered in  long  and  short  versions, and  of course all  of  them  can  be  sub-divided  in various ways.
The  walks  vary  in  length from two  to  seven   miles  and  all   but  one  of  them start in  Tad ley  Parish.   We did  intend that  they  should  all  start in  Tad ley, but  we  could not  design a  sensible route which  did  so and  also included the Wasing  Estate.   Consequently walk  number  seven starts in  Baughurst.
As you  will  see  the  routes reach into  surrounding parishes all  around Tad ley, and  inc I  ude  all  the  varieties of countryside that   the  area offers.
The descriptions are  as  accurate as  we  could make  them  at the  time  of publication but  nothing is  permanent.   We would  like  to  know  of any significant changes you  find, or any  errors we  have not  detected.
Walking is pleasant at any  time  of  the  year- this  is one  of  the  first  things the  walker discovers about his  pastime.   The  pleasures of  Autumn  and Winter and  even wet  walks  can  ease  considerably the  burden of  the  cold
_and dark  seasons.   Walking in all  weathers demands a  wise  choice of clothing and  footwear.   You must also be  prepared to  meet  muddy  condi­
tions.   Where  the  paths  are likely to  be  wet  or  muddy  in all   but  the  driest weather we  have  awarded the  appropriate  points in  the  descriptions and maps  the  symbol   'M'.
However, don't  be  too  much  deterred by mud.     Stout  boots  and  a  stout heart will  soon  overcome such  difficulties.
Some of  the  routes pass through   private estates and  woods, for  example Wasing   Park,   Benyon's Enclosure and   Pember  Forest, where wildlife, fox, pheasant and  deer may  be seen.   If  you  take a dog  with  you  it  is essential that   it  is kept  under  close control to  prevent disturbance end  damage to wildlife.
Also, when  passing  through fields where cattle  or  other livestock are grazing, a dog  must  be  kept  on  a  leash.   Young  cattle and  some  cows
seem  to  take  a  great interest in dogs  and  will  follow you  closely.   However,
they  are  easily  "shooed" and  are  not  malicious.

One tactic which  we  have  not  tested is to carry the  dog  - the  cattle are then  said  to  lose  interest in  it.  Pat  Minter's long-haired dog  is usually too wet  and  muddy  for  this  to  be anything less  than  a  desperate measure.
Incidentally, it  is now  legal   for  a  bull  to  be  kept   in a  field which   is crossed by a  right  of  way  if the  bull  is accompanied by cows  (the  cows  apparently have a  maderqting effect on  the  ball's behaviour- interesting isn't it?)
For further admonitions see  the  Country Code  on  page  19.
Good luck  in  your  endeavours -we hope  you  find  the  walks enjoyable and navigable'.

.

rnmrnffi rnw
DOORSTEP DELIVERY SERVICE

I QUALITY MILK (ALL GRADES) CREAM	WHOLE  FRUIT DRINK        EGGS S.AUS.AGES		CORONA          FRUIT JUICE
POTATOES.ANDFRESH BREAD

Why not  place  a  weekly  order  with  your
Job's Milk  Salesman?

JOB's

28 MULFORDS HILL TADLEY

Telephone 3757

N

t

WAlK  No.1
A short, pleasant  walk starting at  the  heart  of Old  Tadley, the  Green, and  including the old  and  new Tadley  churches.

DISTANCE: TIME:
STARTING POINT:

Plants and  Wildlife:

2 miles (3:.!:  km) About 45 minutes
St. Paul's  Church  (SU603609)

Depending  upon the season and on hedging  activities, these  may be seen:-
The Wild Cherry, May trees  ("Ne'er cast  a clout  till   May is out"), the  Guelder Rose, the  Alder  and  the  Elder.    Primroses are  fewer  than  twenty  years  ago,  but Solomon's  Seal  and  the  Wood Anemone are  still  flourishing.   In the  copse  reached soon after  St.  Peter's  church  are  examples  of the  sweet  chestnut.   They are  cut down frequently while  still  young to  provide  the  material   for cleft fencing, fence
stakes  and  bean  poles.    The present  growth  suggests  that  the  demand  has decreased.
There are  a few fully  grown sweet  chestnuts.   Notice the slender pale  yellow flowers  which do  not appear until  July  or even  August,  giving  little time  for the chestnuts to develop.  The Romans must have  been  disappointed in their  intro­ duction   into  the area.  If  you hear  a splash  in the stream  in the  latter part of the walk  it will  be a vole.   Sticklebacks appear in the  stream  from time  to time. (Note: The chestnuts were cut  back a few weeks  later).
1.   From the church  walk westwards  with the  Green  on your  right.  After  100 yards  the
road  turns to the  right.   Walk straight  ahead  onto a gravel   road  (Tadley  footpath 33),  which soon becomes an earth  path  between  hedge  and  fence.  The path  leads  along  the crest  of a ridge  with good  views to the  north and  to the south over  Basingstoke  and  beyond.   Follow
the  path over  a  hill  crest  and down to Church  Road,  in a  peaceful half-wooded valley.
St. Paul's  Church:     (St. Saviour's)
the  present  church  was built  in 1966, replacing the  pine and  corrugated  iron building  (St. Saviour's)  of 1888.    The rectory  is behind  the  church  and  replaced
17

the rambling  old  building  which once stood in what  is now Rectory Close. Later, you will  be fXISSing  near  the even  older  rectory- Born Close.   Todley School, nearby, has recently eel ebroted  its centenary.
The Green:	.
Here,   May Day was celebrated for many years  in the  traditional way,  and  also
on 22nd  July  annually the Todley  Revel was held  until  1822 when  "only  three booths were erected and  the only  visiting  entertainment was a troupe  of tumblers". Owing  to lack  of interest, Tadley  Revel was held  no more,  until  it was revived
in 1965.  William  Mathe died  in 1739 and  in his will  provided  "three tenements under one  roof for the  poor,  rent free".  This building  was situated opposite and on the other  side of the  Green  to the school.   Mathe's Charity  and  the  Tadley Green   Housing Association  have  now provided  six purpose  built  flats  for the elderly, on the  same site.
Tadley  lads would gather  here  to form a fighting   p:lrty for an evening's  sport
against  neighbouring p:lrish worthies  -meeting at  the spot which  provides  the site  for  'The Fighting  Cocks'.
2.     Turn left  onto  Church  Road and  walk down the  hill, fX!St  the  junction  with  Church
Brook and  uphill  to reach  St. Peter's Church at  the top of the  rise.
St. Peter's  Church:
The present  church  was preceded  by a stone chapel  and  before  that  by " wooden structure on the same site.  Remains of the foundations of the 12th  century stone chapel   may be seen  in the west wall.    The present church  was buill  in the 17th century, the  bells  cast  in the 16th and 17th centuries, the earliest of which  has
a mysterious  inscription on it which  has never  been deciphered.  The church  was restored  in 1879.    Note  the gallery, the  Jacobean oak  pulpit  and  the  15th century oak door  with a curious  lock.
N.B.  The door cannot  be opened  from the  inside

Site of Medieval  Village:
Near  the site  of the church  it can  be assumed that  there  was a village  which flourished  at  least  until  the 16th century.  At that  time,  12 cottaqes were pulled  down heartlessly, by the lord of the  Manor,  and  the  villagers scattered. They resettled on the  fringe  of Pember Forest and  became  mainly  independent. Records confirm  this;   Tadley  was unique  in the early  fXlrl of this century  in having  no tied  cottages.  Typical  of this independence was John  Mulford,  an
eccentric bachelor  who lived  as a hermit.    He became  respectable and  wealthy,
wore peculiar and splendid  dress and  had two chapels built.   The Reading Mercury  reported  in 1814 that  he died at  the age  of 94,  leaving £20,000 and his name on  Mulford's  Hill.
3.   Just beyond the church turn left onto Tad ley footpath 23 fXISSing through a gap into a field. Keep to the  left  hand boundary of the field until  the path enters a copse in the field  corner. Follow the  path through  thecopse andacrossa field(inwhich the  line of the path is usually well defined).  At a field  gate  on the opposite  side  turn left  (do not pass through  the  gate) and follow  the  right  hand  boundary, which is a hedge,  to a fence  at  the  for side of the  field.
Cross the fence, and again  follow  the  right  hand boundary  right and  then  left  to the  far
side of this field.
4.	Immediately  ahead  is a fence  and on your right a field  gate.  This is the  junction  of Tadley  paths 22 and  23.    Cross the fence, after  a few yards cross another.   The space between  marks the  route  of an old  road which connected Church  Road with  Skates  Lane. Once  over  the second  fence  turn right and  then  left, again  keeping  to the  right  hand boundaryf the field  until  you reach  the far corner, where there  is o stile.

5.   Cross the stile  onto a  narrow fXlth  between  fence  and  hedge.  After  about  100  yards the  fXlth diverts from its line  to cross a stream.   On  the  far side  cross a  fence  and  walk straight ahead,  uphill  across a field.  At the far side, near a white  house,  turn  right  along the fence and after  50 yards reach· a stile  next to a field  gate.  Cross the stile  and  turn right  onto a gravelled lane.   After  1 00 yards turn  left  at  the  junction  of the  track  with Main  Road.
Grant's Farm:
Look right  from the  track  as it reaches Main  Road and  you will  see  what  is considered to be the oldest  cottage in   Tad ley  - "probably 600   years old".
The present  owner, Miss Nellie Grant, says that  it  has gained   its  present  name
through  connection with  her family  but correctly it should  be called 'Burrel Is Farm'.  The interior is all  whitewash  and  black  beams:   The beams in ceiling and  wall  were clearly not produced  for building, but the  old  bolt  holes  etc.
suggest  they  were formerly  ships'  timbers.    (This is not  uncommon in Tadley  and
suggests  the ship-builders coming  to Tadley for new timber  frequently  brought
old  timber as fXlrt  of the deal).  The downstairs  rooms are  low ceilinged,  JXlrticu­ larly  so,  because  ceilings have  been added  in parts  to  prevent  dust falling through from above.  Some doorways are  only five  feet  high.    Victorian owners covered
up the attractive walls  with wall fXlper - seven  layers  had to  be removed  to restore the original  appearance.

The present  entrance hall  was once  the  dairy  and  had an  adjacent  windmill.   The cottage contains an  interesting picture  by an artist  friend  of the family  of a  broody hed which  insisted  on sitting on and  mothering  a  litter of  pups whose mother, also
in the  picture, gratefully accepted this  unexpected help.
The cottage ithatched  with  Norfolk  reeds.
6.   Walk up Main  Road and over  the crest  of the  hill.  At the  cross-road turn  left onto  the  road  leading  to the  Green.  After 150 yards  reach  St.  Paul's  church  ogain.

THE COUNTRY CODE

The Country  Code  is intended  to encourage responsible behaviour by oil  who use the countryside for recreational purposes,  to protect  crops and  livestock, to preserve  the  beauties of the country  and, not  least, to  promote good relations between  wolkers and  farmers and  landowners.
The Caun ry Code advises:

1. 	Guard  ogoinst  fire.

2.	Fasten all  gates.
3.	Keep dogs under  proper control.
4.	Keep  ta  the  paths across  form land.

5.	Avoid damaging  fences, hedges and  walls.
6.	Leave no I itter.

7.	Safeguard  woter suppi i es.

8.	Protect  wild life, wild  plonts and  trees.
9.	Go  carefully on country  roads.

1 0.  Respect the  I ife of the  countryside.

BEAUTYCARE

LADIES' & GENTS' hair stylists
EAR PIERCING

Open Six Days

Reduced  Rates for OAPs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

For Appointments phone TADLEY 4462

WANTED
BY SUSAN CHAPMAN

Antique and Pre
1930's furniture
Chairs
Desks
Tables
Dressers
China Cabinets
Bookcases

Sherborne St. John

ANTIQUES

Silver
Jewellery
•  Clocks Paintings Oil Lamps Brassware China Glass
Copperware Postcards Musical Boxes

Tel Basingstoke 850100
Tadley 3355 (Eve)

Open every weekday 2.00-5.30
Saturday 10.00-12.30  2.00-5.30

-o·
Q:

N

Browning  Hill

WALK No.2	t

.0  Q  r-;'\  Q Tadley

f

0	0	Place
WALK No.2	¢	Ramsdell
A  walk of medium length  on footpaths and  quiet  roads,  with  enjoyable views across  open countryside and  with some interesting buildings  en  route.
DISTANCE:	.Aoproximately  2miles  (4km)
TIME:	1 hours, allowing time to look for moles. STARTING POINT: 	St. Peter's  Church  (SU59 7599)
Plants and  Wild I ife:
Both items of the  Hampshire emblem can  be seen  hereabouts, the  wild  briar  rose and elder.  look  for squirrels,  jays and  magpies.   Moles are  so numerous on Browning Hill  that  it  is worth watching  for a  mole hill  to appear.
1.    From St. Peter's Church  walk southwards along  the  metalled road,   leaving the  church on the  left  hand side.  After 400 yards,  the  road turns sharply  to the  right  and  in another
400 yards,  reaches Tadley  Place  Farm at  the Tithe  Barn.    Just  beyond  the  farm buildings is Tad ley  Place  itself.
St. Peter's Church:
The present  church  was preceded   by a stone  c hopei and  before  that  by a wooden structure on the same site.  Remains of the foundations of the 12th  century stone chapel   may be seen  in the  west wall.  The present  church  was built  in the  17th century, during  the  Civil  War and  the  Commonwealth.   The square  brick  tower contains the  bells  cast  in the 16th and  17th  centuries, the  earliest of which  has
a mysterious  inscription on it which  has never  been  deciphered.  The church  was restored  in 1879.   Note  the gallery, the  Jacobean oak  pulpit  and  the  15th  century oak door  with a curious  lock.
N. B.   The door cannot  be opened  from the  inside

Tithe  Born:
This spacious  born suggests that  the  tithes  to be paid were  heavy.   The entrance would have  enabled a large  waggon to enter.  The whole  barn  has a wooden floor and  there  must be  justification for thinking  it  is one of the  largest  thatched barns in the county, if not the country.
Tadley  Place:
Tadley  Place  Farm is situated on the  Partway,  the ancient road from Old  Sorum to Silchester.   The farm was rebuilt  in the early  part of the 17th  century  when Henry  Ludlow of Wyeford ordered  the demolition of twelve  cottages for this purpose.    This lead  to the  removal  of the  population from the area  of St. Peter's Church  and  their  settling further  away on the edge  of the forest.   Local opinion believes that  Henry's  father, Sir Edmund Ludlow, was also  responsible  for the
ill  treatment of his tenants.   Sir Edmund was knighted  by Queen   Elizabeth I
when she visited  The Vyne  in 1601.   His grandson, Colonel  Edmund Ludlow, a confidante of Cromwell and a signatory  to the death  warrant  of Charles  I was also, later, the owner of Tadley  Place.   There was once  a windmill  near  Tadley  Place.
2.   1 00 yards  past Tad ley  Place, the  road curves  to the right  and  then  to the  left.  At the second  bend on the  right  hand side  are  two field  gates.  Ta one side  of the further  gf1te is a gap  through  which  walkers  may pass to  join Tad ley footpath   No.26.  The first  part of the path is through  attractive mixed woodlands.    At the further  end of the  woodland, go through a gate, over  a ditch  and over  a fence  into a field.
3.   From the fence  you have  just crossed,  walk to the fence  opposite  and  turn left.   Walk along  the field  boundary  with the  hedge and  fence  on your right.  Once  you have  passed the copse  on the  right  (Rag Wood} there  is a good view across country  to  Browning Hill (371 feet} and  the spire  of Boughurst Church  is visible  on the  near  horizon.   The path continues along the  right  hand field  boundary  to the far corner  of the field.  Cross a stile  and  enter  a narrow track  between  hedge and  fence  (Baughurst path  No.23).
4.   The path soon emerges  into a small field, where  it follows  the  left  hand boundary  to the  first corner.  At this  point,  walk  up a small  bank and turn right at  the  top.    Follow the path  for about  100 yards along  the  top of this bank.    Look to your right  for a  path  down the bank.   At the  bottom,  cross a ditch  by a  plank  bridge and turn  left.  Follow the  left  hand boundary  to a fence  and stile.  Cross the stile  into a  paddock  and  walk directly across  the paddock  to a second  stile,  Cross this on to a gravel  track  with a field  gate  immediately to your left.  Turn right  onto  the  track  (Boughurst path  No.21 }.
5.   Follow the track.  After about  40 yards,  turn left  to pass in front  of a cottage and cross a  small stream.  Walk straight  ahead  from the stream to a stile.  Cross it and  walk uphill  along  the  left  hand field  boundary.   Below the  top of the  rise the  buildings  of Church Farm  and  St.  Stephen's Church, Boughurst, can  be seen.   Just  past a  barn  which  lies
parallel and close  to the  left  hand field  boundary  is a stile.  (If you wish to visit  the  church,
cross the stile  and  walk ahead  through  Church  Farm to the  public  road next  to the  church.)
Church  Farm:
The farmhouse  was built  a little way east  of the church, over  400 years  ago.   It is a  timber-framed structure now infilled  with  brick.  The original   construction probably  used wattle  and  daub  instead  of brick, with a thatched roof.    Perhaps sixteen  generations of farming families  have succeeded each  other  here.
St.  Stephen's Church:
The present  church  was built  in 1845 on the site  of a Saxon church, which  had

previously  collapsed.   It is of Gothic style  with on  unusual  octagonal tower. The  church  contains a 15th  century choir  screen, which  is now at  the  western end  of the  church.  The old church  contained a  Jacobean oak  pulpit  which  was removed from the  ruins and  is now in Baughurst  Methodist  Church.
6.    Continue to the  hill  crest, keeping  to the  left  hand  field  boundary.   At the  top  is a fine  view  to  the  north across  Baughurst and  Tadley.   Cross one  stile  and  descend   a steep bank to a second.   Cross this and  walk down the  left  hand  boundary  of the  next  field. Notice that  this  boundary  is,  in fact, a double  hedge  with  a space  between.   It is an old road, shown on the  1817  Ordnance Survey map.  (Page 6  ).
7.   About 100  yards  before  the far corner  of the field, the  path  bears  left  onto  an  enclosed track.  After a few yards,  cross a stile.  The path  continues between hedges  towards  the Wellington Arms, which  is soon seen  on the  left  hand side.   On  reaching the  end  of the enclosed part  of the  path  (M) turn  left  and  follow  the  path  which  joins the  Baughurst  Road at the  Wellington Arm's forecourt.
8.   Immediately',   or later, leave  the  Wellington Arms and  turning  right, walk  downhill, keeping  to the  right  hand side  of the  road.    Just  beyond  the  Wellington is the  cottage known as the  'Old   Post Office'.  It is shown on the  1817  0. S.  map of the  area  as a  turn­ pike, where  road  tolls  were  collected.   After about  150 yards,   turn  right  at  a field  gate leading to a  paddock.  At the side  of the gate  is a stile.  Cross it and  walk  straight ahead with  the  hedge  on your right.   At the far side  of the  field, cross another stile,
9.    Once over  the stile, turn  right  and after  50 yards turn  left  to cross  the  field.  At the further  side, turn  left  again  and  after  50 yards turn  right  to  pass through  a field  gate  or over the  stile  to one  side  of it.  Walk down the  next  field  with  the  fence  and  hedge  on your right. Follow the  field  boundary  until  you come to a stile  near  a small  barn  (Rimes Barn).    Cross
the  stile  to  reach  a metalled road.

10. Turn right  along  the  road and  walk downhill  to a  road  junction.   Turn right  into Church  Brook and  after  half a mile  reach  the  junction  with  Church  Road.    Finally,  turn right  into  Church  Road and  walk  up the  hill  to  St.  Peter's Church.

NOTES ON  THE PHOTOGRAPHS

1.  Dix Hill, Approach  to Tadley, about  1930

A summer scene  on a quiet  country  road.    The road,   now the  busy A340, was metal I ed in 1926 from the county  boundary  to  Park Prewett.   The Fighting  Cocks  is visible  near the  left  edge  of the  picture, and  the thatched cottage is still  prominent  in the modern scene.
2.   Hospital  Sunday,  1922
This gathering was at  the  Fox & Hounds.   The Band is assembling  far  the event, and  nearly  everyone  is dressed  in their  best.    The group  of little boys on the  right  is almost certainly up to no good    The proceeds  of Hospital  Sunday events  went to local  hospitals.
3.   Besom Makers,  Early 1920s

The photograph  was taken  in Sandy Lane.   The besoms,  made by the Bowman family  who are  pictured  here, fetched  1/3d. per dozen. Compare  this leafy  scene  with Sandy  Lane today.
4.   Tadley  Gospel  Temperance  Band,  in 1907

A fine  collection of instruments,  and  moustaches 	The building in the background, next  to the  Methodist  Church an Tadley  Hill,   is still  used
as a band rehearsal   room by Tad ley Concert  Brass.   Nowadays, however,
it is in a much poorer state  of preservation.
5.   On  Tadley  Hill, About 1925

The scene  is familiar, although   now much changed.  The lane  on the  left leads  to The Green.  The main road was surfaced  with granite chippings
at  this time.  The corner  cottage has a shop front  and a letter box next  to
the door.   It was owned by Mr.  Rogers, a grocer.   The small  building an the  right  of the  road was a haberdashers (Jock  Laidlaws} and  before  that, a fish and  chip  shop.
6.   On  Tadley  Hill, 1982.

The only  features which  have endured  from the earlier photograph  are  the
I ine of the  road and  part of the  hedge  next  to the  nearest  corner.   The tree stump on the corner  is presumably all  that  remains of the tree  in the alder picture.
7.   St.  Peter's  Church  (about 1905)

The age  of the  photograph  was  judged by comparing  the  present  gravestones with those  in the  picture.  The headstone  to the  left  of the church  looks almost  new -it is dated  1900.    We were interested to discover  that  many of the other  headstones  have  been  moved from the  positions shown in the picture.   The church  has changed  little in appearance, apart  from losing
the  ivy and gaining a weathercock.   The tower  roof is now tiled.
8.   The Old  Place  (1930s?)

The date  of the  photograph  is uncertain, but the  road seems to be metalled and  the cottage, which  is still  there  in Fairlawn  Road, appears to have  an electricity supply, to  judge from the supply  poles which are  just visible. The camera  man was looking  west towards  Main Road.   A thatched cottage roof can  just be discerned on the  left  hand side.  Today the entrance to Cedar  Close  is on the  left, near  the camera.  The Old  Place  is not visible

2.   Hospital   Sunday, 1922

25

3.   Besom   fl..'lokers

4.   Tadley  Gospel  Temperance Band,  in 1907

5.   On Todley Hill,  About 1925

6.   On Todfey Hill,  1982
v

            ,
8.  The Old  Place (1930s?)

---

WALK N°·3

\

Plants and  Wildlife:
Throughout  the  walk a goad  variety of trees  may be seen, including some splendid  oaks  in which,   unusually, mistletoe is growing.   However, the splendid elms which  used to line  the  track  in Section  I, died  from Dutch  Elm disease and have  now been  felled.   It is not unusual  to see deer  hereabouts.
I.   Leaving  the church  an  your  left  hand side, walk southwards  along  the  road.  After  350 yards  the  metalled road turns sharply  to the  right.  Walk straight ahead  dawn  a grassy  track between   banks and  hedges.
St.  Peter's  Church:
The present  church  was preceded   by a stone  chapel and  before  that  by a
wooden structure on the same site.  Remains of the foundations of the  12th century stone  chapel   may be seen  in the  west wall.  The present  church  was built  in the
17th  century, during  the  Civil  War and  the  Commonwealth.  The square  brick tower  contains the  bells  cast  in the  16th  and 17th  centuries, the  earliest of which has a  mysterious inscription an i which has never  been  deciphered.   The church was reslvred  L·, i 879.   1-<ote rne gallery, the  Jacobean oak  pulpit  and  the 15th century oak door  with a curious  lock.
N.B.  The door cannot  be opened  from the  inside.
29

& SONS LTD

\..0x\N. S1t\c 	J-
J	Contracttlrs
Ext:entions	lt:eratlona

Building Maintenance
GUARANTEED  \IIVORK Complete building s• rvice from plans to decora1tion •.•
TADliY 3531
Brik Kiln - - -- Tadley

FINANCE	INS 'JRANCE· MORTGAGE	Bf,rOKERS
TADliY 	31i31
Brick Kiln, Silchester R•t)ad, Tadley
.
Member of the Institute of Insurance Consultants

2.   After 350 yards the  path curves  to the  left  too white  barred  gate  through  which  the tracks  proceeds.   To your right  is a stile  leading into on adjacent field.   At this  point  you must decide between the short ond  long  versions of the  walk.
3A.  If  you choose  the  longer  route, cross the stile into  the  field  and  walk  southwards,  with
the· fence  bordering  the  wood on your left.  After about  300  yords pass over  o ditch by o  plank bridge ond  in another 400 yards  pass o stile  on your left  a few yords ahead of a field  gate. Continue along  a trock  between  barbed  wire fences, passing a scrap-yord on your  right, and
to meet Witch  Lane,  o metalled rood.    Turn left  onto  Witch  lane and  after 150  yords cross over
a stile  in the  left  hond hedge  (just  past o grovelled form rood on the  some side).  Walk ahead (Sherborne   No.45) keeping  the  field  boundary  on your left.  At the  end  of the  field, cross a footbridge on the  left  and  follow  the  path  (Pember  No.I) left  and  then  right  over  another footbridge and  stile.  Cross another field,  keeping  close  to the  left  hond  boundary  until  you come to a white  gate.  Passing through  the gate, turn  left  onto o grassy track  (Pember  No.2). After 600  yords,  the  trock  comes too junction,with  Wyeford  House on your  left  ond  Wyeford Farm aheod  of you.    Turn right  ot  the  junction.   (Now  read  on from Section  4 following).
3B.   If  you choose  the shorter  route, pass through  the  white  field  gote  onto  the  footpath
(Pember  No.2).  After 400 yards,  Wyeford Farm ond  Wyeford  House come  into sight.
Wyeford House and  Cottage:
The manor is first  mentioned  in 1166.  The present  house  is 17th  century and  the nearby  cottage is 16th  century.   At obout  this  period  the  owners of the  estate (ludlows) were associated with oppression  of their  tenants and  a  refusal  to  pay both wages ond taxes.  There is olso the story  of a ghostly  coach   which  drives
up to the  main entrance at  greot  speed  ond  then  disappears.
Wyeford  House was described by o historian  in 1901  as  'badly   neglected'  but now this  beautifully maintained gabled  and  red  brick  monor (or farm)  house  is a wonderful  surprise  to the  walker  coming  upon it for the  first  time.  A local woman who worked at  the  house at  the oge  of  II  remembers  taking  out  meat  for storage  in the  ice  house in the  woods.   Another  Todley  resident  remembers  the
large  block  of wood inside  the  entrance which  once  I ifted  by leverage the  bridge over  the  moot.
Please  keep  strictly to the  paths ond keep  dogs on the  leash  in the  vicinity of the house ond farm.

4.   Walk ohead  past the farm and  through  a gateway (the  stone  lions on the  gatepost hold shields  bearing  an  Irish coot  of orms;  no local  significance) onto  a fine  driveway
(Pember  No.4) lined  with trees.

5.   Follow the drive  to its  junction, at  a crossroads, with  a metalled road.   Turn left  onto the  rood ond after  I 00 yords,  pass Pember Place.   After o further  400  yards,  the  rood  joins the  A340 Bosingstoke to Todley road.
Pember Ploce:
Formerly  Wakeford  Farm.   Its date  is 1665 and  it  is thought  to have  been  built by  a  london  merchant  to escape  the  Plague.   More recent  owners  include Sir Wyndham Knight, related to Jane  Austen,  ond  Mrs.  Nogle, well  known for her struggles to secure  the admission of female  members to the  Jockey Club  and  the Kennel  Club.
6.   Walk along  the  left  hand footpath  of the  A340 and  ofter  250 yards turn  left.onto o farm  trock  (with o footpath  marker)  immediately before  the  'Pember  Green' signpost. Follow  the  trock  uphill  (Pember  No.6).  After 500 yords,  it enters  a small  wood and  in another 300 yards emerges  from it, and  leads straight  aheod  across  an  open  field  to Church
Road.

7.   Turn right  onto  Church  Rood and after  300 yards reach  St.  Peter's Church.
31

Bridge

...

.:!:

""'

"'
.!:!"
c/j

N 	t
So
0
Ill	:--- 	LITTLE

t	"' 	 	0

c:

Ol	\ j 	LONDON

Ill
0
(IJ

WALK  N°·4	The PI ough  \

0 	1/1. 	1/2 	3/1. 		1 mile	6J.
%,...
1/2	11<i lometre

WALK No.4
This is one of the shorter  walks,  through  Pember Forest and old Tadley, with several opportunities for refreshment.

DISTANCE: TIME:
STARTING POINT:
Plants and  Wildlife:

2!miles (4km) I!hours
Fighting  Cocks  Public House,  Mlin Road, Tadley (SU607605)

This walk will  give  the  walker  an opportunity to note the  variations of trees  and flora  in Pember Forest,  described  elsewhere in this book.    Pember Forest, strictly speaking, is the  wooded area  entirely in the  Parish of  Pember, so excludes the adjacent wooded area  on the  N.E.  fringe  which  is part of Si lchester Common.    In accordance with the  National  Parks & Access to the  Countryside  Act 1949,   the Basingstoke & Deane  Borough Council  has adopted   Pember Forest as a  Nature Reserve.    It is managed  by a committee  of representatives from neighbouring
Parish Councils  and  interested parties such as the curator  of Reading  Museum. There are  twelve  voluntary  wardens.    The Bye-Laws are, at  present, particularly beneficial to the  walker.   Indeed,  no hovercraft  are allowed  in the  Forest and aircraft are  only  permitted  to land in case  of emergency     Whereas  in recent years only  certain paths were  public  rights of way,  every  path  is now available to the  walker.
I.   From the  Fighting  Cocks walk downhill  and over  Honey Mill  Bridge.    (As you  pass it, note  the  unmeta II ed  track  on your I eft  - this is the  I i ne of Partway,  the  Ramon road from
32

Silchester to  Salisb ry.   (Don't  follow  this track).  About 100  yards  beyond  the  bridge, turn  left  at  a footpath marker and  pass through  a field  gate  into  Pember  Forest and  onto  a footpath.
Partway:
Partway, the  Roman road from Silchester (Call eva)  to  Salisbury, passes through Pember  Forest.    It does  not coincide with any  major  path  in the  forest  and  it  is not easily  located.   It crosses the  long  path  through  the  middle  of the  forest, roughly  half  way along, and crosses the  A340  just north  of  Honey  Mill  Bridge.
2.   After  150  yards  bear  right  at a fork in the  path and  keep  straight on.    When,  later, the  path  bears  left, ignore  the  right  turn.   Later still  it  bears  left  again  when  it meets a path from the  right.  After  50 yards,  turn  right  along  a  path  which  soon emerges  from the forest, and  its route  is seen  clearly across  the open  field.  At the  crest  of the  rise  there  is a good  view  towards  Basingstoke.
3.   At the crest  there  is a  'cross-roads' of paths.    Turn left.  (In fact  at  this  point  the authors  press on to  'The  Plough Inn' at  Little  London,  which  you can  reach  in a few minutes  by not turning  left  but by walking  straight on  )   The path  re-enters the  forest. Go straight0n and  across a  'cross-roads' after 150 yards.    Ignore  minor paths  which
intersect the  main  path.  After about  700 yards the  path  is crossed  by another major  path.
Turn left.
4.   Carry  straight on to the  forest  edge, which  is reached after"600 yards.   Pass
through  posts to a  path across  fields, which  leads  to  Fonest Lane (caravans on the  right). Cross Winstone  Avenue  to  Malthouse   Lane.   Walk  up Malthouse   Lane and  bear  left  at  the top.  On  reaching Main  Road,  turn  left  to  'The  Fighting  Cocks'.
Malthouse   Lane:
This is part of the conservation area  of Tadley, but there  is at  least  one  example of good  modern  house building  in the  Lane.    The protected  buildings are  Con's Cottage, built   in 1601  (deeds dated  1628) and  the  Crooked  Cottage, built  in the
17th  century and  once  a general   siore  'having a wonderful  smell  of grain  and meal  in stock  for the  local  small.-holders'.  A local  describes the  lane  as the  one time  business centre of Tadley:    It was here  and  nearby  that  the  Tadley  craftsmen operated.  At the  junction  in the  Lane is the  Meeting House,  built  in 1718. During the  Commonwealth  period  Puritans  worshipped  in the  churches.   In 1662, after the  Restoration, may Puritans were ejected from their  churches and  began
to have  prayer  meetings  in their  own homes.    It was in response  to this situation that  this and  other  meeting  houses were  built.
Opposite the  Meeting  House is a house which  was,  in  I  iving  memory,  an  inn  - the  Malthouse, which  brewed  its own ale.
In Main  Road look for  Pear Tree Cottage on the  corner  of Manse  Lane:   This again  is a 17th  century structure and  was built  as two cottages.  Yew Tree Cottage on  the corner  of Knapp  Lane is also  17th  century and  opposite is Grant's Farm, said  to  be 600 years old.    The Fighting  Cocks  had a splendid two-seater for ladies in  1955  but that  has disappeared, as  has the  pub 'The  Star', nearly opposite in  Dix  Hill.

33

N
t

PAMBER HEATH

)> r "z
0
U1

0 	1/4 	1/2 	3/4 	1 mile

1/2

1 kilometre

WALK No.5
This walk starts  at  Bowmont's Bridge and  passes through  Pember Forest to Silchester.  The longer  version  skirts  the  walls of Roman Silchester and  returns circuitously to  Pember
Forest.    The shorter  route does  not. go beyond  Silchester village but also  returns  through  the
forest.
DISTANCE:	4 miles (6!km) shorter  walk
5!miles  (Sikm)  longer  walk

TIME:
STARTING POINT:

Plants and  Wildlife:

1!or 2a  hours.
Bowmont's Bridge at  the  junction  of Rowan Road,  West
Street, Fairlawn  Road and  Pember Heath  Road (SU607616)

The walk  through  Pember Forest shows the sudden  change from deciduous trees
to conifers.   There are  many birches  to  be seen.   This tree  provided  material   for the  Tadley  besom.    Indeed,   in times past,  Pember Forest and  other  local  wood­ lands were a valuable resource  for the  traditional crafts which  flourished in the Tadley  area.
Besides broom makers Tadley  was noted  for basket  makers,  scythe  makers,
hurdlers, paten  (wooden shoe) makers and  bowl  turners.   A very  readable source of information  on this topic  is given  in the  reference on  page 52.  The Romans introduced many trees  in this country, including the  cherry, the  walnut  and  the chestnut;  you will  see the  latter, which  may well  be the  result  of the  original Roman planting.  At the  right  time of the  year  you may check  the  reliability of the  old  Hampshire rhyme -
When the oak comes  before  the ash,
Then be ready  for a splash; When the ash  before  the  oak, Then be ready  for a soak.
Wolves,  wild  boars and  wild cats  once  lived  in the  forest.   With snow on the
ground  footprints prove the  presence  to-day of deer, foxes,   rabbits, hares, voles,  etc.  As in all  districts around  Tadley, you will  probably  disturb  a loudly  objecting pheasant  -again, a consequence of the  Roman occupation.
Adders enjoy  a warm dry  place  for sun-bathing.  They may be recognised by the zig-zag pattern  on the  back and somewhat  flattened head.  They will  hear  you before  you see  them usually, and disappear.
Adders'  skins were  used by caravan dwellers in the  past to  keep  away  the 'evil  eye'.

1.   From the  bridge, beneath  which flows Silchester Brook,  walk southwards  into  Fairlawn Road.   After about  50 yards bear  left  into  Sandy  Lane which, as its  name implies, is un­ metalled.   Walk uphill  and  just as the  lane  curves  right  to meet  Winstone  Avenue, turn  to the  left  to  pass through  a gate  onto  Pember footpath   Na.29.  The path  starts  as a grassy
track  with a bungalow  on your left and  a fence  on the  right.   After a few yards cross a fence
into  a field  and  walk straight  ahead  to the further  boundary  where  there  is a stile.  Cross the
stile  and  the  next  field, keeping  to the  right  hand  boundary  and  at  the  far end, pass through a field  gate  into  Pember Forest.    This is the area  once  known as  'Frame  Green' (see map on page 6  ).
2. 	One.,  in the  forest, turn to the  left  along  a well  defined track  which  then  bears  to thP right.    After  400 yards through attractive mixed woodland, reach  a crossing  with  another major track.  (This is one of the  highest  points  in the  forest  and  there  is a magnificent stand
of conifers on the  left).  Continue  straight  ahead.   (Deciduous trees  again).  The path  curves
gently  to the  left  and after  about  400 yards turns more sharply  left  and  downhill,  passing another path  on the  right.    About 100 yards  past this  junction  you encounter Silchester Brook once  more.
35

"'eleoatae to
2'Jae Calleva Ar"'5
Silehestet'

GALE'S
True Engllsh Draught  Been

Lunchtime: Snacks and Meals
Buffets also catered for

Your 	Hosts

Robin (:1 Barbara

36

The Donkey  Tree:
At the  poth  junction  I 00 yards before  Silchester Brook look foro magnificent oak  tree  on your  right.  This is known locally os the  Donkey  Tree,  so coiled because of the story of the  Todley man who owned on aged  donkey  which  hod long since  served  any  useful  purpose to its master.  He,  fearing it  would  never die, took  it  into the  forest, taking  with  him o long  rope, and  hanged  the  poor beast  on this oak.
3.   Cross ot  the  footbridge and  wol k up the slope opposite and  through  o gop  in the  fence some yards from the stream.   Bear right  onto the  upper footpath.  At this  point  there  ore arrow  markings  on two trees, indicating the  right  of way.    (Silchester poth  No.I).   Soon the  poth crosses another stream  by o bridge, continues alongside it foro little and  leads uphill  through  small  trees and scrub.    At the  top of the  hill  it runs behind  some house gardens  and  ends at  a metalled road  (Duke's  Ride).   Walk ahead  along  the  road and  at  the road  junction, turn  right.   A few steps  bring you to  Silchester Common and  the  Call eva Arms.   A few yards  post the  Calleva Arms is o road  junction.   At this  point ·you must decide  between the shorter  and  longer  versions of the  walk.   If  you wish to walk  the shorter  route, 90 to para9raph  4B.
Silchester Common:
Not  far from Cal leva  Atrebatum, so it can  be imagained that  the  Belgic  tribe,
the  Atrebates, knew this spot  well and  must have  shared  it  later, rather  ruefully, with  the  Romans.   One  can  imagine  it, too,  throughout  the  ages  as a centre of village life, but the  great  occasion  must have  been  in 1601  when  Queen Elizabeth  was met by a magnificent cavalcade of noblemen  here  on  her way to stay at  the  Vyne at  Sherborne  St. John.
4A.  If  you decide to take  the  longer  route, cross the  road,   turn  left  and  walk  towards  the War Memorial, about  I 00 yards away.   Pass behind  the  Memorial  and  take  the  poth  which leads  ahead  and  slightly to the  right.  The poth ends ot a metalled road.   Cross the  road and turn  right  down a gravelled road.    Immediately  on the  )eft  hand  side of the  track  is Calleva Museum.
Calleva Museum:
This small,   charming  museum is open at all  times in daylight and  is well  worth a brief  stop.    It gives  sufficient background  to appreciate what  you are  about  to see at  the  end of the  lane.  (Further  information  and  exhibits are  to be found  in Reading  Museum) .
Follow the  track  (Silchester No.9) for half a mile.  At first  it  is enclosed between hedges, but later  passes through  a gateway, then  between  fences  post open  fields  and  finally approaches and  reaches the  walls of the  Roman city  of Colleva, ot  its West gate.  The gate­ way is o good  point at  which  to survey  the extent of the  walls and  to imagine  the  size  of the old city.
Roman Si I chester:
Calleva Atrebotum, founded  possibly a few years  BC by the  Atrebates (People  of  the  Wood),  a  Belgic tribe  escaping from the  continent and  Roman conquest, only  to be engulfed by them ogoin.   It was o commercial centre in  Roman times and  not a military  town,  and owed  its importance to the  junction  of roads  with the  london  to  Both rood,  the  Devil's  Highway  (o walk  for another day).    Inside
the  walls  was the forum,  a basilica, baths,   temples  and  an  early  Christian church
and  outsidE? an amphitheatre.  The town does  not seem to have  survived  for  long after  the departure of the  Romans.   In  mediaeval times o giant  named  Onion lived there, and  is said  to have  hurled  a stone a distance of two miles  to the  lmpstone
(ot  Pember Heath), or was it a  Roman milestone?   In early  times coins  were  found
37

THE
HURST CENTRE
SPARE LEISURE TIME?
THEN  USE  YOUR  COMMUNITY  SCHOOL For full information  write to the  Community
Education  Warden, The Hurst Centre, Baughurst, Hants,  or phone
Tadley  3438 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 noon  or 7-9 p.m.

Better still-just call one evening  and see for yourself.

""---- E. 	D.	EYLES
MULFORDS HILL, lADLE'(. 	PHONE TADLEY  3629

Wedding
Bouquets.

& Floral
Tributes

AND WREATHS - ALL AT SHORTEST NOTICE.
DROCHFORD HOUSE PLANTS 	D FRESH FRUIT  AND

AGENTS FOR ALL  UNWINS

PLANTS AND SEEDS

38

VEGETABLES DAILY

and  thought  to be part of Onion's treasure, and  were  known as  'Onion's pennies'. Excavation  took  place  in 1864-78 and although   important  finds  were  removed, much of the  remains have  been covered  again  in order  to preserve  them.
5.  Turn around  to face  the  way yohave  come.       There are  two kissing-gates in the  fence on you left.  Pass through  the  further  one and  walk along  the  field  edge, with  the  city  wall a few  yards away  on the  left  hand side.  After 350 yards the  wall  turns away  eastwards.   At
the  far  left  corner  of the field, pass through another gate  and  turn  left  onto  a short  lane  which
connects two fields.  After about  100 yards,  yet another gate  alongside a field  gate.  From
the gateway the  line  of the  path  leads  diagonally to the  right  across  the  field. (You may prefer to walk  around  the  edge).  At the far side  you will  find a gate  connecting with a well  defined path  through  a copse.  On the  right  is an earth  bank which  formed  part of the  outer  defences of  the  Roman city.
6.  At the  end of the  copse, cross a stile  and  walk ahead  across  the  field  to a field  gate.  If you look  back at  this  point  you will  have a very impressive  view  of the  walls, particularly the restored  section.   Pass through  the  gate  and  walk downhill  to the  far side  of the  field,  where there  is a gate  and stile, next  to a stream.   Cross the stile  and  walk  on,  keeping  the  field boundary on your left.  After a quarter  of a mile the  path ends at  a stile.  Cross the stile and the  metalled   road into  Byes Lane,  opposite.   Walk down  Byes Lane and after 700  yards bear right, where  the  lane  turns left, onto a metalled  road.     The road  leads  uphill  past Silchester Farm,  reaching a crossroads after  another 700 yards.    Cross to the  lane  opposite.
7.   Walk downhill, past a footpath  fingerpost  (Silchester No.3).   The lane  soon  becomes  a track  which  passes a sewage  works,  and  into  Pember Forest again.  Walk ahead  for about  200 yards,  then  continue downhill  (Pember  path  No. 27) through  deciduous trees  and after  600 yards reach  a crossroad  of tracks.   Turn right  (Pember  path  No.24) along  an arrow-straight path through  the  heart  of the  forest.   Follow this  path  uphill  and down,  crossing  your outward path at  the  next  intersection of tracks.  After half a mile,   the  track  emerges  from the  forest and  in 200 yards ends at  the  junction  with  Pember path  No.30, which  runs east-west on the southern  boundary  of Pember Heath  village.  Turn left  and  walk downhill  to meet  Pember Heath Road.   Turn left  onto  the  road and after  300  yards,  regain  Bowmont's Bridge.
4B.  Turn right  at  the  road  junction  (This is the shorter  walk)  and walk southward  through Silchester village and after  five  eighths  of a mile come to a  minor crossroads.   Turn right into a  metalled lane, leading  downhill.   Now follow  the  instructions in para;:;rnph 7- r:,., finish  is common to the  long and short  walk.

If   you  are   interested  in  walking   in  an  area   rather wider  than  that  covered   by  this  book,   why  not   join the   Basingstoke  Ramblers'  Club?   For further   details contact  the  authors  or  Mrs.  Daly  (Basingstoke  68128)

WALK  N 6

0 	1/1.	1/2 	3/1.

0 	1/2 	1 kilometre

t

N	"c':
3

Q
Walk   No.6	PAMBER Q  '@
-	nR 	T
A longer walk, starting on  Tadley Common  and  passing  through parts  of  the  parishes  of
Aldermaston, Silchester and   Pamber, across commons  and  through a  variety of  woods  and copses.   Short  and  long  versions of the  walk  are  described.

DISTANCE:

TIME:
STARTING  POINT:

Plants  and  Wildlife:

6  miles  (1 Okm) (shorter walk)
7miles (11  km)  (longer walk)
2or  3 hours
The  Jubilee Centre on  Tadley Common  (Recreation Ground)
near  the  northwest corner of  Tadley Court (SU603623).

There  is an  early oppa tunity to  make  sure  you  know  the  difference between broom  and  gorse.   At  the  same  time, note  how  many  of  the  trees planted in recent years along the  Sitchester Road are  left.
The first  woods  have-interesting wild  flowers.   Look for  wood  sorrel.   The
flowers, white with  veins  of  pink  or  I  ilac, with  five petals, appear in early Spring.    The  leaves are  very  thin  and  a clear bright green; cut  into three heart shaped 'leaflets.   It is believed to  be the  original of the   Irish  Shamrock, though that   emblem   is now  transferred to a  clover,  Trifolium Repens.
In Benyon's Enclosure there is a  variety of trees.  The  red  female  flowers of
the  larch will  be seen in  early summer.  Here, as  in  other local woods, the shrublet  Bilberry (Blueberry or  Whortleberry) will  be found   in  large numbers.
1.   Leaving the  Jubilee Centre, make  your  way  across the  Recreation Ground towards
Pamber  Heath  and  the   junction of  Silchester Road and  Pamber  Heath   Road.   At the
junction cross  Silchester Road,  walk  a  few  yards  past  the   junction towards Silchester,  then turn  left  onto a  grovel track (footpath marker).
Tadley Recreation Ground:
No, not  the  Green.   This is the  new area for  recreation in Tadley,  rescued  by
40

the  Parish Council  from becoming  one  more gravel   pit  in the  area.'   Successfu
for the  local  cricketers and  at  the  time af writing, the  football  p1tch was aga1n in  use,  previously  having  been  condemned  by the  local   Football   Association because  of the  quantities of stones  which  had worked  through  the  surface.   In addition   the  Jubilee Centre  and  the adjacent tennis  courts  and  children's  play area  givhope  for the  future  that  this  will  be truly  the  Tadley  Recreation Ground.
1.    Follow  the  track  for 200 yords and  then  cross a stile  to the  left  of the  track  onto  a
'ootpath   between  fences.   The path  leads  across  open  country  to a wood.    Cross a stile nd follow  the  path  through  the  wood (M).   Halfway  through  the  wood,  at  the  top  of a rise    a track  leads  away  to the  right.  Keep  to the  narrower  path  which  leads  ahead. Aftr emerging from the  wood the  path  crosses o stream, then  climbs  and  turns to the right, and  after  300  yards meets  Soke Road.
3.   Cross Soke Road and  take  the  path opposite which  lies  between  the  boundaries of two industrial sites.   At the  far end  turn  left, and after  a few yards  turn  right  to cross a ditch. Once ocross  the ditch  turn  left  again  and  walk ahead  for 400  yards  to reach  Welshman's
Road at  a  rood  junction.   Turn right  onto  the  road ond after  750  yards,   reach  Welshman's
Pool (who was thiCelt?) on the  left, almost  concealed by trees  and  bushes. 	At this paint, choose  between  the  shorter  and  longer  versions of the  walk.
Welshman's  Mile  and  Welshman's  Pool:
The names of these  two spats  come from the  far off days, before  the  time  of the
railway, when drovers  from Wales coaxed their  sheep  from the  Welsh hills  to
the  rewarding London markets.   Such a  journey  would  be hord on the  sheep and long  recuperative stops were  necessary.   This was an  important   resting  ploce
for drovers  and  sheep- an area  of grass in the  midst of a  well  wooded  area,
with a supply  of good  water.
4A.   If  you decide to take  the  longer  route, you will  find  that  on the  left  hand side  of the road  just before  Welshman's  Pool there  are  two stiles  side  by side  and  set  back  from the  line of the  he Cross the  left  hand stilE and  walk ahead  with  the  field  fence on your  right.
In wet weather you will  encounter waterlogged areas,  but you should  be able to skirt  them
fairly  easily.  At the  far corner  of the  field  turn  to the  left  along  the  fence.  After  about
30 yards  turn  right  to cross the  fence  at  the  wooden  rails  (M).      Once over  the  fence walk ahead  across  heathland (the  path  is ill  defined  here)  towards  the  road  which  is perhaps  300 yards distant.   Pass gradually from right  to left  under  power lines  as you  walk.  After  about
200 yards you will  reach  an earth  track.  Turn right  onto  the  track.  After  a few  hundred
yards the  track  turns  left  to meet  the  Burghfield  road.    You can  walk  straight ahead at  this point in the  track, alonganarrowgorse-lined path.  It leads  across  the front  of a  large house and about  a hundred  yards further  on meets a gravel  tra.ck which  leads  from the  road  to some cottages.  At the  time of writing  this  path  was rather  overgrown.   You may  prefer  to walk along  the  Burghfield  road to  reach  the  gravel  track.  Turn right  onto  the  track  and  after a few  yards  tum  left  and  then  right  just before  Pond Cottage.  Walk down  the  track from  Pond Cottage and after about  50  yards take  the  path  to the  I eft  of a wired  enclosure.  The path passes between  hedges  into an  open  wood.    Bear left  and after 150  yards  reach  a  metalled road at  two white  posts.
Turn right  onto  the  road or follow  the  bridle  path  which  runs parallel to the  road.   After approximately 250 yards cross the  road to  pass between  more white  posts onto  a  junction  of woodland  tracks.
Take the  track  which  runs diagonally away  to the  right.  This leads  you  through  a conifer
. plantation to a  road  junction  (the  junction  of Chapel   Road and  Church  Road,  Mortimer West
End).
Cross the  junction  and  walk a few yards down Church  Road then  bear  left  down  a  metalled track.  The track  soon changes to a gravel  surface  as  it  leads  post a  recreation ground  on your

right.  About  200 yards  past the  recreation ground  turn right  ot a crossing  of tracks.
There  is a view  to your  left  ocross a wide volley.  On  the  for crest  is the site  of the  Roman city  _of  Calleva.  Walk downhill  until  you reach  Church  Road again,  just below  the  Red Lion publ1c house.    Turn left  onto  the  road and  wol k downhill  to the  bridge  over  West End Brook. Wolk across  the  bridge  ond  up the  hill.  Near  the  top of the  hill  turn  right  onto  0 track
which  I eads  past  Little  Heoth  House.    Pass through  the gateway  just beyond  the  house and
walk downhill   until  the  path  makes o  junction  with another track,  neor a  lake.   Turn left  at this  junction  and  wolk  uphill.

4B.   If  you choose  the shorter  route, proceed  as follows:    Just  past the  pond turn  right (just  beyond  the  transformer  station) onto a track  which  leads  into  Benyon's  Enclosure which  at  this  point  consists  mainly  of conifers.
Note:    The walk  route  now follows  the right of way through  the  Enclosure.   The other tracks  you meet are  not rights of woy.    Please  keep dogs  under  close  control.
After about  700 yards  turn  left  at  a crossing  of tracks, and  after  another 400 yards  emerge from the  forest  onto  a more open  wooded  hillside.   Fallow the  track  round and  downwards  to the  right  and  through  further  left  and  right  hand  bends,  after  which  it  passes between ·
twa  lakes.  The larger, higher  level  lake  is on your right.   Beyond the  lakes  the  track turns right  and climbs  away  out of the  valley.

5.   At the  top of the  rise the  path  passes through  the  earthworks of an  old  fortification and
re-enters the  forest.  After 200 yards turn left  at another crossing  of tracks  and after a further
600  yards  reach  a metalled road,  with a  pair of estate houses on your  left.
6.   Turn left  onto  the  road and  after  about  50 yards turn right  onto  a  path  which  leads  away from the  road and  to the  left,  tortuously, soan reaching the  boundary  fence of Silchester Primary School.   Tum right  and follow  around  the school  boundary.   At the  front  of the school  bear  away  to the  right  and  make your way across  Silchester Common towards  the Calleva  Arms.
Silchester  Cammon:
Not far from Calleva  Atrebatum, so it can  be imagined  that  the  Belgic  tribe,
the  At rebates, knew this spat  well  and  must have shared  it  later, rather  ruefully, with  the  Romans.   One  can  imagine  it; tao,   throughout  the  ages  as a centre of village life, but  the great  occasion must have  been  in 1601  when Queen Elizabeth  was met here  by a magnificent cavalcade of noblemen  an  her  way to stay  at  the  Vyne at  Sherborne  St. John.
7.   At the  Call eva  Arms turn  right along  the  metalled road (towards  Pamber Heath)  and after 50 yards tum  left  onto  Duke's  Ride,  and  in about  150 yards,  where  the  road  bears left walk ahead  off the  road onto  a  path.  This path  passes behind  a row of houses and  then
leads  downhill  through  a  lightly  wooded area.  Soon the  path enters Pamber Forest,  and  after
crossing  a stream  leads  round  to the  right.
Pamber Forest:
Notes  concerning Pamber Forest also appear in Walks 4 and  5.  Perhaps for this walk  the  emphasis could  be an  butterflies and  moths,  both common and  not so common may be found.  A 'local' tells  me that  on early  morning  walks  in  Pamber Forest he meets  'scientific gentlemen' who have spent  the  night  in the  forest, shining  a  powerful  light  on a tree  trunk which  has been  daubed  with  treacle.   The catch, apparently, is extraordinary.   During 1980,   Reading  Museum had an exhibition of the  equipment  used in 1880  by the  museum curator, William  Hollas,
a well  known collector of Iepidoptera.   He used an  oil  lamp and  treated tree trunks from his 'sugaring  tin'.  Now and at  least  far  the  last  100 years  there  is no reason  to shaw surprise  at  meeting  someone charging through  the  undergrowth brandishing a  large  butterfly net.   At another season  you may discover Tad ley's

treacle mines.    Better still, wait  until  the  ground  is hard  with  a covering of snow. Then the  walker  will  discover what a  busy place  the  forest  is.    Certain evidence
of the  deer  that  are  rarely  seen  can  be found.  The fox's  brush can  be followed clearly as it  trails through  the snow.    At all  seasons, there  is much to  be seen  and
heard.
8.   Follow  the  path  through  the  Forest until  with semi-open, wet ground  below  on the  left, the  path divides to left  and  right.  Take the  right  hand  path, which  leads  uphill  through  the wood and  soon gives  way to more open  countryside.   Just  before  the  path  ends at  the  corner of  lmpstone  Road,  turn  left  onto  Pember footpath 30 which  passes the  back  gardens of houses in  Impstone Road.   Walk downhill  and  then  uphill, with allotments on the  left  hand  side, to
a  paint  where  the  path  widens  into  a track.  Walk ahead along  the  track  and  after 400  yards,
reach  Pember Heath  Road.
9.   Turn right  along  the  road and  walk  uphill  until  you reach  open  heath land  on your  left. This is Tadley  Recreation Ground.   Continue until  the  junction  with  Church  Road,  Pember Heath, is on your  right, then  turn  left  onto  the  Recreation Ground.    Follow  the  track  west­ wards across  the  heath land  and  after  700 yards regain  the  Jubilee Centre.

Tadley(EHabl hed1934)
Fruiterers
68 Franklin Avenue, Tadley
SELF-SELECTION
FRESH FRUIT and VEGETABLES EXOTIC FRUITS and VEGETABLES		
FRIENDLY PERSONAL SERVICE		

POT PLANTS
FRESH CUT FLOWERS	Tadley
Floral A"angements and Baskets of Fruit
delivered free  In the Tadlev area	5411		

t

N
c
2

e

Q.
.c0
0
i The  Row

SCHOOL

Q
(..,..s,

0 	1/4 	112	3/4 	1mile

0 	1/2 	11/2 	2 kilometres

WALK N°·7

alk  No.7
1is is one  of the  longer  walks.   In fact  we broke our  rule that  the  walks should  start  in Jdley.  This one starts  in Baughurst which is at  least  in Hampshir_e (just).  It is a  varied and eautiful  walk and  we simply could  not do without  at  least  one  visit  to  the  Wasing  Estate.
'you have  a dog with you,  be particularly careful   to keep  it  under control   in the  Estate
rounds.

>!STANCE:
.IME:
>TARTING POINT:
Plants and  Wildlife:

6miles (llkm)
say 2hours,  without  the  excursions suggested  in the  text. Outside  the  Hurst School, Baughurst  ( SU575623)

Take your wild flower and  tree  reference books on this  walk.  There is a clear distinction between  the  vegetation of Wasing Woods and  the  Kennet  valley.   In the woods,  the  familiar wood anemone  (wind flower)  primrose,  bluebell, toadflax, wood violets, and foxgloves  are  found as well as a  number of less common wild flowers.   Near  the  water  the  plants are  quite  different - meadow sweet, giant members of the carrot  family, many of the  borage  family  (comfrey  -sometimes creamy  white  and sometimes  purplish,  forget-me-nots etc.), very  large  specimens of greater plantain, yellow  loosestrife, lady's smock,  meadow cranesbill,  rosebay willow  herb,   purple  loosestrife  and  butterbur  can  be found  easily.
Note  the  variety of woodland  trees  and  the additional specimens found  near  the water- plenty  of willows,  etc.  As you take  the  path  along  the stream, you will notice  rows of black  poplar  to the  left.  Do they  grow taller near  the  water  or is it an  optical illusion?
The sallow  willow  is a favourite home for many caterpillars including the  puss
moth.    This is also  a good hunting  ground  for the sedge  warbler.   The 'plops' will be caused  by water  voles.  Try to follow  them as they  swim along  the  river  bank; they  are  harmless leaf  eaters.   Hopefully, look for a dragon  fly  but expect to see damsel  flies.
1.  Leaving the  school  gates  on your right  walk a few yards along  the  road  towards  Brimpton, then  turn  right  onto  Baughurst footpath   No.4 which  runs along  the  north  western  boundary  of the school  grounds.   As a matter  of interest  the  new school  playing  field  on yo\Jr left  is in Berkshire,  as the  county  boundary  lies  dose to the  path and  parallel to it.  After 400 yards
the  path  bears  right  to meet a sidewalk  (in  Long Grove).  Walk along  the  footpath a few  yards
and  then  turn  off left  on to the  next  section  of the  path.  The hummocks on your  left  are  old burial  mounds (tumulii).  The path  runs behind  houses in  Long Grove.  After 150 yards  turn
left  onto a wide  track  and  in a few yards meet the  Tadley- Kingsclere road at  a  road  junction.
Tumulii:
Ancient burial mounds. The south of England,  especially the downland and high places, has scattered upon it thousands of these small hillocks, typically dating from 1 , 000 years BC, each  the  burial  place ofsome ancient chieftain. It was only in the 18th century that the true nature of the mounds was generally realised and then almost all of them were inexpertly excavated by treasure  hunters and many valuable relics were lost.
2.   Walk ahead, down the  road opposite, which  leads  towards  Aldermaston.   After 700yards along  this straight road through  attractive wooded country  turn  left  onto  a footpath,  marked
by a footpath  finger  post (about  200 yards before a  road  junction).   Follow  the  path  through  a
copse and  then  between  fences  across  the old gravel  workings.  The path  gradually  works around  to the  right and after  about  650 yards makes a  junction  with another track.   Walk straight  ahead  for about  30 yards (or turn right, left  and  then  right  again) to enter another track  which  leads  due  north with Wasing Wood on your left  and  open  gravel-worked land  on your right. 	45

3.   Soon the  poth is enclosed  on both sides  by Wosing Wood on the  left  ond  Poices  Wood or the  right.   In  the  Spring this  poth is lined  with  bluebells ond the occasional  primrose.    After o few hundred  yards it  posses over the aest of the  ridge ond gives o good  view across  the
Ken net  volley  to the  heights  behind  Wool hampton ond  Beenhom.   The poth  now leads  down hi
ond, passing through  o gotewoy  with o stile  to one side ot  it, leaves  the  woods behind  ond continues downwards  with  fields  to left  and to right.    After about  500 yards there  is o  Dutch Born close  on your  right  and approximately 200 yards beyond  that  the  poth bears  to the  I eft towards  Wosing Pork.
Wosing Place  ond  Wosing Pork:
Sir William  Mount,  whose interests  ore  listed  in "Who's  Who" os fishing  ond shooting, prefers to talk  about  the  Pork rather  than  the  Place.   However, he did tell us that  "the  Great Western  Roil way burnt down the  house during  the  wor".   It must be assumed that  on earlier house wos replaced by the 19th  century mansion and  this wos destroyed   by fire during  the  Second  World Wor ond that  the  present Wosing Place  wos built  soon afterwords.
Sir William  spoke .enthusiastically of the  woods,  the forms ond the  rivers  (including
the  Enborne) around  Wosing ond of the fish  in the  ponds ond  rivers  (private fishing leased  to local  clubs), of  planting  trees  in the  pork by aeroplane ond about  his great  interest  in protecting the  beauty  ond  peace  of the countryside.
Wosing is o very small  parish,  only 600 acres  ond having  no village, it  is no surprise  thot  its population is only 70.    However,  it. hos not olwoys  been  so lightly populated.   In  the  parish there  ore five  tumulii  listed  os ancient monuments and flint implements  and other  prehistoric  relics  hove been  found  there.
4.   At the  point where  the  poth turns left  towards Wosing Pork you leave  the  official  right of  woy and ore on o permitted   poth.    Access to a  permitted  poth is ot  the discretion of the landowner.  At the  time of writing  the  true  right of woy wos thoroughly  obstructed.   The keen walker, armed with o Iorge scale  mop, compass ond thorn-proof  trousers,  may follow  it.   Its route  is shown on the  mop on the opposite  poge.    However,  you will  be well  advised  tofollow the  permitted   poth to the  left.   Shortly, it enters  Wesing Pork through  o gotewoy.   Wei k
ahead  across the  Pork,  cross o metalled  driveway  ond continue towards  the  buildings  of  Lower
Form, with  the cricket pitch  on your  right.
5.   Leave the  Pork by the gateway  near the cricket pitch, turn right  onto  the  public  rood ond in  o few yards turn  left  onto  the grovel  track  next to  Lower Form.   After about  300 yords the track  turns right and  tokes o north-easterly direction.   Follow this track  for 250 yards too gop in the  hedge on your right, turn  left  opposite  the gop ond cross the field, making  foro bridge across  the  River En borne,  about  300 yards distant.   Cross the  bridge  and continue ahead, making  for the end of on avenue of trees.  The path  lies  to the  left  of the  two rows of trees  and porollel  to them.    At the end of the avenue cross a stile  and enter  the wood.    Walk ahead for about  100 yards through  the  wood,  then  bear  left  to cross a (dilapidated) stile  on the  edge  of a ditch.  Cross the ditch  which,  at  the  time of writing, wos dry but  unbridged, ond  walk ahead
to the  furthest  corner  of the field  where there  is o gateway.   Poss through  the  gateway onto  a
grovel  track  which  leads  too metalled  rood.
6.   Turn right  onto  the  rood and  walk towards Woolhompton.    After 250 yards there  is another grovel  track  to your  left.  This is the  next section  of the wolk,  but you may wish to visit  the
'Row Borge' which  is a few yords down the  rood,  or to walk  post it to see  the  Kennet,  which
lies  just beyond,  and  perhaps to extend  your walk by o stroll  along  the  towpath.
The Kennet  Navigation:
A few yards beyond  the  'Row Borge' is the  River Kennet, which  is the  parent  water of the  Kennet  Navigation.  Through almost oil  of the  eighteenth century  Newbury wos linked  with the  Thomes ot  Reading by the  Navigation which consisted  simply of o number of  'cuts' or channels which  by-passed  the  meonderings  of the  river.   Just

to the  west of the  road  bridge at  the  'Row Barge'  is the entrance via a  lock  to the cut. between  Woolhampton  and  Thatcham.   In the  late  eighteenth century the Navigation was extended westwards  until  in 1810  the  Ken net and  Avon was completed.   It's a  nice  walk along  the towpath  to  Bath,  if you have  a week  to spare.
Waf k westwards  down the gravel  track:  The track  soon turns south  westwards  passing copse  on the  right  hand side.  After  hoff a mile and  just after the  second  bend  in the  track ere  is a  plank  bridge  on your left, across a ditch.  Walk across  the  bridge  and  walk  ahead ith 0 field  ditch  on your left.  After 200 yards the  path  meets a gravel   track  near  a short iller bearing  a  plaque.  Turn right  and  walk towards  Brimpton Church  which  is prominent  on
1e hill  ahead.  After  half a mile  turn  left  at  the  junction  with  another track  which  runs
I most east/west.
Follow this  track  until  it meets the  Brimpton to  Aldermaston  road about  200 yards from ihalford  Bridge.    Walk along  the  road,  turn right  at  the  road  junction  and  cross Shalford ridge (the  En borne  again). If  you wish to visit  Wasing Church, proceed  as follows:    turn
eft  towards  Aldermaston  and  after  a few yards turn  right  through  a gateway onto  a metalled
Jrive  which  leads  uphill  through  Wasing Park.    Near  the  top of the  hill  farm buildings come nto view.  Follow the driveway round to the  left  before reaching the  farm and pass through  a gateway  (over  a cattle grid).  Once  through  the gateway you will  see  Wasing Church  and Wasing House ahead  of you and  on the Ieft.

Wasing Church:
St. Nicholas Church, Wasing,  dates  from the  15th  century but was largely rebuilt  in  1761,  of roughcast  stucco, with stone dressings.   The weather boarded  bell tower  has a  pyramidal  roof.    There are  two bells.  One  is dated  1664, the  other  is believed to have  been  cast  about  700 years  ago.  The windows of the  nave ,have
transparent panes surrounding  pictorial   panels.   Some of the  panels  are  dated, e.g.
1629 and  1649.  In  common with other  churches in the area, it  has a fine  Jacobean pulpit.   Inside the  main entrance on the  western  wall  are  two panels.   One  is
dated  1787 and  lists the  Parish Charities, the other  gives  a fist of the  incumbents since  the  church's foundation.
The path from the  Brimpton road  is a right  of way "for access to the  church  only".
(The right  of way which  leads  southwards  from the church  has a similar  restriction on it). After your visit  you should  return  by the  way you came  to reach  Sholford  Br.idge again.
9.   Walk southwards  along  the  road  up the  hill  from Shaf ford  Bridge,  passing  Shalford  Farm. After about  three  quarters  of a mile  the  road turns sharply  to the  right.  The buildings of a farm are  conspicuous ahead  and  to the  right.  On  the  left  is a gravelled track  leading almost straight  ahead.  Walk along  it and after  about  I00 yards,   just before  a cottage, turn  left through  a gateway ond  in a few yards  turn right  onto a  path  which  runs along  the  edge  of Wasing Wood,  in a south easterly direction.   After about  a quarter  of a mile  you will  pass a cottage with a large  garden, on your right.   Not far  beyond  it, tum  right  onto an  earth  path
between  hedges.  The path soon ends at  a gravel  driveway outside  a large  house.  Walk  ahead
past the  house and  continue along  a gravel  road with dwellings on your  right.
I0.	After  a few hundred  yards,   just before  the  boundary  hedge  of the  first  house  you come to on the  left  hand side, turn left  onto another path.   After  I00 yards cross a stile and continue between fence  and  hedge, with a field  on your left.  This leads  you to a second stile  which  is at  a cross roads.    Cross the stile  and  the  cross roads and  take  the  road  which leads  south eastwards towards  Baughurst.    After about  600  yards you will  pass on your  left hand side  another large  tumulus.    Just  beyond  this you will  cross the  county  boundary  from
Berkshire into  Hampshire,  and  regain  your starting  point.
47

MOVING!

LOCAL
 	LONG DISTANCE 	
 	OVERSEAS 	

FOR  A PROFESSIONAL MOVE TO YOUR NEW HOME,  AT A SENSIBLE  COST CONTACT

TRANSIT EMOVALS
(Tadley)

REMOVAL  A STORAGE CONTRACTORS

-JJ'V_   1	TADLEY,  BASINGSTOKE	\1( 	y y
j	Phone: Tadley (073S6) SOlS  \/II) /
\lill 	.

VHURST

urst
se 	2 kilome·tres

WALK   N°· 8

WALK No.8

A very  pleasant walk at  any  time of year, but especially so when  the  trees  ore  in leaf  and the  beauties of Ewhurst woods and  lake  can  be appreciated.
DISTANCE:	3i miles (6km) TIME:	About 2 hours
STARTING POINT: 	Junction of Hollybush  Lane and  Main  Road,  West Heath

Plants and  Wildlife:

(SU589576)

This is a walk on  which  to take  a  'Wild  Flower'  book, especially in high
summer when,  apart  from great  patches of common flowers  such as corn  marigold and  stinking mayweed, there  are  some to test  skill  at  identification.   As well
as there  being  colour  in spring  time, there  are, later in the  year, magnificent
specimens  of foxglove and  rasebay  willow  herb.   It will  be worth  while  taking a  bag  to collect blackberries and  hazel  nuts at  the end  of the  summer.    Deer may be seen  from time to time, and  stoats  seem to enjoy  scampering across
the  road at  the  for side  of  Ewhurst Park,  but  it  is likely that  these  will  be missed as the  eye  is attracted to noisy,  over  populated rookeries in the  nearby oak  trees.
The lake  in Ewhurst Park provides  much to observe.   On  warm summer evenings
the  martins  collect in large  numbers above the  water  to feed.  The bird  life varies  according to the season, but  there  is always something -a pair  of swans, Canada  geese, coots, grebes, a  heron, mallards, and  moorhens  amongst  the fishermen  by this  private water.

1.  From the  road  junction  wolk westwards along  Hollybush  Lone.   At the  end of the metalled surface  of the  lane, walk ahead  along  an earth  track.   The track  (M) leads  by fields  and copses,  first on the  left  then  the  right hand side, finally  bearing  left  and soon reaching the  Baughurst to Ramsdell road.

2.   Turn left  onto  the  road and after  about  200 yards,  beyond  pylons,  bear  right  off the road onto a gravel  driveway  between  recently built  houses and the 19th century  Hollybush Farm.   Walk along  the driveway  -you are  now on the  Ewhurst Park Estate  (keep  an eye
open  for deer  hereabouts).  After a few hundred  yards,  turn left  just before  the  hump-backe
bridge  and follow  the  footpath  around  the edge of Boathouse Copse (which  is on your  right}.
Hollybush  Farm:
This 19th  century  building  is of interesting appearance and  was formerly an  inn - The Lion or Red Lion (see the extract from the 1817 0. S. map on  page 6  ) . Presumably the few cottages in the area  provided  enough clients for the  hostelry.
3.   After about  200 yards the  path enters  a woad (Lloyd's Copse).    Follow the  path  round to the  right and soon you will see a lake  (Ewhurst Pond) on your right.    When the  path emerges from the  wood it crosses an open  field  and climbs away from the  lake, which  is still  on your right.    The path  is well  defined, and  is not ploughed  by the  landowner.   If  only  there  were more like  him    Beyond the lake  the  buildings  of Ewhurst House and  Ewhurst Farm can  be seen
Ewhurst House and  Chapel:
This 18th century establishment is the centre of the  Ewhurst Estate.    It comprises  a U-shaped  group of red brick  Georgian buildings, including the  house,  chapel   and stables.  Ewhurst is also  the site  of a village which existed  in medieval  times, deserted  before  the  house was built.
4.   Once  across the  field, enter  a  narrow copse  which lies  between  the  lake  and  the
Ramsdell road.    At the  far end of the copse the  path ends at  the  Ramsdell road.    Turn
left, and walk towards  Ramsdell.   This is a quiet  road with  pleasant  views across country. After about  three  quarters  of a mile the  buildings  of Skyers Farm (i7th  century}  are  close  on your right  hand,  and  in another quarter  of a mile you reach  Ramsdefl cross-roads.
5.   Walk over  the cross-roads and dawn the  road opposite  which leads  to Charter Alley. On  your left  is Ramsdell church.   About 200 yards from the cross-roads and  just before  the Post  Office, turn left  down a narrow footpath  between  hedges,  with a garden  on the  right hand  side.  After about  50 yards cross a fence  into a small field.  Walk ahead, with the hedge  on  your left.  Turn right at  the field  corner  and after  about  50 yards reach  a stile  in the  hedge.   In fact  this should  be a double  stile, but the  right  hand portion  has no step  at present.   Cross the  right  hand  portion and  walk ahead  for 200 yards,  with the  hedge on your left.
Christ  Church,   Ramsdale:-
- Although  the  name of the  village is usually spelt  'Ramsdell', the official  name of the church  adopts  an older  spelling.  The church  was erected in 1867.   It is constructed of brick and flint  with dressings of Bath stone, and has a tiled  roof. The style  is Early English.
Inside,  the  interesting and ornate  roof decorations are said  to be the  work of
the daughters of the first Vicar  of the church, and the stained  glass  windows are chiefly in memory of various  members of the  Fuller family.
6.   Ahead  is a power line  across your  path.    Take a line  across the open  field  which  will take  you  just to the  right  of the  nearest  pylon.    Continue  on this line  until  you reach  the further  side, then  cross a stile  to reach  a metalled  road.    Turn left  to walk along  the  road, which  leads  to West Heath.  After a quarter  of a mile turn right at a  road  junction, and
in another quarter  mile regain  the starting point at the end of Hollybush  Lane.
50

AN APOCRYPHAL TALE

A walker stood  ot  the  jun :tion
Of several Todley  roods
On  his bock  was a sizeoblle  rucksack
Beori ng moderate I oods.

His boots were  Iorge  and 1muddied
He carried a stout  ash stic:k
He was every  inch  a romb,l er
Except  that  he  looked  quite  sick.

Not  o sign  of o footpath marker And it wouldn't be long  until  dark There  wasn't  a bus until  Tuesday
And his dogs were  beginning to bark.

Then a smile spread  o'er his features
His hand  no longer shook.
"0, I'll  be all  right!" he shouted,
"I've got  Minter's ond  Searing's book!"

Yes,  his face hod a worried  expression
For the  mop he hod  in hand
Was the 1911 survey,
And not  the one  he'd plonned.

Cooneill for the Protection of Rlll'aJ England
4 Hobart l oet London SWIW OHY Telephon.t 01-Zl.S 9-481

Pat ron.   Her  Mo{etry the  Queen  Choriry Reg.No.233179

CPRE	..
AIGNS for the COUNTRYSIDE

Every  yeoT more tho.' 100  square. miJu of countryside ore fWOIIowed up by devclopmeflt - roodJ, focrories, housing  e1totes, reNtvoin,  minlng ond quarrying and  so <»"•
CPRf••  job b to'" tlowlr any  hiCh  nu<h ore m•t  with  the  leoat  datn09e to tJ,e lond1cope.
CPRE brings togethe1· I'Hlf  only the- 30,000 ptu-s memben in ih c:cwnty bronchet bvr also mofly other orgonitotiorts tn defence of  tf,e countrytid•.
NATtONAllV CPRI: moin1oln.l o small  .,.pert office to "'O(lHor ce-ntroI GoYemment and  itt ogenciu.
LOCAU Y eooh  CPE bmnch  fighu itt own  bot!IH, calling on notionol offie•
help """•'• Meded.  &ranchtJ oppeor ot  public enquiri•a:  the)'  check the local lhh of plannlrtg opplieotlortat  thty cont ribute forctfuf viewl on  local pion--making .
f'l,e inf luence of CPRE elttendt beyd county holl  ond  district council ofRees to iteholl onci Wenminster1  ond  the  EECin St-II$Sett .

51

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our  thanks are  due to:
Many  'Tads', old and  new.
Joan  and  Hazel  for unstinted  walking  and criticism,  and
Hazel  again  for typing, re-typing and  re-re-typing.
John  and  Audrey Daly for their  help  with the  printing  and production.
Derek H.  Seaman of Franklin  Avenue, Tadley, who provided the  photographs  of Tadley from the collection he has built  up. He would  like  to hear  from you (Tadley 5949)  if you have any old  photographs  which  he could  copy.
Heather  Lawn and  Patricia  Richardson for drawing  the footpath maps.
Bill Bishop who designed  the cover.
The Director  of the  Ordnance Survey for permission to pub!ish the  map extracts on pages  6  and  7 .

We found  the  following publications interesting and  useful:

The Western  Rising, C.  Chevenix Trench.    Longmans 1969 (p.70 Edmund Ludlow) Traditional Country  Craftsmen, J.  Geraint Jenkins.  Routledge and  Kegan  Paul 1978
The History of Tadley, Forence  A.G.Davidson. Tadley Parish Council, first  published 1913
Hampshire Treasures,  Volume 2:   Basingstoke & Deane.    Hampshire County  Council  1979

The Ramblers' Association  is the  national  organisation for those  interested in  preserving  public  paths.    It  has
.  30,000 individual members but needs more.   Details fram  the  R.A., _1/5 Wandsworth Road,  London,  SW82LJ

First Published  March 1982
All rights  reserved.   No reproduction  permitted without  the  prior permission of the  publishers: Minter and  Searing, Tad ley,   Hampshire

ISBN 0 9508027  0  0

52

TADLEY
VIDEO
CENTRE
Tel. 5997

FOR ALLYOUR VIDEO NEEDS
We Stock 100's of Pre-Recorded VIDEOS

W1tl'l NoOeposa
*VHS
*Beta
*V2000

including:
ADULT CHILDRENS HORROR WESTERN SCIENCE ACTION POPMUSIC

Also VIDEO  RECORDER Hire Serv1ce
Both Long&ShortTerm

Blank tapes all formats Low Prices!!

AND wehtre  T'vT(s'	&B·W

COLOUR

Open 7 days  per week
Mon- Sat 10.00a.m. - 9.00p.m. Sun 	1.00p.m. -8.00p.m ,

Tadley  Video Centre
96 Franklin Avenue
Tadley

,.	POULTERS

ESTATE  AGENTS
20 MULFORDS HILL,TADLEY, HANTS

Telephone:  TADLEY  (07356) 2996

We have 9 Branch Offices in these towns which allows us to offer unique property coverage of the Area from
our Tadley Office.

All properties placed on our Tadley Register are simultaneously offered  for  sale by  our  other  offices,  ensuring  that  your  house reaches more prospective purchasers.

CHARTERED  SURVEYORS are employed  at each of our  offices and  we   are  able   to  offer  a  comprehensive  property   service including SALES,  SURVEYS, VALUATIONS, PLANNING and AUCTIONS.

We are local agents for the Halifax Building Society,  and for your convenience, full investment and withdrawal facilities are available at our office in Tadley.